The 2017 Archibull Prize is off and running and excitement is building at Bulahdelah Central School in NSW with the delivery of their Archie.
“The cow is in a fenced area in the foyer. I came out of my office the other day and these two little kindergarten kids were just sitting at the fence, cross-legged on the floor, looking at the cow.”
Deb Gilbert, Deputy Principal
Students from Year 5 to Year 10 are keen to get started on their journey through the world of sheep and beef with the support of Hunter Local Land Services and a very special Young Farming Champion.
Hunter Local Land Services is a government agency that works with land owners, farmers, agricultural industry organisations, communities and other government bodies to improve primary production and management of natural resources in the Hunter region.
“The Archibull Prize is a perfect fit for our organisation. The program provides in depth learning opportunities for students in our region on agriculture, biosecurity, climate change, energy, water and careers in agriculture. We hope that through The Archibull Prize, the next generation will be better informed about how food and fibre is produced and be inspired to seek out careers in agriculture and land management.”
Camilla Cowley, Hunter LLS
BCS students with Hunter Local Land Services Baby Archie
“The Archibull Prize will make the kids aware of the issues facing agriculture and our global environment. We come from an area that used to be centred around dairying and timber, which has diversified over the years, so it’s important our kids see agriculture has changed and there is a variety of occupations they can be involved in.”
Deb Gilbert, Deputy Principal
Bulahdelah is a country town in the heart of the Great Lakes on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Set on the banks of the Myall River near its junction with the Crawford River, the town is named from an Aboriginal word thought to mean “the meeting of the waters”,
The school has adopted an innovative approach in linking the primary and secondary through its middle schooling initiatives. The Archibull Prize will see primary school students from years 5 and 6 partnering with students in Year 10 in the secondary school .
“The Archibull will teach the kids about sustainability and about the limited resources available to a growing population because you’ve got to think about the bigger picture and your part in it. It will also show how important farmers are to our community, our economy and our well-being”
Sonia McDonald, Year 5/6 teacher
Mrs Gilbert has been teasing the students with a slow reveal of their Young Farming Champion, who is an expert in the sheep and beef industry, who has won major awards and who has travelled overseas to speak on environmental issues. Their YFC is none other than Mrs Gilbert’s son – Josh!
“It’s all about role modelling back to the kids in our school. Josh graduated from BCS and I don’t know if a lot of the kids realise some of the things he has achieved. To have someone come back to our school as a role model and say what they have accomplished given their education at our school is really valuable. Some of the students will be surprised, and may be disappointed even, when they find out it is just Josh!”
Deb Gilbert, Loving Mother
BCS Alumni Josh Gilbert with Peter Garret who presented Josh with the 2016 National Geographic Award for Young Environmentalist
You can follow BCS journey on their blog found here
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