YOUR INDUSTRY
Horticulture Career Pathways Mundaring Christian College V isit
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BY SAM GRUBIŠA INDUSTRY EXTENSION OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA
orticulture is life. Well, it’s my life and has been since I can remember. Much of my childhood is filled with memories of building go karts out of old wooden crates so my sister could tow my cousin and I down the hill behind the tractor, “helping” my Dida chop Rhubarb crowns with a massive cleaver for transplanting and wiping my after-school snack (Dad’s baby carrots) in my armpit to get the dirt and residual chook poo off before I ate it.
Admittedly in today’s world, there are a few questionable antics listed, yet I dare you to show me a more charmed childhood. It must have left an impression…coz look at me now! I’m still involved in the industry that gave me a fairly unique set of life skills, an appreciation for hard work and a vocabulary to rival that of even the most seasoned sailor. So, when vegetablesWA was approached by Mundaring Christian College to speak to a group of high school kids about the merits of a career in Horticulture; and my name was the only one put forward as speaker…I was slightly concerned.
The career possibilities in horticulture are endless...
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WA Grower SPRING 2020
Could I do it? Absolutely! Could I keep it “unsailor-y”, while representing the industry I love to a bunch of impressionable minds? Hopefully!
Karen, Amber and I met in the car park of VegWA HQ early on August 5th for our trek up into the hills. After fighting with a USB that refused to be a team player, we were on our way. On arrival (after I skilfully drove IN the exit) we were ushered straight through to the first presentation.
I remember being 16…I was awful (ask my Mum)…so I was prepared for the worst. You can imagine my surprise when we walked into a room of conscious, engaged teenagers. As we were in “The Hills” surrounded by trees and properties of acreage, I’d hedged my bets and hoped at least a few of these bright, young minds would know something about the food they eat.
