There are many risk factors when working on the land, but local youngsters know how to prevent a disaster after a community driven Livestock Handling Farm Safety Day last week.
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About 130 students from schools across the Upper Hunter and Central West took part in the day organised by the Merriwa Show Interschool Challenge committee.
The interactive hands-on day was organised as the reward program for the children that excelled in the challenge at the show last September.
The idea was to provide the students with extra education and beneficial programs as a reward for their achievements.
With the support of WorkCover, the Upper Hunter Shire Council, Tocal College, Rabobank and Hunter Local Land Services, the students were provided a broad range of skills and farm safety tips from safety on a quad bike to chainsaw skills and stock handling, as well as an art program.
The day was held at the Merriwa Showground last Thursday with students from secondary schools in Merriwa, Coolah, Scone, Muswellbrook and Aberdeen learning from experienced Registered Training Organisation presenters.
The rotational workshops covered livestock handling, quad bike safety, tractors and implements, farm machinery including the chain saw, and livestock diseases and preventative health measures.
The art session saw four artists provide their time to broaden student’s skills, with local Merriwa primary school children also taking part in this.
Aboriginal art classes were provided by Les Elvin, local boy Edmond Hogan provided a printing workshop, Jean Davies and Leslie Nixon taught watercolour and Roger Skinner shared his skills in photography.
Merriwa Show Interschool Challenge coordinator Maria Cameron said the day was also majorly supported by many local community groups including the campdraft committee, CWA, men’s shed, progress association, Merriwa NSW Farmers and many others.
“The whole idea is to equip the students with the knowledge to do a risk assessment before putting themselves in a potentially dangerous situation,” Mrs Cameron said.
“We hope to provide the do’s and don’ts in a practical hands-on experience to reduce on farm injuries through greater awareness of best practice techniques, safety issues and available training options.
“We strongly believe this education must start with the youth to fully engage our local community,” she said.
WorkCover Work Health and Safety Regional North community relationship officer Jeremy Whyte said the initiative was the first of a series of state wide farm safety days WorkCover is supporting throughout the next 12 months.