Waipaoa cadets well-grounded
Debbie Gregory
The success of the Waipaoa Station Farm Cadet Training Trust was celebrated at the annual prizegiving attended by about 140 people.
As well as acknowledging the achievements of the individual cadets, tributes were paid to the big team behind the farm cadet training scheme run on the iconic station.
Station owner Rob Telfer said the farm staff were a major key to the success of the programme and he thanked them for their efforts.
Sponsors of the training programme were continuing and a major sponsor, the Donny Trust had signed on for another two years.
Having the cadets on the farm could be testing at times, he said.
“It’s not all beer and skittles. Not a lot of farmers would put their hand up for something like this, but it has been all worth while.”
Waipaoa training manager Laurence Burkin said the gathering was to celebrate the success of the current cadets and also the triumph of being acknowledged as a top provider of agricultural training.
The past year was described as “solid”.
“The growth of the training module has been steady and has exceeded expectation in many areas.”
The theory programme had positive reviews from National moderation, Massey and Lincoln University staff and the many industry people involved with the programme.
Tairawhiti Polytechnic provided the trust with templates and guidance on how a professional academic programme should run, he said.
Beyond 2010 the focus of the programme would be on the business of farming and the product beyond the farm gate as well as keeping in touch with the practical element of farming.
“The practical component has run very well, largely due to the efforts of the Waipaoa training staff who have a direct influence on the standards and skills the graduates will leave with.”
Another important part of the operation was the cadet cookhouse and hostel.
“Leigh McIlroy our cook has been vigilant in ensuring that manners and standards around the cookhouse are always kept in line. She has also done a good job in teaching the cadets to cook.”
Mr Burkin said the 2009 practical and theory had been relatively heavy and disruptive because of eratic weather patterns but through the whole time morale had been high and the cadets had always looked for more.
Representing one of the major sponsors, BNZ’s Hamish Campbell said it was a privilege to be involved in the Waipaoa programme.
East Coast MP and education minister Anne Tolley said the community was proud of the training trust and it was part of an essential industry in this country.
Three of the five cadets have decided to go on to university and two were taking up farm work. Next year five new cadets will come into the programme.