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Education program opens doors

Students from Grant High School, Kingston Community School, Lucindale Area School and Millicent High School took part in the annual Career Immersion program earlier this month.

The five day program designed to expose students to a broad range of employment options was supported by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board by coordinating visits to unique natural assets, local farms and organisations.

The activities enabled the students of the lower and upper Limestone Coast to experience career pathways in landscape management while learning more about sustainable farming practices.

Grant High School students visited two local farms in the region.

The Splendid Egg pasture freerange egg farm and Mimosa Farm Trees, a native nursery where students learnt about direct seeding as well as regenerative agricultural practices, soil testing and biodiversity on farms.

Students conducted soil tests and viewed shelter belts that have been established over time, learning about their value and how they have contributed to reducing lamb losses and increasing pasture growth.

Landscape education coordinator Vanessa Freebairn said providing education and awareness opportunities in relation to career pathways in landscape management for the next generation is so important.

“Taking students outdoors to speak directly with land managers provides a deeper level of engagement for the students,” she said.

Kingston Community School, Lucindale Area School and Millicent High School spent time with the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board, learning about the geological history of the region and how the landscape has changed over time. With an afternoon at the local free range pig farm Beachport Berkshires, students learnt about sustainable farming practices and desirable employee qualities sought by employers, providing a useful insight for students joining the workforce in the future.

David Williamson, manager of the South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board said presenting the diverse range of local job opportunities to these students is always a positive experience, and being able to be in the field for a hands on experience provides valuable practical knowledge outside of the classroom.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board provides support and resources to schools across the region in relation to landscape education. To find out more visit our website www.landscape. sa.gov.au/lc

IMMERSING THEMSELVES IN

POTENTIAL CAREERS: (Above) Grant High School students at Piccaninnie Ponds for the Career Immersion Days; (top left) Kate and Mark Wheal talk to students at Beachport Berkshires for Career Immersion Days; (below left) Peter Feast of Mimosa Nursery talking about his native nursery for Career Immersion Days and (below right) checking out the chicken tractor at the Career Immersion Days.

Rural romance in the spotlight at library

Leonie Kelsall set to launch third novel at a Sunday afternoon author event

Author Leonie Kelsall returns to Mount Gambier Library this Sunday at 11am to launch her third novel, The River Gum Cottage.

The River Gum Cottage is a heart-warming rural romance with strong characters, community connection and deals with guilt, betrayal and an unlikely romance. It will leave you discovering that home is where the heart is. Mount Gambier Library Team Leader Kristi Brooks said that rural romance novels continue to be one of the Library’s most popular genres. “We are fortunate enough to have hosted Leonie Kelsall with her previous two novels, and she had the audience in stitches, combining both tales of her writing and personal life. Leonie’s books are filled with complex characters and will appeal to anyone who loves a good family saga,” Ms Brooks said.

Leonie grew up in the South Australian country - initially on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in a tiny town where the school had a total enrolment of only eleven students, and later on a farm near the stunning Murray River. Her rural upbringing encouraged a love of books, for which she will be forever grateful.

In the novel The River Gum Cottage, Lucie Tamberlani had it all: a business manager with a passion for naturopathy, she was set to take over the bookwork at the family strawberry farm in South Australia. But the unexpected fallout from a relationship sees her flee to Melbourne, raising her daughter alone.

Summoned back to the farm after her father’s death, Lucie must find a way to deal with not only grief, guilt, and the betrayal that forced her away - but the fear of losing her daughter.

Jack Schenscher is doing it tough: caring for his aged grandparents and managing their wheat farm while simultaneously pursuing his passion for sustainable eco-farming on his acreage leaves him with little time and even less money.

With the death of his business partner, he could lose all he has worked toward. Yet when he meets Lucie, can he set aside one passion for another?

Both Lucie and Jack must discover that home is wherever the heart is.

This is a free event, with complimentary homemade soup to follow the talk. Bookings required contact Mount Gambier Library on (08)8721 2540 or book online at www.mountgambier. sa.gov.au/library under ‘Programs and Events’.