Page 7 - APN March 2017

Showing the way in WA
IMUSTsayIwasde- lighted to walk into the West Australian Pork Producers’ Association Pig Day Out recently at Technology Park and see a couple of tables of sec- ondary school students up the back of the room.
With some agenda top- ics admittedly a little bland for 15 and 16 year olds, I wasn’t surprised to see a few vacant looks and some headphones filling fresh young pink ears.
But, in general, the Bindoon Catholic Agri- cultural College students looked engaged and en- gaging, as did a few Mur- doch University students I made a point of introduc- ing to a couple of WA PPA heavyweights who other- wise may have left these vets and animal scientists of tomorrow to go it alone on the day.
Clearly, with pork pro- ducers and those up the chain so often lamenting that they can’t attract good staff and/or keep them once they have them, it surprises and disappoints me a little that producers and other industry players don’t welcome with open arms any opportunity to interface with the pig in- dustry workers of tomor- row.
Having said that, con- gratulations to WAPPA for getting them along, I understand with help from former WAPPA president Steve Martin’s daughter Stacey who now teaches at Bindoon.
I was pleased to be able to briefly chat with Brett Nelson, one of the Col- lege’s three aboriginal
Cant Comment by BRENDON CANT
teacher’s assistants, who along with Stacey accom- panied the students, some indigenous, from Bindoon for the day.
With indigenous Aus- tralians having a long and proud history as outstand- ing stockmen, especially as horsemen, drovers, musterers and station hands, there may simply be a natural fit here as in- nate stockmanship skills are surely highly sought after and valued at any piggery.
While admittedly some stock handling skills can be taught, having an af- finity for animals and an inner understanding of nature is a big advantage and some of these fine young indigenous kids might just find they have a head start, given a heads- up and an opportunity.
For young people to be attracted to work in the pig industry, which, let’s face it, can, subject to dif- ferent production systems and work environments,
be not exactly a glam- orous gig, key industry players need to get out and about and proactively promote the positives of a porcine workplace.
So, what are those posi- tives, at least those that I see might appeal when marketing to a young po- tential workforce.
I use the word market- ing deliberately, because clearly our industry com- petes with others and must, therefore, market its benefits and features.
Here’s my top 10, in no particular order:
• Pigs are intelligent ani- mals, capable of respond- ing positively to positive handling.
• Piggeries offer consist- ent work, that is, seven days a week every day of the year. Not seasonal, unlike other on-farm jobs such as shearing, seeding and har- vesting, for example.
• The industry is verti- cally integrated, meaning newcomers could begin work on-farm and then move up the chain to pro- cessing, packaging, sales and marketing.
• Industry is national and international, so ca- reer advancement and travel is possible.
• Industry is well backed by established, resourced marketing (Australian Pork Limited) and R&D (Pork CRC) bodies, which actively support students and those seeking pork career paths.
• WA’s pork indus- try, particularly the free range sector, is on the move, with new piggeries planned or being estab- lished, all of which re- quire a fresh workforce.
• A relatively small ag- riculture industry, at least compared to the likes of grain, beef and sheep,
WA’s pig/pork industry is willing and able to em- brace and nurture new- comers.
• The end product, pork, is the most consumed meat in the world, so there’ll always be a ready market for the product you help produce.
• Of all livestock pro- duction industries, the pig industry is universal- ly regarded as the most technologically advanced, especially in terms of ob- jective measurement of inputs and outputs, right up to carcass classifica- tion and food product de- velopment.
• Free range pig farming, which offers an attractive open air work environ- ment and a clearly trend- ing consumer enthusiasm, is an increasingly popular production system, with WA showing the way.
Brett Nelson (second from left), an aboriginal teacher’s assistant at Bindoon Catholic Agricultural College, was well aware that the photographer, yours truly, was well aware one of his students was giving him a set of rabbit ears. Our logic: it had been a good Friday and it was almost Easter, so let the kids have some fun. On a more serious note, WA’s pig industry needs these kids.
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EVA N Bittner, Pork CRC supported PhD candidate at the Uni- versity of Melbourne, was recently pictured with his supervisor Prof Frank Dunshea, who last year was hon- oured with the title of Redmond Barry Distin- guished Professor.
Prof Dunshea is un- derstood to be the only member of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricul- tural Sciences to present- ly hold the award, which is a great achievement considering the distinc- tion of some of his col- leagues.
This significant achieve- ment recognises profes- sors who demonstrate out- standing leadership in the www.porknews.com.au
University of Melbourne and the wider community, coupled with pre-emi- nence in their research, teaching and creative ac- tivity.
Congratulating Prof Dunshea on the award, Pork CRC CEO Dr Rog- er Campbell said he had not only made an out- standing contribution to teaching and developing students, many of whom have subsequently made substantial contributions to Australia’s pork indus- try, but he had also un- dertaken and supervised often ground-breaking, globally recognised re- search which Pork CRC acknowledged and ap- preciated on behalf of its stakeholders.
Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2017 – Page 7