MOCOSA June 08 - Marcus Oldham
Transcription
MOCOSA June 08 - Marcus Oldham
tter fr om Marcus Oldham Co llege Old Students Association sue 1 Volume 15 • Is 008 2! Ove r 2m • June 2 96 A ne wsle illio n mea l s ser v e c n d si 1 e The Principal’s Perspective T he 2008 academic year commenced with students relocating to Geelong from all States and Territories. How daunting it is for the ‘Northerners’ to spend a year down in the cold country! It is pleasing to see another year of strong enrolments in the farm management program. Since the reaccreditation of the degree in 2003, the College has positioned itself as a leader in farm management education and training in the higher education sector. The past few years have seen the College invest significant resources into the development and continual updating of its course offerings. The Diploma of Horse Business Management curriculum was rewritten and accredited as a higher education qualification in 2007, which gave HBM students access to FEE-HELP. This is good news for the College, but more importantly for our students. FEE-HELP is a government loan to feepaying students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees and is available to all students at Marcus Oldham. Students repay their loan through the tax system once their income is above the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment. For You to Enjoy The Principal’s Perspective 2 President’s Report 3 The Geelong By-Pass 3 Hugh Barnet 4&5 Jim Burrell 6&7 Angus Lamont 7 Peter Griffiths 8 Bram Collins 9 David and Pam Oddie 10 Launch of The Centre for the Study of Rural Australia 11 Campus Columns 12 - 14 Our Prac Year Employers 14 EI woke up Australia 15 Foundation News 16 & 17 MOC Foundation 18 Executive Profile David Asimus 19 Robert Riordan 19 The Network 20 & 21 Editor’s Memo 22 Need to contact someone? 23 Cover::©joegough.BigstockPhoto.com 2 .0$04"+SLC During 2006/7, the College wrote and developed a new agribusiness course. I wish to acknowledge the work Mr Des Umbers and Mr Andrew Baker have given preparing for and delivering the College’s new academic program, the Associate Degree of Agribusiness. This is an exciting new educational development and it will be very satisfying to see our first group of students graduate from this course in December. In January this year, Mr Jason Wheaton commenced lecturing at the College in the area of plant production. Jason and his young family moved to Geelong from Kangaroo Island in South Australia where he had been managing the family property for the past 5 years. Jason holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and has held several agronomic roles in his previous employment. He worked for a number of years for Rosetta Rural Agencies in Victor Harbor as an agronomist and for Fertico Fertilizers. Jason also held management positions with Livestock Nutrition Technologies as New South Wales Territory Manager and four years as Nufarm Territory Manager at Esperance in Western Australia. I wish Jason well in his new position and look forward to his contribution at the College. The Master Plan continues to be implemented and a major development this year is the extension and refurbishment of the dining room and foyer entrance. The dining room has proven to be adequate for the past decades, but it is now in need of expansion and upgrade due to the growth of the College. Architects have been working on the design and layout with completion scheduled for October this year. The Foundation, led by Mr Antony Baillieu (FM 71) has been working hard to raise the necessary funds for this significant project. I am confident Marcus Oldham graduates appreciate the importance of the dining room as an integral component of the College. Your financial support towards the construction of this facility, whether small or large, would be greatly appreciated. The plans for the new horse facilities are in the development stage. Ms Leonie Leathers, who works as a consulting architect, and lectures part-time in the horse program at Marcus Oldham, and who designed Lee Freedman’s stables, is developing these facilities. An exciting new initiative at the College is the recent launch of The Centre for the Study of Rural Australia. The next decade will see the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian farms under severe challenge. Changes in climate, energy production and usage, land and water availability, markets and consumers, competitors, technologies, and perhaps most importantly, changes in the demography of farming communities will, individually and collectively, severely impact on our rural sector. It is important that the farming sector, which is experiencing constant change, prepares for these events. For these reasons, Marcus Oldham has made a commitment to the rural industry beyond delivery of its fulltime educational programs with the development of this Centre. One of the features of the Centre, given its national focus, is to bring together leading experts from around Australia and the world to provide international ‘best practice’ approaches to addressing these challenges. Highlights of this program will include an annual symposium, including a public presentation, featuring national and world experts and targeted at key decision-makers in the public and private sectors. The symposium will also provide excellent learning opportunities for students, academics and farm managers, and will provide a strong building block for rural Australia research studies in the future. Another feature of The Centre for the Study of Rural Australia will be regular ‘think-tanks’ providing opinions and advice on the policies, strategies and practices necessary to effectively address topics that are crucial to the future of agriculture and farm management in Australia. The College will keep you informed of the developments and program schedule relating to this exciting new initiative. Once again, I will be attending several of the major field days throughout the country. I look forward to catching up with many graduates during my travels. Remember, when you are next heading through Geelong, you are always welcome to call in at the College. Dr Simon Livingstone Principal College at present. One such project is the re-development of the dining room. This is the major building project of the year. The Marcus diner is the hub of the College community and I am sure you all have fond memories of many a fun night in the old dining room - it may be that of a formal student dinner, industry function or a bleary eyed breakfast the morning after a reunion get together! So please join in supporting the hard working College Foundation in raising some much needed funds for this very important project. President’s Report I t’s hard to believe we are half way through 2008 and I can only hope that wherever you are in the country, you have received some welcome rain these past few weeks. The business of farming and the challenges that come with it never stop, but it’s always reassuring to know that each year, an enthusiastic and determined group of young people walk through the doors of Marcus Oldham focussed on gaining the knowledge they need to prepare themselves for taking on a career in agriculture. As graduates, supporters and friends of Marcus Oldham, we must continue to encourage the next generation to further their knowledge and never give up at seeking new and better methods of farm business management to ensure we continue to grow and market the best food and fibre for Australia and the world. Good luck to the students of 2008, you are already at the half way mark. As everyone will tell you, the year goes very fast, so make the most of the great lecturing team, amazing study tours and the unique experience only Marcus Oldham can offer you. This is yet another inspiring edition of MOCOSA and I know you will look forward to reading the many interesting and varied articles. As many of you might know, a number of exciting projects are happening around the James Bufton FM 94 MOCOSA President [email protected] “Staughton Vale”, Balliang VIC 3340 Mobile: 0418 524863 Tel: 03 5284 1344 The Geelong By-Pass S naking across, from its start near the Trotting Track at North Geelong on the Melbourne Road, then crossing over the Ballarat Road near the former Morongo College (now Kardinia International College), over the Hamilton Highway, then coming through near Fyansford, and passing west of Highton, is the long-awaited Geelong By-Pass. Looking from the College over to the hills of Wandana Drive we see the new road development slicing its path down the hill to rise up the valley (out from the College staff houses), and cut across the north end of Marcus land near the water basin at the corner. It then swings through the paddocks across from the entrance to Marcus, to finish at the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds near the Waurn Ponds pub. Funding has been allocated for Stage 4, which eventually, will take it to the Anglesea Road and alleviate the current concerns regarding the traffic crowding on to the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds. Stages 1 and 2 are expected to open in November this year, and Stage 3 - Waurn Ponds, later in 2009. When completed, it is anticipated that the travelling time from Marcus to Melbourne will have at least 20 minutes cut off the journey (remember approx 27 sets of traffic lights?) Currently it takes a bit more than one hour, out of peak time, to travel to Melbourne. Wandana Drive Piling Works Construction of foundations for reinforced earth walls for Thornhill Road and Pigdons Road overpass Earthworks for Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds .0$04"+SLC 3 Hugh Barnet Horse Management 1980, Farm Management 1982 From Marcus to Movies I have often been asked how I got a job on the soon to be released movie “Australia” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. My answer has not been, ‘because I attended Marcus Oldham’, but after some consideration, it may have something to do with being exposed to some creative thinking and being taught to be resourceful and also being willing to pursue opportunities when they present. The opportunity arose as a result of working in the film industry some 20 years before and having the relevant experience in key areas and being someone who loves a challenge. (Also the need for off-farm income during the drought is a good incentive). My career after leaving Marcus has been varied and certainly interesting with plenty of travel and moving, which has now slowed (or stopped, according to my family!) Initially, having studied both Horse Management and Farm Management, I was set for a career in the Thoroughbred industry, but after a stint at Lindsay Park, SA I decided to head to Queensland and break in horses. In 1984 a strong interest in training horses lead to a job with well-known film trainers Heath and Evanne Harris, working with trick and harness horses and various other animals. One trip to Sydney involved transporting three horses, a mule, two camels, an emu and a kangaroo and several red cattle dogs. The Waybill read like an inventory for Noah’s Ark! Later that year the opportunity to break in and train 22 camels for the film “Burke & Wills” presented, and so after nine months of pre-production training and filming I had completed my apprenticeship as ‘Head Cameleer’. Sometimes my father wondered how well I was using my education and training until he saw my pay packet! After a year back on the family sheep and cattle property at Walcha, NSW I got the urge to explore again, and in 1986 headed to the US for the year working green horses and grooming polo ponies. Working with some of the best ten goal players in North and South America and travelling between California, Canada, Texas, Connecticut and Florida on the Polo circuit, certainly 4 .0$04"+SLC opened my eyes to the money some people invest in a serious hobby. On returning home in 1987 it was either get a ‘serious’ job or keep travelling and working horses overseas. Getting engaged sorted that out, and so a managerial career on properties commenced near Wagga and then moved to “Goonoo Goonoo” near Tamworth into a larger operation. I had finally started to really use some of the knowledge gained at Marcus (five years after completing FM.) To hold a manager’s position of a relatively large operation at 27 I attribute to time spent at Marcus. After five years at Tamworth, a position with Stanbroke Pastoral Company presented to manage the bull breeding operation and develop a bullock fattening station into a bull breeding nucleus producing 800 bulls a year for the company. After only 2½ years with Stanbroke I was ‘head hunted’ for a Group Pastoral Manager’s position in the Kimberley. We had completed most of the development of the stud herd and station facilities and it was just starting to be ‘comfortable’. However, the challenge to assume responsibility of a total operation incorporating six stations was a big step up and a career move not to be dismissed. Some people say you are lucky to get some breaks, however not everyone is willing to make sacrifices and move a young family to the other side of the country. My boss at the time said, ‘Opportunities come along and you must pursue your ambitions and goals.’ The position with E.G.Green & Sons in the Kimberley was extremely demanding and yet very satisfying, and a fantastic experience which all of my family will remember. After managing the group of cattle stations in the Kimberley and other properties in Western Australia for eight years, we headed back east in 2003 to educate children in Queensland. A conscious decision not to pursue more positions within corporate agriculture opened up an opportunity to run our own livestock business and explore more opportunities. In 2004, we established an agribusiness consulting company to provide a management service to investors and existing businesses. Establishing such a business from a blank sheet can be a challenge and developing a client base takes time. Over the next two years I worked with a group of properties in SE Queensland developing a sheep and goat enterprise until my role was completed. Early in 2006, I had phone call from a friend asking if I was interested in a film job in northern Australia. They required someone with experience with northern cattle, people, and a knowledge of locations in the Kimberley and north Queensland. “Australia” The Movie Story “Australia” is Baz Luhrmann’s first feature film since the 2001 musical success Moulin Rouge! The highly anticipated film centres on an English aristocrat in the 1930s, played by Nicole Kidman, who comes to northern Australia to sell a cattle property the size of Belgium. After an epic journey across the country with a rough-hewn drover, Hugh Jackman, they are caught in the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Filming began late April 2007 and concluded December 19th 2007. The film is slated for a November 14 2008 release. After meeting with the Bazmark Film Producers and also meeting Baz Luhrmann, I was asked to put together a proposal of what suitable cattle could be bought or leased for filming in Bowen, East Kimberley and Sydney. My position as Cattle Supervisor was to present and manage my cattle department budget, source and handle cattle suitable for a film set and actors, engage a crew to work the cattle, organize trucking, feeding, design and source any facilities and coordinate the logistics of moving cattle between the locations over four states. This would normally have its own challenges, without the influence of dealing with a film crew and a very creative Director. The cattle scenes in Bowen required the 850 cattle to be driven down the streets at a gallop, and loading cattle up a race onto a ship. All the physical requirements are not a problem, until fronted with distractions such as 200 ‘extras’ (cast), 300+ crew, camera booms, extensive props and almost any other foreign object which cattle don’t normally find in a paddock. The task of finding 1,000 horned Shorthorn cattle (‘period cattle’ for that era) in eastern Australia (outside of the Cape, Kimberley and Alice Springs) was very hard, and it was encouraging to see that the industry has been very proactive in dehorning. Here I was, sourcing red, hairy and horned cattle, and yet I breed Senepol cattle (slick coated and polled), a slight difference in objectives. The Kimberley scenes were mostly big wide droving shots mixed with some hair raising action shots of a ‘rush’ and a river crossing in a salt water crocodile area. The logistics of getting 1,000 suitable cattle in the time and dealing with a very late wet season in the Kimberley, added to the tasks of the crew I engaged. Having a background of dealing mostly with focused, budget driven agricultural business people, it is a shock when a crew of 300+ mostly artistic and creative types cannot understand why the ‘cows’ are stressed. The cattle used in Bowen were sourced from Goondiwindi to Charters Towers, Advanced Diploma of Farm Business Management 3 years Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Management) additional 6 months on campus (off campus option) The final leg of the filming late last year was back in Sydney at Fox Studios (old RAS showground). Ironically, I had led the Senior Champion Hereford cow at the Sydney Royal Show in 1987 on the same lawns, and 20 years later in 2007 we kept our 40 odd Shorthorn bullocks (ex north QLD) at Fox Studios. and some from the Kimberley (to maintain continuity for later scenes). We trucked some cattle from Bowen back to Kununurra and leased an additional 1200 head of cleanskin (feral) North Kimberley shorthorn cattle. After intensive handling using dogs, electric fences and plenty of horse work tailing we had them under control and suitable for actors and riding doubles to approach. Some of the cattle used back in the Kimberley had travelled a total of 10,000 km back and forth across the top end. The scenes in the studios were very involved with the lead actors and many extras, and so the temperament of the cattle had to be very predictable when in close proximity. Again, the cattle performed remarkably well and were subjected to many new situations including being plastered white for one scene. The principal filming was completed prior to Christmas last year and now the editing and visual effects teams are madly piecing together and finishing off the record number of hours of footage. The previews we have seen to date are excellent and hopefully the production will be an international success, which benefits the Australian film industry and also northern tourism. We also hope it reflects favourably on the cattle industry at the time and does credit to all those people involved. Bowen was chosen as the location for filming Darwin pre the second World War because of the flat landscape and land where a ‘set’ could be built. The set included a set of timber cattle yards capable of holding 1500 head. ALERTING all graduates from the 1975 and 1977 years. The cattle handled everything we put to them and we were continually amazed at their ability to rate themselves, almost as though they had a cruise control, and after a while it didn’t matter how hard you pushed they set their own pace. Murray Mountjoy, John Carson, Bill Bennett and Tim Durham are the driving force behind the planning for a very informal “get together” - maybe a dinner. Animal welfare was a constant priority and I had to constantly remind the film crew that they were not machines (they were very naïve, but mostly understanding). We used electrolytes, formulated feeds and many other things to help maintain the cattle and to be able to get the performance required. This is the first notice of the plan, and date and venue to be confirmed, but they are tentatively aiming for either the AFL Grand Final or Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival. So keep this in mind and be prepared for more info coming your way. The new generation of managers of agricultural businesses will need advanced financial management and marketing skills and be able to access and use information. Competent managers will adopt current technology and be able to manage both people and risk. Managers require highly developed resource management skills to ensure the business they manage is based on systems that are environmentally and economically sustainable in the long term. .0$04"+SLC 5 Jim Burrell Farm Management 1976 Letter from Pakistan S ince February this year my wife, Denise and I have been working in Pakistan on a twoyear contract with the Pakistan Dairy Development Company (PDDC). Pakistan has the fifth largest number of milking animals in the world, with a large number of them being buffalo. The per cow production is very low (down to two litres / cow/day) so we are over here in an advisory capacity attempting to help the locals improve production. Denise is the Vocational Training Manager, and I am Internal Training Manager and we are based in Lahore in Eastern Pakistan. Our work involves both of us training the local staff. Denise has been coordinating the Tutors Notes and Student Notes, along with the relevant Technical Sheets and the Support Material for the relevant dairy courses. This has included a great deal of proof reading of the work done by the nine Extension Officers within the Extension Team. It is obviously important to make sure the material that is used is relevant to this country’s particular idiosyncrasies of culture, climate, soils, breeds, pasture types and available mechanisation etc. There is much available on the web but it looses all credibility if it is not relevant, practical and current. We have also been involved in skills training for the Extension staff. Extension is a new concept over here and there is very little or no experience of how to conduct a Field Day, for example. What’s more, the locals do not know how to conduct themselves at a Field Day, so we need to give the staff skills in assertiveness training so that the message can be got over in an unambiguous form. It was quite comical at the first Field Day. We envisaged that the groups would be quite orderly and people would go from one speaker to another and listen to their message before moving on at 6 .0$04"+SLC the appointed time to the next speaker. For the locals, it was more like show time and an opportunity to catch up with the neighbours over a loud and gesticulated chinwag. The staff worked like sheep dogs shepherding each group in together and moving along in an orderly and attentive fashion. Denise has supervised two Field Days to date, and in is the process of developing and running a third and the local Extension staff are catching on very quickly. My work, while it has involved some of the Extension training, has had a more practical focus with farm installations of fencing and cooling systems. The company has particular specifications and standards to which both the external contractors and our own teams need to adhere. The construction of galvanised pipe fencing is a very new concept over here, as all fences are made of brick (or adobe/stone). Additionally, after an incident recently when we went to a farm with cattle containing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), I have been working to develop internal training procedures to be adopted by all staff to minimise the risk of cross contamination. I have also been developing a skills package for the Field Production staff to ensure they are better able to supervise the installation of this ‘new’ type of fencing. The tradition here has been to have all the cows and buffalo tethered 24 hours a day, and only give water once, or maybe twice a day, even over extremely hot summer periods. In summer, it is not unusual for temperatures to go over 40 deg C for weeks at a time, and occasionally hitting peaks of over 50 deg. Fodder quality is also an issue, with much of the cow and buffalo feed comprising 80% wheat or rice straw. This is highly fibrous, and takes more energy to digest it than it provides. So, integral to the new installations, is the development of ‘set aside pasture’ to provide a more suitable, less fibrous, milking diet. So with the installation of new fences, cattle will be allowed to be free, and therefore have ready access to water and quality forage 24 hours a day. With these minor changes, milk production increases from about two litres/head/day to six to eight litres/day (compared to the Australian average of approx 25 litres/day). Cow condition scoring, milk chilling, fertilisers, milk quality, production selection, cattle health - there are so many areas that the dairy industry in Pakistan can improve. The Company is focusing on all these different areas, one by one, as it is difficult to change systems that have ‘worked’ for literally thousands of years, in a small time frame. That is why the education is as important as the actual installations. On the wider front, Pakistan is a country of divergence. The rich are enormously rich and the poor are in less than poverty. Polo happens two or three times every week, and other silver tails signs are displayed in many not so subtle ways. In contrast, I read a World Bank Report, in the local press, disputing the Pakistan Government’s figures of alleviating poverty from 33% in 2004 to 21% in 2007. They say it is down to only 28% but they won’t really quibble because the slope is the right way. But when we look at the definition of poverty, it does become alarming. The ‘accepted’ definition of poverty is a person living on less than US $1/day (think about that when next you pay $2.50 for a Magnum ice cream). So that means, that in this country of about 150 million people, about twice the population of Australia are living on less than $1 a day. When they are eking out a hand to mouth existence and focusing on survival, it is little wonder that they show such disregard for higher order issues of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs such as pollution, health and safety, animal welfare or the melting of the Antarctic icecap or saving the whales. If I go to a supermarket here and say that I don’t want a plastic bag they look at me as if to say, “It is a condition, of you entering this store, that you take at least one plastic bag when you leave!” You start to think, if I take one plastic bag home is it going to make any difference in a country where there are literally thousands of small brickworks burning car tyres for fuel, or there are millions of auto rickshaws belching clouds of acrid black smoke. The divergence is also seen when you look at the countryside and see such lush and fruitful crops of wheat and barley (some of the best crops I have ever seen), and know that there is a severe shortage of flour, so much so that there are flour and grain protests. The dams are running dry because of the silting up, but cities like Lahore are a sea of green, dotted with bouquets of massed pansies, petunias, stocks and snapdragons, cascades of bougainvillea and rainbows of roses. The streets, median strips, nature strips and houses are adorned with necklaces of pots gushing with different colours. This only possible because Parks and Gardens flood irrigate everything as if there is a bottomless well. The millions of landless and homeless squat on public land beside railway lines and around rubbish tips, and live in tent communities with no power, water or sewage, and there are no public utilities, all the while the Deputy Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, keeps pet lions, his party’s emblem, in a cage at his home, set amongst acres of land. Education is highly prized and valued, as it is universally acknowledged in Pakistan that it is one way to change your status and cast. But equally, education for many is very primitive with classes held out doors, and in one school I inspected, a rural boys school of 450 post primary boys, they had only one blackboard between all the grades. Every day there are many, many advertisements for parents looking for suitable partners, for an arranged marriage for their children, virtually carrying me, we went past the pharmacy and I did think that that was a bit unusual as I assumed Emergency would be at the FRONT door. They admitted me straight away to a trolley in the Emergency ward and the English trained Doctor saw me immediately. He then wrote a prescription, gave it to my driver who then had to go to the pharmacy for the drugs the Doctor ordered, including the needles and drip and antibiotics. These all had to be purchased before administration. with the only criteria their education qualifications. Educational snobbery is rife. Many of the staff we are working with have formal qualification of a higher order than our own, and often an opening question on first meeting is “What are your qualifications?” We quickly learnt to response, “It does not matter what my qualifications are, I was employed for my experience!” They have no response because they have no experience - their only knowledge is from books. Often they come from the elite families, who themselves employ maids, gardeners and other servants, and they have never had to do any physical work themselves. They cannot believe it when I want to mow our lawn or dig a post hole or start a vegetable garden, but they don’t step in to help, because they don’t know how, and even worse they don’t think they need to know. After a couple of days, I was feeling much better and I did loose a lot of weight. I don’t recommend the ‘eye of the needle’ diet no matter how effective!! The National Hospital was very clean, effective and painless. I feel a lot more confident about the medical services here now. It laid us both low and we had had a lovely night out the night before, eating at an outdoor restaurant four stories up overlooking the old floodlit Mosque in the old town. Food was prepared in the streets below hauled up on trays on a rope and pulley. Very romantic - until 7am the next day when it hit Den for six. We just go about our duties and try to assist the people in our sphere of influence. There are some things we can’t change, and some we can, so we focus our energies on those we can. We are not warriors, we are just a couple of Australians, living and enjoying the experience of Pakistan. Jim advises there is the possibility of employment as the company may be looking for a generalist with intensive dairying/grazing experience and someone who would blend in with the culture and customs. Good pay and conditions for the right person. [email protected]. We both had a severe bout of gastro and took a few day off work. I ended up in hospital on a drip. I was so sick I asked my driver, Akbar, to take me to the local hospital, ‘The National Hospital’. On the way to Emergency, and Akbar was Angus Lamont Horse Business Management 2006 2006 Marcus Oldham International Stud Management Award (UK) A fter graduating, I was offered a fantastic opportunity to establish a connection between Marcus Oldham and one of the UK’s most influential horse studs, Lanwades, owned and managed by Miss Kirsten Rausing. The position initially involved me travelling to Newmarket, the hub of Thoroughbred breeding in England. This in itself was a fairly daunting experience; not knowing anyone in the surrounding area of England, and coming off the back of a scorching summer I was thrust into the depths of an English winter with the damp, dark and occasional snow making acclimatising fairly difficult. Working long hours seven days a week and spending a good part of my day mucking out boxes didn’t initially improve the situation. However, the bloodstock I was fortunate enough to work with, the green rolling countryside, the quaint friendly village I was living in, and the willingness of many locals to have a pint at the end of the day made it all the more enjoyable. and education of foals and pre and post natal care of mares. The stud owns the majority of the horses on the property and walks in mares to their currently five (previously four) stallions. It also comprises 570 acres with around 115 boxes, eight isolation yards between the two properties and has approximately 30 staff between them. From the foaling area, I was lucky enough to be placed in the breeding barn when the covering season was in full swing. Duties included handling the mares for teasing and covering, as well as restraining and educating the older foals. Angus Lamont and Wagga Wagga’s face of the Gold Cup Carnival, Luke Hulm, with stallion Hernando at Lanwades Stud. At the end of the breeding season I moved to Ireland, where the majority of studs send their young stock. Arriving towards the end of rain that had lasted for 65 days straight, with water coming Initially, I was placed at St Simon, the adjacent property to the main stud. This is where all the foaling duties take place and my work here included care continued page 8 .0$04"+SLC 7 Angus Lamont continued from page 7 over the top of your wellies through gateways and ditches, I was not the only one who was glad to see the sunshine. The work here was preparing yearlings for sales throughout England and Ireland. It was great fun to be educating the yearlings. However a few weeks into my three-month stint I was hampered by a rugby injury. Unable to walk without crutches for a few weeks I was not a lot of use, especially because the horses I was preparing each needed an hour of walking in the mornings. I finally recovered by the end of the Irish sales in which we enjoyed great success; selling the highest priced yearling in Europe for five years and the highest priced yearling filly in Ireland of all time for 2.4 Million, roughly equating to just over AUD$4 million. I then travelled to the sales in England at which the stud also had good success. Here I was fortunate enough to rub shoulders with some of the world’s top vets, owners and bloodstock agents and was later fortunate enough to travel to France and inspect the yearlings in Deauville with them. Mares at Lanwades, United Kingdom After the sales had finished in Newmarket I stayed back at my little house just outside of Newmarket and was back to St Simon’s to help with the last lot of foals to be weaned. We also had a number of foals to be sold in the December sales in which I was an integral part of the team in preparing. I finished up in December after helping with the mare sales and enjoyed travels throughout Europe and USA before returning home early April this year. Many thanks go to the Marcus Oldham Council and in particular Dick Fowlston, John Miles, Nick Roe and Emma Morel, who were good enough to organise this incredible opportunity for me to gain fantastic knowledge of the international breeding and racing industry. Peter Griffiths Horse Management 1982 Detective on the Jumps Job I t was 1979 when Peter Griffiths first had contact with Marcus Oldham College when attending weekend short courses in Saddlery and Farrier skills. In 1982 he graduated from the then Certificate in Horse Management or abbreviated version, Horse Course. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and Peter now works fulltime as a Detective with the Victoria Police, which he joined in 1993. However, horses are never from his life as he also works as the Jumps Racing Manager at Racing Victoria Ltd and, to fill in the few spare minutes, Peter finds time to attend to the role of Executive Officer of the Australian Jumping Racing Association. Amongst all of this, he managed to sire four children, Declan, Kyle, Siobhan and Aidan. After leaving the Police Academy, Peter was placed at Geelong and no, he didn’t cross paths with any Marcus students professionally, before transferring to Ballarat for six years. He completed the Police Prosecutor’s Course and also a Bachelor of Commerce Degree where he studied Business Law and learnt to speak Japanese. Fourteen months working in plain-clothes duties saw him lead an investigation into a major heroin-selling group, which ended with fifteen offenders pleading guilty in the County Court and sent to prison, the likes of which had not been seen before, or been repeated, outside of Melbourne. On the move, Peter transferred to Greensborough – Eltham, suburbs of Melbourne, where he had obtained a Detective position. (Each year about 1000 police officers apply for 250 positions on a preliminary course. Of those, 250 are successful and only about 50 people each year actually get to work in the Crime Investigation area.) Policing is never dull and Peter’s most satisfying job so far, involved a very unstable man who was stalking doctors, 8 .0$04"+SLC lawyers and police. When Police officers searched his lodgings, he had two loaded pistols next to his bed and a loaded machine gun in his car amongst other weapons. He spent a few years in prison, most of it under psychiatric care. In 2006, Peter started to work casually for Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL), hosting owners on race days which lead to an invitation to apply as the Manager – Jumps Racing. “I already have a job,” he told them. Over a dozen people had been interviewed and they were desperate to fill the position, Pete says. When he rang enquiring about the position, and was asked for his credentials, he was told, “They are unusual credentials.” His response? “It’s an unusual job.” Peter accepted the position at RVL and took fifteen months off from the Police Force. Before his appointment, a lot of research had been completed and he was left with the task of implementation. His position covers two areas – Operational and Strategic. Operational tasks include ensuring the equipment required is at the track in time for set up, and the day-to-day needs of jumps racing met. He is accessible 24/7 and has been woken early in the morning fielding calls from trainers who get up earlier than he would like! Strategically, Peter’s focus is on the future, which long term would mean for him to withdraw from the position at Racing Victoria. He writes the jumping program for Victoria for the year, liaises with South Australia, plans the year’s marketing strategies, and puts his hand to anything else that comes along. Another role at Racing Victoria is supervising one of the quarantine centres during the Spring Carnival for the International Horses. In his first year, the two centres at Sandown were full up and he had to ‘build’ one from scratch, which housed the Cup favourite, Yeats. Last year he looked after only the one yard, which stabled third place getter, Mahler. These experiences have been a great thrill both personally and professionally. While at Racing Victoria Peter has travelled to New Zealand, Japan and Ireland to study how jumps racing is conducted in those countries, and how Victoria can maintain a best practice focus on safety and the conducting of jumps racing. Peter is not sure about his next project however you never know what’s on the other side of the log! Bram Collins Farm Management 1990 Undara – a Lava Tube Experience kilometres, and several sections are accessible. So significant are the Undara Lava Tubes that in 1992 the Queensland Government declared them, and most of what was Rosella Plains, the Undara Volcanic National Park. W hen studying at Marcus, Bram Collin’s family had cattle stations in Far North Queensland and were the first white settlers in the Mount Surprise region inland from Cairns, in 1862. The original cattle station, Spring Creek, is still in the family today and Bram’s sister Nicola and husband, Perry Fox, run a commercial Droughtmaster herd which is vertically integrated with a feedlot, slaughter facility and two butcher shops on the Atherton Tablelands. Rosella Plains was a 320,000 acre cattle property next door to Spring Creek which the Collins family acquired in the 1890’s, and it was here that Bram lived until coming to Marcus. Rosella Plains had an unusual and very interesting system of underground caves on the northern end of the property, which by the late 1980’s, had been identified as one of the oldest and best preserved lava tube systems on Earth. The Undara Lava Tubes were formed some 190,000 years ago when a major volcano in the McBride volcanic province erupted, its molten lava flowing down dry river beds. As the top layer quickly cooled and crusted, the fiery magma below continued to flow through the tubes taking it further and further from the volcano. As the eruption slowed and then stopped, the lava drained out of the tubes leaving a series of long, hollow tunnels. Ancient roof collapses created deep, dark and moist depressions where fertile pockets of rainforest can now be seen, surviving amongst the open Savannah woodlands. standards of operation and abide by professional codes of conduct to achieve accreditation. The Savannah Guides are experts in the conservation of this region and are committed to passing on this knowledge to others, along with the interpretation and effective management of the natural and cultural assets of northern Australia. Gerry Collins (Bram’s father), recognised the tourism potential and set about designing a tourism facility from which tours to the Undara Lava Tubes could be conducted. In an effort to give people a natural bush experience, Gerry designed a facility with minimal impact on the surrounding bushland. He found a number of old Queensland Railway carriages which he purchased, had them restored and transported to the site. Because of their long thin shape they easily fitted between the trees. Today 23 railway carriages have found a home at Undara and make up much of the accommodation as well as a saloon car and dining cars. The railway carriages have been so beautifully restored, that in 2003 Undara Experience won an Australian Tourism award for Unique Accommodation. Bram served for nine years on the board of Savannah Guides, served as the secretary for three years and as President for three years. During this time Savannah Guides experienced unparalleled growth culminating in winning a Queensland Tourism award for Private Sector Industry Training and being named global winner of a British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow” award for Tourism Organisations. Today Undara Experience is one of the iconic Outback tourism experiences in North Queensland with approximately 40,000 people per year visiting the lava tubes. Bram has recently been elected to the board of Tourism Tropical North Queensland in Cairns as the Director for the Outback Region. His time is split between his various tourism roles and a motivational speaking business he formed in 1999. When the Undara Experience opened in 1990 the Collins family recognised the importance of engaging the local community and giving back opportunities such as employment and training ECT. At the same time a local organisation called Savannah Guides was gaining momentum in the area. Undara immediately got involved as it had all the same ideals. Recognising the alarmingly high rate of youth suicide in Australia, Bram and close friend Trevor Tim, decided to make a positive contribution to the young people of today. They created a company called ‘Success with Attitude’ that visited the local schools in north Queensland and spoke to kids about the importance of having a great attitude. This was very successful and has now grown to see them speaking to schools all over Australia and in the corporate market, including team building. Savannah Guides has grown and developed and is now a nonprofit network of professional tour guides and tourism operators with a collective in-depth knowledge of the tropical savannahs of northern Australia. The organisation fosters ecologically sustainable interpretive tourism. Savannah Guides’ members must demonstrate a commitment to conservation values, meet strict For more information, please visit. www.undara.com.au www.savannah-guides.com.au www.swa.com.au The word Undara means ‘a long way’ in Aboriginal language. One of the lava flows from Undara extends over 160 kilometres (or 100 miles). This makes it one of the longest lava flows from a single volcano on Earth in modern geological time. The original tube formed by the flow extended for approximately 100 .0$04"+SLC 9 Environmental Best Management Practice David Oddie Farm Management 1994 Pam Holding Oddie Agri 1994 M arcus Oldham College enjoys as good a reputation as an introduction agency, as it does for producing an employable graduate! Pam Holding and David Oddie were fellow students, and following graduation, Pam moved to Wagga Wagga, NSW where she spent two and half years in administration with the rural consultancy arm of RSM Bird Cameron Chartered Accountants. In 1997 she moved north to Armidale, NSW for a position as Support Consultant with Saltbush Software, a divison of the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI), for a further two and a half years. David, meanwhile, took up a position on farm with Tom and Alison Silcock at Balmoral in western Victoria, following graduation. After 12 months, he decided to return home to the family property at Beaufort, Victoria, to work with his parents, Peter (FM 65) and Rosemary. David took over the livestock management of the mixed enterprise while Peter was responsible for the cropping operations. Following the sudden death of her father in 1998, Pam returned to live in Victoria in 1999 as she was keen to mover closer to family, and of course to reduce the miles between her and David. Together Pam and David pursued the opportunity to run their own bookkeeping business, which Pam has successfully been doing for eight years, providing contract services to farmers, agricultural contractors and notfor-profit organisations in the local area. Pam, together with her older brothers, Stephen (FM 93) and Phil (FM 94) also maintains an ongoing interest in the Holding family farm at Linton, which her mother continues to run. In 2001 David and Pam were married, and settled on David’s family property, “Challicum Park” at Beaufort, continuing to work with David’s parents. In 2003, a new direction was taken when the Oddie family was approached by another Marcus graduate, Anthony Sim (FM 72) and his wife, Annabel. The two families commenced a partnership “Fiery Creek Farms”, by combining the two businesses and moving towards a more corporate farming structure where all land is leased by the business from landowners; excess plant and equipment has been reduced; and contractors used strategically for major tasks such as sowing and harvest. A board of management was formed between the six partners, and David appointed as Manager of the business. Any family members working in the business are now employees and paid a salary, while Pam provides contract bookkeeping services. In David’s current position as Manager of Fiery Creek Farms, he is responsible for 2,226 hectares over four farms in the Beaufort, Skipton, and Streatham areas of western Victoria. The cropping enterprise comprises wheat, barley and canola as well as hay and straw production. The livestock enterprise is represented by 10,000 merino and crossbred sheep. David has a strong interest in the management of the native grassland areas that exist on some of the farms, and utilises strategic grazing to preserve these areas. He is also encouraging his business partners to see the benefits in biological farming methods, which are enabling him to reduce the reliance on artificial fertilisers and chemicals. David is an advocate for integrated pest management practices as well, which are proving beneficial in reduction of pests in crops and again reducing the reliance on chemicals. David and Pam are passionate about the future of agriculture in Australia, particularly through the retention of young people in rural areas. With Fiery Creek Farms, they are developing a culture of ongoing learning, where education and training is regularly offered to staff, and actively encouraged by management. Pathways for career advancement are being developed so that employees can see there is an opportunity to take on more responsibility and decision making, whether being placed in charge of a particular enterprise, or being responsible for the general management of an individual property. Continually improving the environmental management of the land is one of the primary aims of Fiery Creek Farms and Pam and David are both very keen to build this into the systems and day to day running of the business. This goal is steadily being achieved by utilising the Environmental Best Management Practice (EBMP) program and its self-assessment tool that identifies the current situation, strengths and weaknesses, and the actions needed for better environmental management. As the business is based on the leasing of land, the aim is to return the land to landowners at the end of a lease period in a better condition than it was at the commencement of the lease. Pam has been working on the EBMP plan for the past two years and with the input of staff members, landowners and family members, believes it will give the business a competitive edge in being a preferred occupier of land in the future. Since leaving Marcus Oldham David and Pam have maintained strong ties with the College, having hosted many students for case study visits over the years, and, together with Peter, shared their experiences about family farming at the Graduation “Real World” seminar on a number of occasions. In November 2007 David and Pam welcomed their first child, Claire, and they look forward with interest to the opportunities that agriculture may offer to future generations. Diploma of Agribusiness 1 year Associate Degree of Agribusiness 2 years Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) 3 years with on or off campus option 10 .0$04"+SLC Our Agribusiness qualifications open the door to a wide and varied choice of careers. The involvement of major companies in seminars, case studies, study tours and industry experience ensures agribusiness graduates are highly sought after upon graduation. in Australia’s climate and present the facts regarding carbon cycling on farms and in agricultural systems. In addition, there will be presentations on possible carbon emission and mitigation scenarios on farm as well as consideration of the potential economic, environmental and social impacts for farmers and rural communities. Launch of The Centre for the Study of Rural Australia Attending the launch at Morgans, 401 Collins Street, Melbourne, were L-R: Mr Bruce Wilson, Chairman, Marcus Oldham College, Mr Grant Cochrane, Chief Executive, Australian Agricultural Publishing - Rural Press, Dr Simon Livingstone, Principal, Marcus Oldham College, Professor Timothy Reeves, Principal, Timothy G Reeves and Associates, Mr Richard Anderson, Chairman, Harwood Andrews Lawyers. R ecognising the importance of continuing education to ensure the prosperity of agricultural enterprises and rural communities, Marcus Oldham College extended its entrepreneurial arm and recently launched The Centre for the Study of Rural Australia, which will play a key part in addressing the many issues that impact on agriculture and rural communities. Dr Simon Livingstone said, “Australia needs sustainable agricultural practices and communities for the future and Marcus Oldham College understands that community based development is vital to economic prosperity. One of the Centre’s features, given its national focus, is to bring together leading experts from around the world and around Australia to provide international best Mr Simon Ramsay, President Victorian Farmers Federation unveils the plaque. Mr Geoff Hone, Scobie and Claire Mackinnon Trust. Mr Stewart McArthur, Camperdown Vic, former Chairman of College Council. Presenters at the Carbon Forum are Professor Peter Grace Professor of Global Change at Queensland University of Technology; Dr Mark Howden Senior Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra; Mr Andrew Campbell former Executive Director of Land & Water Australia and a previous senior executive in the Australian Government, responsible for the Bushcare program; and Dr Jeff Baldock who leads the Soil Process and Function stream within the Managing Australia’s Soil and Landscape Assets theme. practice approaches to addressing these challenges. The Centre will present symposiums, forums and ‘think tanks’, and provide a platform for opinions and advice on policies, strategies and practices necessary to effectively address topics that are crucial to the future of agriculture and farm management.” Later in August, the 2008 Seminar featuring international speaker Dr Cary Fowler, Executive Director, Global Crop Diversity Trust based in Rome, will be presented in Melbourne. Prior to taking up his current position, Dr Fowler was Professor and Director in the Department for International Environment & Development Studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Guest Speaker, and Forum and Symposiums Facilitator for the Centre, Professor Timothy Reeves, emphasised the scope of opportunities for Australian agriculturalists. Professor Reeves has worked for 39 years in agricultural research, development and extension, mostly focussed on sustainable agriculture in Australia and overseas. (Read Professor Reeves’ speech on www.marcusoldham.vic.edu.au.) The Marcus Oldham Centre for the Study of Rural Australia is the focus and interface for the College’s community engagement commitment. The concept of community engagement is not foreign to the College. Programs in the area of leadership and corporate training, under the direction of Mr Sam Inglis, are evidence of this continued commitment. The program offers the inaugural forum on the 7 August at the College and will focus on the hot topic of Carbon Management. This forum will concentrate on changes Mr Tony Hudson, Director Farm Business Management Program, Mr Graeme Martin, New Zealand, Mr Rowly Paterson, Wirrinourt, Willaura Vic. Mr Eric Sharkey, Balliang East, Vic, Mr Andrew Baker, Director Agribusiness Program, Dr Peter Greig, Chairman Corangamite CMA, Vic. Mr Ian McMichael, College Council Member, Mr David Irving, Adjunct Professor of Enterprise and Management, The University of Auckland Business School. Mr Jim Gultsh, CEO Nuffield Australia, Mr Simon Marsh, Executive Partner, PKF Accountants. .0$04"+SLC 11 Campus Columns On April 3 this year, Marcus Oldham College Principal, Dr Simon Livingstone and Mr Des Umbers, Senior Lecturer in Information Technology, graduated from the Faculty of Education at Deakin University. Dr Livingstone successfully completed a PhD and Mr Des Umbers, a Master of Professional Education and Training. Dr Simon Livingstone’s PhD examined the adoption of business practices by universities and their impact on academic staff. The investigation used interpretative, qualitative research to investigate what academic staff believe to be the effect of business practice adoption on their teaching, research and service/administration roles. The data were collected from interviews with academic staff working in the five faculties, along with the analysis of secondary source qualitative documents and quantitative statistics. Universities, like most other large businesses, have undergone and Degree qualification popular choice The condensing of the Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Management) Degree Year (Fourth Year) to six months, proves to be an excellent decision by the College Management. This year, 24 students are completing their degree and will be entering the work force mid-year. Diploma graduates considering upgrading their qualifications should discuss your plans with Tony Hudson. The degree component is also available by distance learning. 12 .0$04"+SLC continue to experience, rapid change to their operations. The organisation of the first Australian university in 1851 was very different from the ‘managerial’ operation of institutions today. Universities have experienced changes of rapid growth in student numbers, repeated demands by interest groups for improvements in efficiency and quality, along with reductions in public funding. The four business practices investigated in the thesis are: (1) servicing customers and clients; (2) focusing on revenue and profit generation; (3) performance management; and (4) accountability and quality assurance implementation, and these were initially uncovered through the literature review and then reinforced in the study from responses with academic staff. The findings illustrated a matrix of tensions Australian universities experience, as they move from a collegial to a managerial mode of operation. Universities may find this matrix useful to locate where their organisation is positioned, as this would provide the first step in any directional change required or desired by the institution. A model outlining and summarising the key drivers influencing the managerial operations of Australian universities and their subsequent impact on academic staff is also provided. This model illustrates how the Australian Government influences the operation of universities through the setting of policy and how University senior officers follow this direction by adopting these four business practices in the management of their institution. The University then develops implementation strategies across the key areas of teaching and learning, research and service/administration in an effort to achieve performance targets and increase profitability. The adoption and implementation of these business practices has impacted on the nature of academic work, the results of which are outlined and documented in Dr Livingstone’s thesis. Andrew Baker takes on role of Agribusiness Director Andrew Baker accepted the position of Director of the Agribusiness Program when it became available this year due to Des Umbers’ request to take on the position of Senior Lecturer in Information Technology. Des recently completed a Master of Professional Education and Training focusing on flexible, online and distance education. This qualification will hold him in good stead in his lecturing duties, and in developing new teaching technologies across the College’s educational programs. Andrew brings to his new role a wealth of experience. Having lectured at Marcus Oldham for the past 3 years, he has developed a solid understanding of the workings of the College and the requirements and expectations of our students. Andrew is well qualified for the job, holding a Master of Agribusiness, a Bachelor of Business and an Advanced Certificate in Farming. His employment experience includes time as Agribusiness Manager for Bendigo Bank, Farm Financial and Management Consultant with Harden Consultants in NSW for three years and Agribusiness Banking Manager with Suncorp Agribusiness Banking at Goondiwindi and also Longreach in Queensland over a five year period. Andrew also managed to squeeze in a couple of years working as a Stationhand at Ravensworth Beef Feedlot at Hay in NSW and as a Jackaroo on Mathoura Station in Queensland. Both Andrew Baker and Des Umbers will continue to work closely together delivering and developing the Agribusiness Program. Real World Seminar Each year on the day before Graduation, the College presents the ‘Real World Seminar’. Attended by parents and graduating students this Seminar has proved to be of real value. Succession Planning is a major topic and in 2007, Peter Lawson (FM 95) and his Father, Dennis, farming near Wagga Wagga NSW, spoke and shared their experience of this important aspect of family properties. Anna Winstanley (Javni) Twenty-five years in any language is a worthy time of commitment to the job, and Anna Winstanley, known to many of you as Anna Javni, has performed the role of Printing Officer at Marcus Oldham for that length of time. Anna was commended on her supportive work in ensuring the staff members were supplied with the lecture notes, leadership and corporate training papers, marketing materials, and much more, and unlike the rest of us, she generally manages a ‘calm’ response when the photocopier goes berserk. International Visitors Recent visitors to the College, continues to expand Marcus Oldham’s international profile. Peter Lawson (FM95). Fiona, Guy (FBM 07) and David Robertson (FM 79). David Uebergang (FM 76) and his son Ross, (FBM 07). Helen, John (FM 69) and Will Calvert (FBM 07) now studying BBus(Ag Mgt). Record Broken at Cross Country Tony Hudson hosted two young farmers from Argentina. Spectators were a bit chilly but the runners were hot, especially Agri 1st Year student, Sasha King from Gogango, Qld, who broke the female record with a 23.28 run (old record 24.16). The male record is a 2007 effort of 19.07 and James Gubbins, Hamilton Vic, Farm Bus Mgt 1st Year, came close in 19.32 with Alister Woods, Shelford, Vic, 3rd Year, close on his heels with a run of 19.41. Dr Simon Livingstone and Sam Inglis welcome a Dutch Government Delegation to the College. The College welcomed French visitors who learned more of Australia’s beef production from Sam Inglis. .0$04"+SLC 13 in May, Dugald Higgins B.Bus (AgMgt) 2001 Ad Dip FBM 1998, as an Associate Director of Property Investment Research (PIR), spoke to the students. Industry Leaders’ Mentoring Program Graduate Addresses Students Marcus Oldham College conducts an Industry Leaders’ Mentoring Program supported by The Lucas Group Pty Ltd (Geoff Lucas FM 81). The College invites speakers to address students and Dugald is responsible for PIR’s Investment Evaluation Service, which provides essential research to investors and their advisers as well as the management of PIR’s Consultancy team with over 30 analysts across Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Prior to joining PIR in 2002, Dugald held the position of Senior Research Analyst with Adviser Edge Investment Research (formerly Agribusiness Research), where he specialised in industry analysis, market trends, commodity projections and scenario analysis. Dugald has undertaken investment evaluations of over $1.5 billion in capital raisings in the agribusiness managed investments industry as well as over $2.5 billion in the property funds industry. Dugald comes from an agricultural background. He has had over 10 years experience in hands-on agricultural management as well as seven years as an investment analyst in agricultural and commercial property investments. Property Investment Research Pty Ltd (PIR) is Australia’s leading provider of independent research and analysis on property based investment products. The company was formed in 1989 and is owned exclusively by its Directors. PIR provides both industry and funds specific research to investment managers, financial advisers, stockbrokers, property professionals, fund managers, property services organisations and other investment professionals. Our Prac-year Employers M arcus Oldham College understood what the recent fuss was about, when employers observed that university graduates lack the practical skills and usefulness in the work place. When the ‘bright idea’ of ‘industry placement’ was bandied about in the media, Marcus Oldham calmly looked back over four decades of farm management students undertaking a ’sandwich’ year as part of their education. Integral to the student’s rounded education are our ‘Prac-Year Employers’ – a dedicated group of farming families around Australia who employ our farm management students after their first on-campus year and offer them practical training. During the year, the student is visited by a member of the College lecturing staff, and must complete two case studies on management aspects of the property. Mid-year, prac-year, sandwich year, or industry placement - it all means the Diploma of Horse Business Management 14 .0$04"+SLC same, and Marcus Oldham College warmly acknowledges the input these families make in the development of a student. In this MOCOSA we have pleasure in recognising Richard and Cindy House and family, who farm at Gnowangarup, S.E Western Australia. “Our association with Marcus Oldham began some 16 years ago when we employed our first mid-year student. From this point on, it has been nothing but a positive experience for all of our family, our staff and our local community. The students usually spend 13 months here with us at ‘Barloo’, Gnowangerup, Western Australia, where we run a mixed farming operation. As well as the novelty of coming to WA, they do seem to enjoy the exposure to different facets of agriculture, which we are able to offer them. It seems that they have only just arrived and we are getting to know each other, and next minute they are reading ‘Barbie’ books at bedtime, playing ‘King of the Pack’ on the back lawn after work with a quiet beer, listening to ‘High 5’ and ‘The Wiggles’ as the tractor or the header goes around and even being the representative parent at the ‘father-son’ football match because they are better footballers than the ‘parent’! (Listening to the CDs on the tractors with the kids also led to the game ‘Who can be the quietest for the longest?’, being introduced!) Over the years, we have had boys from all over Australia and have met various members of their families whilst they have been here. We have been to a couple of weddings, and visited their homes too – where they enjoy getting their own back and save up a few jobs for Richard! The boys are treated as, and certainly become, a part of our family, from joining us for Christmas to celebrating their 21st Birthdays here. Our local community also enjoy meeting these young people and having them be a part of whatever is going on, from mixed netball to volleyball and even corporate bowls! We hope that the mid-year experience is as valuable and enjoyable for the students as it is for our family, because we consider ourselves very lucky to have such a positive working relationship with these Marcus students. The intensive year provides students with the business management skills, equine science and practical skills/horse husbandry knowledge essential for a successful career in the horse industry. Subjects include horse business practice, communication and marketing, breeding, youngstock handling, stable and property management, nutrition, equine health, driving and applied riding practices, and own special interest study contract. Choose either Equestrian Training or Racing and Breeding. has had to face for a long time. It was particularly acute because our breeding herd was “naïve” and the spread of the disease was therefore very quick. Luckily, it affected only two States initially, New South Wales and Queensland, and due to strict biosecurity protocols was kept out of the rest of Australia. E I woke up Australia R esponding to an invitation from the Editor, three contributors comment on the recent devastating effects of the Equine Influenza. Ian Hart Horse Business Management 1987 Graduate of Excellence 2002 Chief Executive, Thoroughbred Racing S.A. Limited Australia has been in the envious position of being able to claim an environment free from many exotic animal diseases that have occurred in most other countries across the globe. The announcement of 25 August 2007 that Equine Influenza had been detected in horses in Sydney, outside of the Eastern Creek Quarantine Centre, was the most feared news equine industries in Australia could have anticipated. Over the ensuing weeks and months, there was disruption to thousands of equine events ranging from major metropolitan Thoroughbred race meetings to local community gymkhanas and riding school activities. In the Thoroughbred sector, this disease had a devastating impact on our Industry ranging from the direct disease consequences on the horses, to the very human impact on people’s direct livelihoods and the multiplying ripple effect through the economy across all parts of Australia. One can only imagine the impact if this disease had caused the cancellation of a major event like the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Although a strong collaborative approach to containment and eradication by the respective Primary Industry Department in each state and all those involved in the equine industries in one form or another to keep the disease within New South Wales and parts of southern Queensland, there were still major implications across all of Australia. In South Australia, although there were no reported cases of the disease, the impact took its toll through cancellation of events and an enormous human effort in co-ordinating permits for travel of Thoroughbred horses, setting up decontamination procedures and containment areas within the confines of racecourses where race meetings were allowed to proceed on permit in a closed environment. The loss of a large number of race meetings through New South Wales and Queensland from late August until their resumption in December and January, has conservatively cost the South Australian Thoroughbred Racing Industry approximately $2 million in direct wagering revenue, and the impact in the large states significantly more so. Across Australia the impact upon commercial breeders and related racing activities, together with the toll on employees’ earnings in the Industry, have been estimated at close to a billion dollars. The impact on the breeding industry was felt through reduced fertility, probably resulting in a foal crop which will be 5-10% lower than expected. This will have financial consequences on breeders. In addition, EI interrupted the training of Two year old racehorses preparing for their first campaigns and Three year olds being prepared for the Autumn classic races – and this has had financial consequences for their owners. All in all, it’s been a very expensive exercise for owners and breeders. Compensation was provided to the trainers and their service providers by the Federal Government with the aim of maintaining employment within the industry. To date, the Federal Government has also met the costs of containing the disease. Most of these points have been well documented previously but where to from here? The lasting impact of this disease will be felt for some years yet. The foal crop for the 2007 breeding season has been reduced and this will have a potential knock-on effect in resultant racing stock in the next three to five years which may limit the amount of revenue the Industry can extract and then reinvest for Industry participants. Will people be lost to the Industry and will others be in a position to reinvest in the future? The Government also launched an independent inquiry into the outbreak of Equine Influenza headed by the Hon Mr Ian Callinan. Depending on Justice Callinan’s findings, some sectors of the industry may seek compensation. The other major issue is that of ongoing vaccination. Although it would appear that the disease has been contained and eradicated there is a strong view that despite enhanced quarantine procedures being put in place there is still a significant risk of the disease reentering the Australian horse population. Like most other countries, an ongoing vaccination program would ensure a major economic contributor such as the Thoroughbred Racing Industry is not compromised should another outbreak eventuate, and be forced into ceasing operations and a further lock-down. From reading the transcripts of evidence given at the Inquiry, one thing is quite certain – protocols and biosecurity practices at Australian quarantine facilities are likely to be significantly upgraded in future. The words ‘equine influenza, quarantine and vaccination’ are going to be the subject of much discussion for some time to come. Emma Morel Director Horse Business Management Course Marcus Oldham College On March 14 2008, Australia was finally declared free of EI. Unfortunately, the ramifications of this outbreak continue to impact on the non-Thoroughbred industry. John Messara The Racing Industry certainly had a strong and articulate voice in the mainstream media, with the likes of Sydney Trainer John O’Shea vying to draw the media’s attention to the devastation of this disease. What was often over-looked, was the crippling effect that EI had on other aspects of the industry. Managing Director, Arrowfield Stud, Hunter Valley NSW. Arrowfield Stud is a co-sponsor of the $15,000 Australian Thoroughbred Scholarship to Marcus Oldham College. Last year’s Equine Influenza outbreak was arguably the greatest challenge the Thoroughbred breeding industry continued on page 19 .0$04"+SLC 15 Foundation News Over $70,000 raised in one day! Marcus Oldham College Annual Golf Day With the success of the inaugural Golf Day at Moonah Links last year, Antony Baillieu (FM 71), College Foundation Chairman, and his Golf Day Committee were eager for this year’s event to be even better. The day started a little cool, but it didn’t deter the 90 golfers from arriving bright and early at the beautiful Eynesbury Golf Course situated near Melton in Victoria. St George Bank played a vital role in the success of the day. St George also ensured they put their very best golfers out on display, although even the bankers found the stunning Graham Marsh designed course full of challenges! Sincere thanks to Graham Robinson and his team at St George, for their wonderful support in making the day lots of fun and a great success. St George Bank players: Graham Robinson, Lisa Frayne, Gordon Tansy, Christopher Wright, Ian Sanders, Sasha Rudik. An energised Captain Koala makes a hit! Charles Baillieu, Leigh Clifford, Adam Tressowthick, Jack Dahan. 16 .0$04"+SLC The Guests arrived back to the homestead for a culinary adventure with celebrity chef Gabriel Gaté and Screaming Seeds Founder, Alberta Cachia. Lunch followed in the marquee on the lawns of the homestead with an entertaining Master of Ceremonies Simon O’Donnell, cricketing legend. A number of exciting auction items were up for grabs including aboriginal artwork, a skiing holiday and a private tour of Boundary Bend Limited, Australia’s largest vertically integrated olive grove situated near Mildura. Funds raised on the day went directly to the Jubilee Campaign, and more specifically, the College Dining Room Re-Development. The College Foundation donated part proceeds of the day to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in support of their important schools education program that educates children about fire safety in the house and on the farm. As the golfers negotiated their way around the 18 holes, the non-golfing guests went on a personalised tour of the Eynesbury property, hosted by Brett Lane of Brett Lane & Associates, Ecological Research and Management, to gain a deeper appreciation of the environmental aspects of the unique development. Special thanks to Kerry Gillespie, Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) board member, for an amazing effort in raising over $2,000 on the “virtual betting hole”. MVRC also provided gift bags and golf day prizes, including dinner in the MVRC Committee Room. Gabriel Gaté charms the audience. Cas Chisholm, Suzie Herd, Frank Herd, Graeme Chisholm. Tim Dean (FBM 05), Chris Sharkey (FM 95), Ashley Creek, David Bufton (BBus(AgMgt) 03), Simon Pritchard (Agri 00). Bruce Wilson (FM 71) was on the prize list. Golf day committee: Antony Baillieu, Sybil Baillieu, Carol Hudson, Rob MC and ruthless auctioneer, Simon O’Donnell. Sybil Baillieu had a successful win. McGavin (Agri 93), John Miles, Deputy Principal (Business & Development) and Kate Sharkey, Agri 96) Foundation Development Manager. In just two Golf Day events, the College Foundation netted in excess of $120,000 for projects of the Jubilee Campaign. The College community sincerely thanks Antony Baillieu and the hard working Golf Day committee, golfers, non-golfing guests, sponsors and friends of Marcus Oldham who supported the day. Get ready for 2009! Scholarship Program $75,000 - The Yulgilbar Foundation offers Marcus students, unique travel scholarship opportunities The Yulgilbar Foundation has provided the College with a unique opportunity to offer travel scholarships to current students. Scholarships will be on offer each year to cover travel expenses enabling students to gain a greater experience in their industry placement or gradation year. Part of the selection criteria is for the student to undertake a special project of their choice, specific to the agricultural or equine industry. The project proposal must be presented to a panel for consideration. Dining Room Re-Development Yes, its true! Over 2 million meals served in the College Dining Room since 1962! Like a well-fed body outgrowing its clothes, the College has outgrown its dining room. Since 1962, the College has hosted occasions in the Dining Room attended by graduates, industry representatives, sponsors, leadership participants, past staff and friends of the College. The Dining Room has a very important role in the operation of the College and we invite donations to support the re-development of the old diner! As the financial year draws near, please note this reminder that donations are tax deductible – donation slip enclosed. Travel scholarships will be available to students currently studying the Bachelor of Business (Agricultural Management), Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) or the Diploma of Horse Business Management. Scholarships will be on offer in 2009. For more details contact Student Services Officer 03 5247 2911 [email protected] or Foundation Office on 03 5247 2919 [email protected] Academic Program $8,000 - The Collier Charitable Fund supports Academic Program Earlier this year the Collier Charitable Fund granted support to the College academic program. Funding has allowed the College to undertake a major upgrade of its computer software for students. Sincere thanks, on behalf of the College community, to all corporate, industry leaders, individual donors and philanthropic organisations for their continued generosity and belief in the values and spirit in which a unique educational experience is on offer to students of Marcus Oldham College. For more information on any of the Jubilee projects please contact the Foundation office on 03 5247 2919 or [email protected] .0$04"+SLC 17 Marcus Oldham College Foundation Ltd Executive Profile President – Mr John McIntosh Melbourne Grammar, B. Comm (Melb) Chairman MM&E Capital Pty Limited Past Chairman Advisory Committee Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Ltd Pastoral property holdings in Western Victoria Chairman –Mr Antony Baillieu Geelong Grammar, Dip Farm Mgt (Marcus Oldham College) Director - Mutual Trust Pty Ltd Chairman - Woodhouse Pastoral Co Director - The Australian Hereford Society Director - Down Ampney Director - Eynesbury Holdings Pty Ltd Chairman – Western District Pastoral Co Pastoral property holdings throughout Western Victoria and South East South Australia Mr W Robert R Beggs, AM 1992 Hon BBus (Ag Mgt) (Marcus Oldham) Immediate Past Chairman Marcus Oldham College Council Educated Geelong Grammar School, Corio Awarded Nuffield Farming Scholarship 1969 Director Pivot Limited 1985 - 2000 Director Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia Chairman Victorian Regional Committee 1993 - Present President Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria 1990 - 1993 President Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association 1989 - 1992 Managing Partner and Owner family rural enterprise at Beaufort, Victoria Mr Gordon Dickinson Scotch College, Dip Farm Mgt (Marcus Oldham College) Past Chairman and Joint Chief Executive UBS Warburg Deputy Chairman of Australian Wool Testing Authority Non Executive Director Mutual Trust Pty Ltd Non Executive Director Rubicon Systems Pty Ltd Pastoral property holdings in Western Victoria and South Australia. Mr Andrew Facey Scotch College, Dip Farm Mgt (Marcus Oldham College) CEO –Parklea Pty Ltd (Commercial Property Development) Past Managing Director / Board member Frank Facey First National Board executive on the Cardina Foundation Mr W R (Bill) Mackinnon BA Hons Law Oxford University Past Director of Becton Dickinson, N M Rothschild, Black & Decker and BASF companies. Past member of the; Australia Club Committee, Victorian Polo Association and Australia Golf Holdings Ltd. Currently on board of Embleton Limited, Victorian Racing Club Limited, Geelong Grammar Foundation, Marcus Oldham College. 18 .0$04"+SLC Thoroughbred horse breeder and pastoral property holding in Western Victoria Mr A J (Sandy) Mackenzie MRurSc (UNE) Past Federal Parliament Member for Calare NSW 1975-83 National Party Federal Secretary/Treasurer 1986-03 Founding Principal, Orange Agricultural College (now University of Sydney). Senior Farm Management Lecturer Marcus Oldham College 1965-68 Member of Australian Council Children & Parenting (Ministerial Advisory) Landcare Co-ordinator, Burnt Creek Group, Avenel Mr David Calvert-Jones Geelong Grammar, Dip Farm Management (Marcus Oldham College) Managing Director Seafirst Australia Pty Ltd, (private company), Domestic and International Equities, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Property Investment and Management). Chairman Victorian Mariculture Developments Director of Prestige Foods International Pty Ltd, Prestige Foods Manufacturing Pty Ltd, Charles Tims Pty Ltd, Integrated Packaging Group of Companies and Future Fibre Technologies. Member of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Development Board Trustee of the Calvert-Jones Foundation. Mr Michael Moore Melbourne University, B.Com (Melb), Hon BBus (Ag Mgt) (Marcus Oldham) Director Council Country Racing Victoria Marcus Oldham College Council Former Public Company Directorships Charles Moore Ltd Department Store Retailer Dandenong Westernport Building Society Statewide Building Society RESI Building Society - until it became Bank of Melbourne AB Technology Inc (USA), Moore Primary Industries Pty Ltd, Melbourne City Councillor (Central Ward), Melbourne City Chamber of Commerce Mr Bruce Wilson (College Council Chairman) Dip FM (Hons) (Marcus Oldham College) Principal of Murdeduke Agriculture Agricultural holdings in South Western Victoria Marcus Oldham College Council Mr Rob McGavin Adv.Cert.Agri (Marcus Oldham College) Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Boundary Bend Limited Marcus Oldham College Council Mr Michael (Mike) Carroll Advanced Management Program (2006) – Harvard Business School, Boston Masters in Business Administration (2004) – Melbourne University Business School Bachelor of Agricultural Science (1988) – Latrobe University, Melbourne Michael Carroll serves on a range of agribusiness companies in a board and consulting capacity. Recent activities include membership of the Federal Government’s Wheat Marketing Committee. He has held a diverse array of senior executive positions in a range of companies. Most recently, he was responsible for establishing and leading NAB’s Agribusiness division. Roles prior to this included several years as a Senior Adviser in NAB’s internal investment banking and corporate advisory department. Before joining NAB, Michael worked for companies involved in the agriculture sector including Monsanto Agricultural Products and a biotechnology venture capital company. College Representatives Dr Simon Livingstone, College Principal Pastoral property holdings Central Victoria Co-ordinator Warrambeen Landcare Education Centre (partnership between Taylor family, Greening Australia and Alcoa Landcare.) Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Master School Management, BBus, ADip Farm Mgt, Grad Dip FET Principal of Marcus Oldham College since January 2003 Past Lecturer of Farm Business Management at Marcus Oldham College Past Head of Department Agribusiness and acting Associate Director Training and Operations, Emerald Agricultural College, Qld Past Overseer with Twynam Pastoral Company, NSW Past Jackaroo and Stationhand with Stanbroke Pastoral Company. Employed for 8 years on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory and New South Wales. Mrs Sarah Thomson Mr John Miles Dip App.Sc Food & Food Services Farming and grazing in Central Victoria. Marcus Oldham College Council Panel member of the Churchill Fellow Business & Development Manager CPA, Churchill Fellow Mr Mike Stephens Dip Farm Management (Marcus Oldham College), CPAg, Managing Director of MS & A Churchill Fellow Mrs Trish Taylor selection committee Mrs Kate Sharkey Foundation Development Manager Dip Agbus (Marcus Oldham College) David to enrol, many of these students were from country and rural areas. David held a number of important government and business appointments, such as Director of the Australian Trade Commission, a member of the Australian – Japan Foundation and the Australian – Japan Consultation Committee, to name a few. He was a Director of BHP, the Industrial Bank of Japan, Australia Ltd, Wesfarmers Ltd, Rural Press and Delta Electricity. David Asimus made a significant contribution in many ways to Australia and we feel privileged he contributed so much to Marcus Oldham. On behalf of the Chairman of Marcus Oldham Council, Bruce Wilson, and the Council and Staff of Marcus Oldham College, we thank him for the support and interest he had for the College. We also acknowledge the wonderful support his wife, Jane, gave David, with all his many important activities that he engaged in during his life. Obituary David James Asimus AO Awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship in 1958 at the young age of 26, David studied prime lambs and pig production in the UK. Returning to his farming property at Gundagai, David became active in the grazing and wool industries and was an executive member of the Graziers Association of NSW until 1971. D avid Asimus was the founding President of the Marcus Oldham College Foundation. David, together with Nobby Clark of the National Australia Bank, launched the Foundation in Melbourne in 1989, and was President for eleven years. Keen to help the College in any way, David Asimus would travel from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales for any Foundation activity, large or small. In describing the College, he said it was “Innovative, Independent and Committed” and these are words we still use today. He was born at Tumut in 1932 and later went to Barker College in Sydney where he was Head Prefect. David attended Sydney University, was Head Student of St Paul’s College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. He received his University Blue for rowing and rowed in the 1953 and 1955 NSW Kings Cup crew. EI woke up Australia continued from page 15 Here at Marcus Oldham College we were fortunate, as Victoria remained EI free. The minimal inconvenience caused by bio-security protocol and restricted competing for our students was a blessing in contrast to having to contend with a farm of very sick horses and possible loss of income. Across the country, hundreds of equestrian events were cancelled and in the lead up to an Olympics, this has been a major blow for Olympic hopefuls. This has not only impacted on Australian combinations, but also on countries such as New Zealand and Japan, who were relying on qualifiers such as the Australian Dressage Championships in Sydney. Some riders, such as Stuart Tinney, have had to head to the Northern Hemisphere to ensure they get the best chance to qualify for Beijing. Heath Ryan, writing in ‘The Horse Magazine’, concluded that Olympic He was elected a Director of the Australian Wool Corporation (AWC) in 1973 and Chairman from 1979–1988, and was Chairman of the International Wool Secretariat (IWS) at the same time. David Asimus was Australian of the Year in 1987, Awarded the Ronald Anderson Memorial Man of the Year for Agriculture in 1986, and awarded an AO in 1984 (Officer in the Order of Australia). He was elected the founding Chancellor of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 1989, a position he held for 13 years. In 1997, CSU was awarded University of the Year for commitment to first generation students, a cause which David championed. W Robert R Beggs AM Immediate Past President Robert Riordan David Asimus was awarded three honorary doctorates – Doctor of Science in 1985 by the University of NSW, Doctor of Agricultural Economics in 1997 by the University of Sydney, and in 2001, CSU awarded David the degree of Doctor of the University. During David’s eleven years as Chancellor, the CSU grew from 10,000 students to 40,000. Encouraged by disciplines were losing $631,000 a day and that the proposed $25 million dollars offered in assistance to the nonTB sector will most certainly not cover all those who come under the banner of the pleasure horse industry. R obert Riordan of Newtown, Geelong was recently elected as Deputy Chairman of the Marcus Oldham College Council. We must not forget that auxiliary industries that help support Olympic riders and hobby owners suffered too - riding schools, farriers, transport companies, saddleries, and even veterinarians. We would think that vets’ businesses would increase with sick horses, but don’t forget that people were loathe to have visitors on their property due to risk of cross contamination, so many vets found their phone ringing less, not more. Robert is Managing Director of Riordan Fuels, a wholesale and retail Petroleum Distributor across regional Victoria, and of Strantex private investment company. Additionally, Robert is on the Board of Riordan Grains. He has held a number of Directorships including Boundary Bend Estate Olive Grove investors, Colac-Otway Water Board (Chair), Victorian Groundwater Council (Chair), Barwon Water and Monivae College Hamilton. Robert and his wife Elizabeth have four adult children, three of whom are Marcus Oldham graduates, James (93) and Paul (95) of the Farm Management course, and Louise (94) of the Agribusiness course. The effect of this EI outbreak has certainly made everyone within the industry realise that we are not immune to epidemic threats despite our apparent isolation. Terms like bio-security have made it into our equine lexicon and changed our approach from ‘she’ll be right’ to ‘we’d better get it right’ or face financial ruin and heartbreak all over again. .0$04"+SLC 19 The Network Reception was held in the Geelong Grammar School Dining Hall, and the couple live in Canberra ACT. MARRIAGES Ric Nelson FM 95 married Catherine Mills on 6 October 2007 at St. Fergal’s Church in Hay NSW. The reception was at ‘Westhaven House’ in Hay, the home of family friends Ian and Lynne Curtayne. Luke Fitzgerald BB(AgMgt) 05 married Erin Richards HBM 04 this year. The wedding and reception were held at the St Aloysuis Catholic Church, Sevenhill Winery, Sevenhill, Clare Valley, SA, on the 15th March (at the end of a 20 day +35C heatwave, 38C on the day). Back Row (L-R): Kim McMahon BBus 05, Erin Fitzgerald Richards, HBM 04, Luke Fitzgerald BBus 05, Stuart Johnston RBM 02, Sophie Kennedy BBus 08, Alexander Keach BBus 05, Nicholas Mills BBus 05, Crosby Youl, best-man, RBM 04. Front Row (L-R): Glenn Aldridge Agri 02, Timothy Gubbins RMB 04, Jade Freeburn BBus 05. Erin is currently working as a Business Development Manager for Bendigo & Adelaide Bank in Adelaide and Luke is Operations & Business Development Manager for the Lloyd Ag. Group. based in the Adelaide Hills. Kate Monty Gaffney HBM 97 married Rob Monty at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hobart in November 2007. Kate and Rob have a little son, Jay. [email protected] Katrina Swift Watson FBM 02, B.Bus(AgMgt) 03 and Mark Swift, FBM 05 and currently studying for BBus(AgMgt), married on 12 April this year and honeymooned on Lord Howe Island. Lachlan Stewart FM 96 married Amanda in January this year. Kate Turner HBM 02 wed Albert Achanfuo-Yeboah in the Chapel of All Saints at the Geelong Grammar School on Saturday 29 March 2008. The 20 .0$04"+SLC Michael, Danny, Ric and Bruce at the recovery next day. Graduates at the wedding were Michael Wallis, Danny Colla and Bruce Crouch all FM 95, and the photographer was Margie McCelland, wife of Chris McCelland FM 66 who lives at Hay. Ric and Catherine are a success story from a leading women’s magazine, which ran an article about farmers searching for a wife. BABIES Mark Inglis FM 92 and Fiona have a little daughter, Matilda, born 8 December 2007 and is a sister for Molly. Molly and Matilda are the granddaughters of Sam FM 66 and Cheryl. Peter Stephens FM 83 and Ali Murphy have two little people – Charley Peter James and Lucy Veronica Grace, born 3 February 2008 at Geelong, to keep them busy. Andrew Kettlewell FBM 02 and Amanda are delighted with the arrival of Poppy May born 28 November 2007, 7lbs 14 oz, at the Northampton Hospital UK. Andrew and Amanda have rented an 11 acre block of land and have 23 ewes which were lambing, at the time of writing (March) and Andrew says the lambing percentage was currently running at 200%. So, from 5.30am till 7am he’s in the old work cloths, and from 8am to 6pm in the full suit and tie. He’s busy, but happy selling IT and as March was the last month of the financial year, Andrew was on the way to being, ‘sales person of the year’ after doing two million pounds worth of sales. Hope he made it! They live at Long Buckby, Northants. [email protected]. Ben Erwin FM 94 and his wife, Sandrine, welcomed their second child, Amelie Josephine, 8lb 11oz into their family on 13 August 2007. A little sister for Isabelle Rose. Bridget Pern Green Agri 96 and husband Daker’s third child, Oliver, was born just before last Christmas. They live at Willatook, Vic. Jane Boys Bowman Agri 92 & 02 and her husband, Malcolm are proud to announce the safe arrival of their little daughter, Isabella Mae born Wednesday February 3 2008 and weighing 7lb 14oz. Son, Neil loves having a little sister. They live at Nanneella Vic where they operate their Pleasant Park Jersey Stud & Kallam Brahmans. Jane is the daughter of Anthony Bowman FM 68. [email protected]. Danny Colla FM 95 and Daniella recently welcomed Jordan Xavier to their family. A brother for, Nathan, Alannah, Gabriella and Samuel (dec). Tom Murphy FM 03 and wife, Fiona live at Jimbour Qld, and have one little daughter. MARCUS ALL OVER Chloe Armstrong HBM 07 is currently employed as Stud Secretary for a boutique broodmare property called Reavill Farm owned by John and Shenna Rippon. Due to the small size of the farm (40 mares) Chloe has the opportunity to be involved in all facets of the business. Chloe has been to the recent Inglis and Magic Millon sales and was very excited that one of their yearlings by Redoute sold for $1.8 million. Chloe said her employers are looking after her very well and providing her with great opportunities. Peter Stevenson RBM 01 and Anna Cockerill HBM 98 have moved to Walcha, near Tamworth, NSW. Peter is working with Clyde Agriculture as Livestock Overseer and Anna will work part time with AQHA. Her interest is to develop an equine massage operation around the busy program of raising Abby and new baby, Riley 9lb 12oz, born 27 March in Tamworth (he shares a birthday with his Dad). [email protected]. Craig Hamilton FM 82 works in Warrnambool Vic as a Business Development Manager, Corporate & Business Division with Bankwest. Helen Monie Malone Agri 98 lives in Moree NSW and is working at Westpac Bank as one of the Agri Managers. Keeping Helen busy is the study required for her Bachelor of Business majoring in Agribusiness. [email protected] Lucy Hall Agri 98 previously with AWB in Perth, is now working with Price Waterhouse Cooper in Melbourne. Ben McTaggart Agri 06 enjoyed working as an Investment Analyst Agribusiness with Lonsec Limited in Collins Street, Melbourne, but has been drawn back to the open skies and a rural lifestyle and can be found living near Moora, WA. [email protected]. Georgina Greig Spry HBM 86 and her husband farm near the Hamilton Hwy at Caramut, Vic. [email protected]. Joanne Park King HBM 89 and Cam, own Winchelsea Trading – hardware and farm supplies, and live at Inverleigh Vic, with children Harrison, Cameron and Kealy. After leaving College, Joanne worked on Thoroughbred studs for ten years. Jennifer Douglas-Haby-Milne HBM 98 lives with husband, Stuart and children Rachael and Vienna, near Nichols Point, Vic. Jennifer was Competition Manager for the inaugural Equitana Asia Pacific Event 2000, Team Liaison Officer Sydney Olympics, and in 2001 produced an Olympic Documentary. Marrying her winemaker husband in 2003 she moved to Mildura. She set up a horse property, and a local production company and organises community events. The production company, Sweet Pea Productions, is now servicing clients nationally. Jennifer still finds time to compete in Dressage. [email protected]. Jason Frecklington FBM 93 along with his wife, Deb and three daughters, Isabella, Lucy and Elke, live in Kingaroy Qld. [email protected]. Christopher Sloane FM 70 resides at ‘Edendale’ near Blayney NSW with his wife, Rosemary. Christopher operated two properties in the Forbes District, before selling and moving to Orange in 2002, and is now employee/contractor for orchards and farms in the region. Andrew Perry FM 66 farmer and grazier, and Anne live in Dubbo NSW. Since leaving Marcus Andrew owned and managed their property at Warren NSW. [email protected]. Jock Campbell Agri 97 manages Pooginook Merino Stud at Jerilderie NSW where he lives with his wife, Lou and children, Harriet and Jack. [email protected]. Luke Wilkinson HBM 02 a Blood Stock Agent and Thoroughbred Syndicator, lives at Werribee Vic. Luke started his own business in Luke Anthony Bloodstock and has syndicated 15 horses with Caulfield trainer, Mick Price. In 2007 they had 11 winners. John Maggs FM 80 has enjoyed property management in NSW and Victoria before moving in to sales with Phillips Farm Machinery, Hamilton Vic. John and wife, Jenny, live at Byaduk with children Scott and Ben. [email protected]. Tim Clarke FM 69 is farming at Pranjip Park, Wahring, Vic. [email protected]. What DobeYr?ou Remem Colin Baldock FM 75 has a retail grocery and café franchise in Adelaide called ‘Jones The Grocer’. Call in for a coffee and a chat. With his wife, Anne, he operated family properties in Qld and NSW until their sale over the last two years. [email protected]. Marcus Berlyn HBM 91 owns a medium earthmoving business in Ballarat and also sells large water tanks. He and his wife, Kimberley and young Ryan live in Ballarat. Before making a career change of direction, Marcus was stallion manager/farrier/horse breaker at Wyndham Park for seven years. Greg Scanlon FM 91 spent 5 years as Stud Overseer at Eidswold Station Santa Gertrudis Stud, then became Owner/Operator of G & R Scanlon Ag Management – cattle breeding and ag contracting, and is now Owner/Director of ARB Bendigo, retail, fitting and servicing of four wheel drive accessories. With wife, Robyn and children, Emily and Tully he lives at Kangaroo Flat Vic. [email protected]. Michelle Napthine HBM 97 is General Manager of Macedon Park (spelling, breeding and racing.) Michelle, Raymond and daughter, Jessica born on 2002, live in Gisborne. Michelle worked as a safari guide, vet nurse and in saddlery, before her current work. Adam Hill FM 99 commenced in February this year, the role of CEO for the Northern Territory Livestock Exporters Association, based in Darwin. Michael Kingham FM 98 and wife Margaret Lyons Agri 98 with children, Meg, Bryce and Warwick, live on Margaret’s family business – Allensleigh Station at Charters Towers Qld, where Michael is managing two family cattle properties. [email protected]. Lucy Roberts Nelson HBM 87 is Assistant Stud Secretary at Coolmore Australia in Jerry’s Plains NSW. Lucy is married to Martin, and since graduation has worked at Coolmore Ireland, Derringstown Stud, Ireland, Cambridge Stud, NZ, and moved to Coolmore Australia in 1997. [email protected]. David Stewart FM 76 after leaving Marcus spent 10 years as farm manager, 13 as Agricultural Trainer with TAFE, and has been in the current position of Senior Chemical Standards Officer with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries. David and Anna are based at Balnarring Vic. [email protected]. Because Mike Stephens (FM 66) wants to know. Mike is authorised to write the history of Marcus Oldham College to be published in celebration of our 50th Anniversary. Apart from the facts and figures that require to be told, a good read also includes stories with a human interest element; stories that show the heart and the colour of this unique College. So think hard and search the memory bank for snippets, earth shattering experiences, anecdotes, and perhaps ring mates, or gather around for a few beers and start reminiscing. To unlock your mind here are some thought starters: • tours (remember some things that happen on the bus, stay on the bus) • humorous events • harmless gossip • lecturers’ faux pas • lecturers’ wisdom • Principals’ idiosyncrasies • Principals’ leadership and good advice • rules good or bad • punishments (fair or unfair) • dining room stories • staff – admin, hostel, maintenance • hostel corridors • sporting tales • formal dinners • B & S’s • before girls (officially) • tree planting • Principal’s house • first week at College • graduation • no kiss and tells (unless you really have to) • a good thing that you learned in the lecture room or on tour that has stood by you over the years. This is your history. Please contact Mike Stephens with your contributions. [email protected] P. 03 5341 7652 F. 03 53417630 M. 0418 508150 P.S. and anything nice about the Principal’s wife 78-94! Actually, I think the Principals’ wives could tell a tale or two. JCMcC Editor .0$04"+SLC 21 Editor’s Memo Food: growing, marketing cooking, eating – a continuous cycle – well, we hope It has to bheam! Marcus Old • Industry recognised courses • Respected degree or diploma qualifications • Excellent employment opportunities • Expert guest lecturers • Be equipped with knowledge and skills to manage rural properties • National and international study tours • Small class sizes and personalised tuition • Develop strong business management skills • Gain invaluable industry contacts • Learn in a caring collegiate environment • Industry supported scholarships on offer • Develop horse husbandry and practical skills • Make friends for life from all over the world • International career opportunities • Full-time lecturers with commercial experience who can relate theory to practice • Real World education it will be continuous, even with the experts advising we will run out of it – food as we know it anyway. I expect the substituting of three pills a day for our breakfast, lunch and dinner is still sometime off! I just simply cannot imagine Marcus students sitting in the dining room endeavouring to get the satisfying sensation of meat and three veg out of one pill. So, this brings me to the current discussion on food production. Having seen properties battered by drought and the desperation of parents or neighbours, the upcoming generation may unfavourably view the wisdom of staying on the land, but for many it’s ‘in their blood’. Fortunately, generations of farmers have survived and recovered from droughts, and each generation has the backing of new scientific research in development of crops, new farming practices, education, water management, agri-politicians, environmental issues, advising, transport, counselling, and, also, a strong desire to maintain their way of life. New agriculturalists emerging from Marcus and other institutions keenly recognise the importance of their career choice and their role as caretakers of the land and as producers of food to feed Australians and provide for the international markets. When travelling around Australia attending field days, career expos and schools I am greatly heartened by the show of faith in Australian agriculture, and to have our own farm business management groups full or close to full capacity, augers well for Australian agriculture. Which brings me back to the first word – Food – seen on tables in the College dining room – a room too small. The heart of any home is the kitchen-dining room, this is no less for the Marcus dining room. Please take time to fill out the enclosed donation form showing your financial support for the re-development of the dining room. Your contribution will help make this room the centrepiece of the College. Thank you. FIELD DAYS – Call in for a chat. June 12-14 August 4-5 August 12-14 August 17 ‘Primex’ Casino NSW ‘Sheepvention’ Hamilton Vic Eyre Peninsula SA Victorian Country Thoroughbred Festival Seymour, Vic August 19-21 ‘Agquip’ Gunnedah NSW September 9-10 ‘Westech’ Barcaldine Qld September 23-25 Henty NSW October 7-9 Elmore Vic November 14-16 Adelaide 3-Day Event November 20-23 Equitana Melbourne If you know someone you think should be pointed in the direction of Marcus, sit down and have a chat with them about the importance of a tertiary education if they are serious about a career in farm management, horse management or agribusiness. Janet Craigie-McConnell Editor An awed hush rose… • Be a success A Choose the College described by many as the leader in rural and equine business management. Shares offering ten percent of ownership were auctioned and Robert and Harvey purchased one share in the Thoroughbred filly, ‘Hush Rose’ sired by Hussonet, which stands at Arrowfield Stud, NSW. Syndicated by Slade Bloodstock, the filly is trained by champion trainer, Lee Freedman. • Learn leadership skills FREE CALL 1800 623 500 [email protected] 22 .0$04"+SLC revelation, second sight, vision, hunch, gut-feeling – call it what you will – but at the 2007 Marcus Oldham Golf Day auction at Moonah Links, Robert Riordan, Deputy Chairman, Marcus Oldham College Council and Harvey Munday, long time friend, had it. An awed hush rose from the crowd at the Sale Races, Vic, on May 6 this year, as ‘Hush Rose’, in her second start, burst from the gates and showing extraordinary spirit fired by the all-consuming desire to win, triumphantly flashed first past the post. Punters take note! Need to contact someone? College Staff Principal: Simon Livingstone [email protected] (03) 5243 3533 Deputy Principal (Business and Development): John Miles [email protected] (03) 5247 2903 Director of Agribusiness: Andrew Baker [email protected] (03) 5247 2902 Director of Farm Business Management: Tony Hudson [email protected] (03) 5247 2920 Director of Horse Business Management: Emma Morel [email protected] (03) 5247 2909 Director of Corporate Training: Sam Inglis [email protected] (03) 5247 2921 Lecturing Team: Nigel Brown [email protected] (03) 5247 2923 Des Umbers [email protected] (03) 5247 2918 Jason Wheaton [email protected] (03) 5247 2908 Will Winter [email protected] (03) 5247 2922 Catering & Accommodation Manager: Ken Whitehead [email protected] (03) 5247 2910 Computer Centre Coordinator: Scott Vanderkley [email protected] (03) 5247 2906 Foundation Development Manager: Kate Sharkey [email protected] [email protected] (03) 5247 2919 Maintenance & Grounds: David Bent (03) 5247 2914 [email protected] Ian Cook (03) 5247 2914 [email protected] Marketing Officer: Janet Craigie-McConnell [email protected] [email protected] (03) 5247 2926 MOCOSA Executive President: James Bufton FM 94 [email protected] (03) 5284 1344 Student Services Officer: Jenny Wotherspoon [email protected] (03) 5247 2911 Vice President: Graeme Harvey FM 71 [email protected] hm: 03 5265 1344 Secretary to Management: Jennifer Jones [email protected] (03) 5247 2901 Secretary: Sam Inglis FM 66 [email protected] (03) 5247 2921 Administration Officer: Rebecca Ross [email protected] (03) 5247 2900 Committee: Peter Griffiths HBM 82 wk: (03) 9434 2133 mb: 0408 346 824 Mark Inglis FM 92 [email protected] mb: 0402 011 229 Library Manager: Janine Robertson [email protected] (03) 5247 2912 Anthony Mulcahy RBM 02 [email protected] hm: (03) 5350 7537 Assistant Finance Manager: Cathy Bent [email protected] (03) 5247 2905 Jennie Parker Agri 93 mb: 0407 840 558 [email protected] Printing Room: Anna Winstanley [email protected] (03) 5247 2913 Kate Sharkey Agri 96 [email protected] (03) 5247 2919 Marcus Oldham College Old Students Association MOCOSA Magazine is published by: Tie $25 Scarf $32 Life Membership $100 Marcus Oldham College Private Bag 116 Geelong Mail Centre 3221 http://www.marcusoldham.vic.edu.au Phone: 03 5243 3533 Fax: 03 5244 1263 Magazine Editor: Janet Craigie-McConnell [email protected] Supported by: All the team at Marcus Oldham College Design By: Jakki Oakes - Dali Doo Art & Design Printed By: Print Design Australia Mail Preparation By: Shannon Park Industries .0$04"+SLC 23 Valued sponsors of the College Woodlands Stud RC & EC Webb Trust Wa l l a c e L i v e s t o c k I n s u r a n c e Innovative • Committed • Independent