vaahe.org.au

Presidents Report. 2011

This is the 20^th   annual VAAHE conference which is quite a mild stone. I still remember the first conference that was run at Dookie College in 1992. As Agriculture and Horticulture teachers we were passionate and eager to learn new things. From where I stand today I don’t think any of that passion has been lost.

There is no doubt that landscape has changed. The general society is even further disconnected from the land resulting in a poor understanding of the importance of food and fibre.

As a result we need to continue to think of ways of improving the society’s knowledge in this area.

This was the first year of the new study design. I think that the new study design is an improvement on the previous. It is important that we make students aware of climate change and its effect on the agricultural and horticultural community.  Biosecurity is another area that is further emphasised in the new study design.

A positive initiative this this was the setting up of a Parliamentary committee to look at Agricultural Education in Victoria. The association was asked to prepare a written submission. A small group of teachers spent a day formulating the ideas. It was good to bring all our thoughts together and place it on paper. After several edits the submission was sent. It along with the other 160 submissions is on the web for all to see.

We were invited to speak to the group of parliamentarians in Melbourne in November. It was a very interesting day. The questions asked were related to our submission. The first question was what is our number one solution to improving agricultural education? The answer was more passionate Agricultural and Horticultural teachers.

A suggestion put to the committee was that a method called Agricultural and Horticultural Studies be looked at. For this to happen the association will need to talk to the VIT.

After short while it was finished. I feel we were listened to and that we were able to suggest strategies to the committee. I need to thank Andrew Dodson, Julie Pilgrim-Cayzer, Lorraine Tran, Seleena Nichols, Alan Ford and Gaye Whitehead who helped in the submission and or attended the inquiry.

Challenges for the Association.

The challenges for the association are still those of the last ten years. These include.

• Declining numbers of students choosing Agricultural and Horticultural Studies.
• Declining numbers of Agricultural and Horticultural students at the tertiary level.
• The aging of the Teacher population and their subsequent retirement resulting in a lack of Agricultural and Horticultural Teachers.
• The poor image of Agriculture and Horticulture in society

In closing I would like to publicly thank all the members on the committee for their efforts over the year. It is the behind the scene activities that these people do that that keeps the association going.

I would specially like to thank David Lott, our treasurer for his work in supporting the association. I would also like to publicly thank Gaye Whitehead as secretary and for her help with the organising and running of this conference.

Lastly I would like to thank Lorraine Tran who as part of the VCAA supports our study greatly. Lorraine has been part of our group for the last twenty years. Her work in supporting us is very much appreciated.                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                        Andrew Cosby.

                                                                                                                        President V.A.A.H.E.