9th September – Wednesday
A clear night (there are just so many stars in the sky) which meant cold temperatures and a cooler start to the day before reaching about 30 degrees.
Went for a walk this morning before it became too hot and discovered Longreach’s botanic garden – this is an area 2.5 kms long between the old and new highways. It has been planted out with natives, has a pathway through the centre with lots of signage and hints on sustaining a water friendly garden. Very pleasant.
This morning we visited the Australian Agricultural College, or Longreach Pastoral College, for a guided tour of the campus. This is a residential college for post secondary students and trains them for jobs as jackaroos, or jillaroos. Their current enrolment is 75% female. Students are trained over two years in all aspects of life on a property and includes subjects like learning how to ride a horse and motorbike, drive a 4WD, management of cattle, sheep and goats (big business, evidently, for the export market), undertake mechanical repairs and maintenance, building maintenance, fencing, showing animals, etc. Students who study for a diploma also learn business and farm management.
A nice young lady from administration showed us around and explained the various courses undertaken by the students. (Dress code for the office was blue jeans, boots and shirt.) We were shown through the dormitories, classrooms, shearing shed, machinery sheds and workshops, barns, stables, cattle yards, even the old slaughterhouse. Health regulations prohibit entry to the new slaughterhouse, thank goodness. The college owns about 40,000 acres around Longreach and runs this property as a business as well as providing practical experience for the students.
A really interesting and enjoyable visit.
A clear night (there are just so many stars in the sky) which meant cold temperatures and a cooler start to the day before reaching about 30 degrees.
Went for a walk this morning before it became too hot and discovered Longreach’s botanic garden – this is an area 2.5 kms long between the old and new highways. It has been planted out with natives, has a pathway through the centre with lots of signage and hints on sustaining a water friendly garden. Very pleasant.
This morning we visited the Australian Agricultural College, or Longreach Pastoral College, for a guided tour of the campus. This is a residential college for post secondary students and trains them for jobs as jackaroos, or jillaroos. Their current enrolment is 75% female. Students are trained over two years in all aspects of life on a property and includes subjects like learning how to ride a horse and motorbike, drive a 4WD, management of cattle, sheep and goats (big business, evidently, for the export market), undertake mechanical repairs and maintenance, building maintenance, fencing, showing animals, etc. Students who study for a diploma also learn business and farm management.
A nice young lady from administration showed us around and explained the various courses undertaken by the students. (Dress code for the office was blue jeans, boots and shirt.) We were shown through the dormitories, classrooms, shearing shed, machinery sheds and workshops, barns, stables, cattle yards, even the old slaughterhouse. Health regulations prohibit entry to the new slaughterhouse, thank goodness. The college owns about 40,000 acres around Longreach and runs this property as a business as well as providing practical experience for the students.
A really interesting and enjoyable visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment