COLLEGE DAYS

A mixture of young cattle gathered for company. These happy and friendly animals were photographed on a property near my farm

These contented horses appear well cared for and rugged when necessary. This photo was taken on a property near my hobby farm

Cattle reared on the hobby farms from a young age become very friendly and inquisitive. This photo was taken in a nearby farm

These sheep have been shorn in winter and will feel the cold throughout the winter. The photo was taken on a property near my farm in the local area

Life in a small town along the Murray River in South Australia ended on completion of secondary school studies.

College Farm

With plans to become a secondary school teacher, my life as a student of agricultural science began in the early seventies at the Roseworthy campus near Adelaide.

A broad range of enterprises were managed on the college farm, each having distinctive sounds and odours. Poultry sheds were always accompanied by the strong smell of ammonia, the piggery had an all-pervading smell of waste that never left one’s clothes throughout the day, the shearing shed had a strong smell of lint and sheep dung while the dairy smelt of lactating cows mingled with fresh cow pads. There was also a vineyard, orchard, vegetable garden and a winery for students who were to become winemakers. Students were rostered to work in all of the many college enterprises between days for lectures and laboratory work.

Students' Diverse Farming Backgrounds

Students arrived from a diverse range of country regions, most from dry-land farms that produced crops and grazed various types of farm animals. Some arrived from the city; however, most had family connections to the land.

The ensuring four years had their many high and low points, but having survived living in close quarters with about one hundred students it meant graduates were generally well equipped to deal with people in their chosen fields. As a teacher, the wide range of experiences gave me the confidence to teach all of the topics prescribed in secondary agriculture, biology and junior science courses.

The Wide Ranging Studies

My years at this college also gave me a wide range of stories to tell students in classrooms. Young students are always fascinated to hear how a piglet is treated after birth or how a lamb can be castrated in various ways. Students become bright eyed when told a female pig or sow needs to have many pairs of evenly spaced teats. Blood and gore usually gets a kid’s attention, and there was always plenty about. One day my task was to slaughter over one hundred chickens, we were also expected to shear some sheep, handle cattle and horses, drive farm machinery and harvest fruit and vegetables. Cold early mornings began before dawn when milking cows in winter, while some lucky students assisted in warm laboratories carrying out tasks related to animal science or plant breeding.

The Most Important Lesson

My college experiences have left me with a good appreciation about life on the land and how farmers face uncertainties on a daily basis. It has also helped me to understand that achievements on the land can only come about with lots of hard work and much dedication.

Most important lesson however, was that it helped me to appreciate the values and needs of rural people.