Welcome to the new look LandLearn NSW Newsletter!
Each term LandLearn NSW will endeavour to provide useful news and information about primary industries education in NSW. If you have any thoughts or ideas about the newsletter, please send them to: landlearn.enquiries@industry.nsw.gov.au
News
Primary Industries Round Up
Spotlight
Nationwide
Websites & Resources
Events & Competitions
News
Art4Agriculture have announced a brand new competition: What can you creATE? Based on statistics gathered on how much Sydney eats in a day, we're asking students to use their artistic flair and to create a webpage showcasing this information! Open to all secondary students, the winner will receive $500 and their webpage published on www.dairyyouthaustralia.com.au To register, email Loran Blades of Event Directors by 1st July 2011 loran.blades@eventdirectors.com.au
 Also from the Art4Agriculture team comes the 2011 Archibull Prize. This keystone art competition asks schools to create a body of work with the theme 'Bridging the Rural Urban Divide'. The Archibull Prize uses creative arts to engage the students and the wider community in discussions about agricultural sustainability and natural resource management. For more information, visit www.dairyyouthaustralia.com.au
 Cream of the Crop Winners were announced at the Royal Easter Show in April. The winners included Dustin and Brandon Gaddes for their presentation on goat farming. All winners can be viewed on LandLearn NSW's SlideShare profile at www.slideshare.net/landlearnnsw
Primary Industries Round Up
Forests NSW have released some new posters celebrating the International Year of Forests they can be downloaded at http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW as well as the Forests NSW website.
 Forests NSW attended The Timber & Working with Wood Show at the Entertainment Quarter of Fox Studios on 17-19 June. The schools day on Friday was particularly busy with Forests staff giving information to over 2000 students.
New National Forestry education to be launched in July. www.forestlearning.edu.au
Forests NSW will be appearing at Science in the City at the Australian Museum 9-18 August www.scienceinthecity.net
The new Cumberland State Forest activity brochure has just been released. For educational activities in the Hills District area of Sydney visit http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forests/info/escape
Tocal Agricultural College hosted the annual Tocal Field Days in April. As in previous years, the event continues to be the flagship agricultural event of the Hunter Region. This year there was a designated school expo with presenters imparting information about living more sustainably.
Tocal will host the first of its open days on the 8th and 15th July. A must for any students considering a future in agriculture. For more information on the day phone 1800 025 520 www.tocal.nsw.edu.au
 Two new lecturers have begun at Tocal College, Steph Teterin and Simone Harvey. Steph, a former student has returned to teach some units as well as managing her own fencing business as well as managing a rural produce store for many years. Former Australian Campdraft Champion and preschool teacher, Simone Harvey, will be lecturing Horse Husbandry.
Fisheries - After taking part in a ‘Do the Right Thing’ program organised by NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), around 100 students from Sydney schools will do their part to help spread the word to the community about fishing responsibly at a Fishing Enviro Day.
On the 23rd May at Mort Bay Park Balmain, as part of a yearly sustainability campaign, the students were introduced to safe and responsible fishing behaviours, including disposing of litter, bait, fish waste and discarded tackle responsibly. Students also learnt  about the habitat biodiversity of Sydney Harbour and how to be a responsible fisher by cleaning up, recognising fishing regulations and practicing catch and release techniques. The day was lead by DPI staff from the ‘Get Hooked... it’s fun to fish’ program and supported by Fishcare volunteers who are a passionate group of community members, dedicating their time and knowledge to teach the next generation of kids about being safe and sustainable fishers (more on Fishcare volunteers can be read in the Spotlight of the newsletter!)
The program is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to teaching the community about sustainable recreational fishing, using funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust.
Minerals education was showcased at the latest Tocal Field Days and at the recent Science in the Suburbs event in May at the WB Clarke Geoscience Centre at Londonderry. Students participated in fascinating activities such as Core logging - A 3D jigsaw for geologists! and PSI - Paleaeontological Scene Investigation.
Some new and exciting posters and handouts on fossils will be ready soon, including The Fossils of the Lower Hunter Valley and the Amazing Opal Fossils and Palaeontology posters. Stay tuned for those!
A new gold map for NSW was recently produced. This was featured along with the Maitland bar at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. You can now download the poster at http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW
Spotlight - Stephen Thurstan
Stephen Thurstan is the Fisheries Education Officer (EO) for South Region, which covers Wollongong to Eden and includes the Snowy Mountains.
What's your background?
I completed a degree in Marine science/zoology at Sydney University, which was followed by a three month summer student’s position at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre (NFC). This led to 25 years managing the native fish stocking program at the NFC, releasing over 34 million native fish.
How did you get into Fishcare volunteering?
In 2010, I sought a coastal sea change after meeting my new partner in Kiama, just south of Wollongong. Luckily I was successful in obtaining the Fisheries Education Officer (EO), South Coast position, which was based at Lake Illawarra and completed my sea change requirements of family, job and new abode. There are five EOs in NSW, all funded by the Recreational Fishing Trust. Our job is to increase public awareness of fishing regulations; safe fishing practices and run fishing workshops for children and minority groups. Assisting us, are the Fishcare Volunteers that provide the passion and enthusiasm often required to cover lots of competing activities, such as boat shows, fishing competitions, field days, habitat, restoration days, water advisory, school incursions and fishing workshops. The Fishcare volunteers are generally experienced fishers with a passion to promote safe and sustainable fishing.
What's the best part about working with volunteers?
Being a passionate angler, diver and environmentalist it is great to spend time with other passionate fishers, spreading the word about habitat protection and sustainable fishing. I believe fishing is a great way to interact with and appreciate the wonderful aquatic environment. With my background in aquaculture, research, fish stocking, angling and diving I have a wealth of experience and knowledge to pass on to others. Yet I am also learning a lot from the volunteers. For years I have enjoyed taking friends and their kids fishing. In the first 12 months my volunteers and I have taught many hundreds of people to fish, put over 200 kids through NSW DPI funded workshops and passed information on to thousands of people. The excitement and positive feed back from the kids and their parents has been great.
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Nationwide...
brought to you by Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF)
One-Stop Shop for Resources about to be launched!
The website for schools produced by the Primary Industries Education Foundation is set to make it easier for teachers to teach students about the source of their food and fibre. The website will be launched in early July and provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for resources connected to primary industries education across the entire curriculum from K-12. The website will launch with approximately 60 resources from across the country and new resources will be continually added. Most resources are already in existence but the website partnership between industry, education and government, will make it easier for teachers to find them, saving valuable time and energy.
If you want to be notified when the website goes live or you know of a great resource that you would like to recommend to teachers please contact; info@primaryindustrieseducation.com.au
2012 is Australian Year of the Farmer. A great little video on what work farmers do is available on www.yearofthefarmer.com.au
CSIRO has just released a new resource to complement their Carbon Kids program with the addition of a unit entitled 'Agriculture in a Changing Climate'. Visit www.csiro.au/products/CarbonKids-Resource.html#CKUnits
Websites & Resources
Minerals and Energy
website Oresome www.oresomeresources.com/
For Teachers For Students
www.forteachersforstudents.com.au
Food Wise
foodwise.com.au/
Fish 'n' Kids
fishnkids.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
Wood. Naturally Better (tm)
www.naturallybetter.com.au/
Find LandLearn NSW on these social networks:
 
 
Events & competitions
8 July & 15 July 2011
Tocal College Open Days
Prospective students and their families are encouraged to come to either of these days. Open Days begin at 10am and conclude at 3pm. They include a tour of the college campus, student residences, college farms and the historic Tocal Homestead Complex. If you haven't been to Tocal, Open Days are a great time to visit. It also gives you a chance to find out more about courses available and options for gaining credits at university. Phone 1800 025 520.
Poultry CRC Photo Competition
Entries close 29th July 2011
The Poultry CRC needs more photos of poultry, poultry production and poultry related activities. The theme for this year's competition is Nutrition & Environment. So if you are involved in poultry as a breeder, educator, fancier or researcher start snapping! Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. For more information call Mick Warner on 02 6773 3767 or email mwarner@poultrycrc.com.au
Recreational fishing photo competition
Entries close 31 July 2011
Are you a recreational fisher with a flair for photography? This is your chance to showcase your photographic talents. There are great prize packs to be won. For more information on entering visit www.industry.nsw.gov.au/fisheries and follow the links to recreational fishing. You can also register to receive a free calendar once published.
29 July & 31 July 2011
National Tree Day will be held on Sunday 31st July 2011, with Schools Tree Day taking place on the Friday 29th July 2011. Last year over 312 000 people at 3 500 sites dug deep to improve their natural surroundings. Tree Day shows children how easy and fun it is to help our environment. For more information visit http://treeday.planetark.org/about/
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