Trainers
Patrick Calabria
Patrick is a viticulturist from Griffith, NSW and has long experience assisting farmers in horticulture, particularly grape production. He is still a part time TAFE NSW teacher in Horticulture, after many years of working in various TAFE institutions, including as Head Teacher – Rural Studies (Riverina). Patrick’s qualifications include Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), Certificate of Horticulture and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Andy Cassim
Andy is an experienced property manager and contract chemical sprayer, currently managing a cattle property in Braidwood, NSW. He is also the Cattle Coordinator/Director of the Southern Tablelands Beef Cooperative which is establishing best practice management in beef marketing.
Andy has long experience in a variety of practical farm training activities. His qualifications include a Certificate of Rural Science and the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Reg Kidd
Reg is extremely well known across NSW in many capacities and is a farmer in Orange, NSW. As a trainer, he presents our Chemical Card Plus, Farm Safety, Farm Planning and other farm related workshops. He is also the well known presenter of ABC local radio's Saturday morning gardening show, board member of the Central West Catchment Authority, Executive Councillor NSW Farmers Association and member of numerous government committees related to pesticide use and weed control.
Reg's qualifications include Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), Graduate Diploma in Education and a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Alison McIntosh
Alison is an independant consultant with experience in the beef and cattle industry. Her family run a stud and commercial beef property near Crookwell, NSW.
Alison's qualifications include Bachelor of Rural Business Administration, NSW Department of Primary Industries Cattle Livestock assessment course, Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training and is currently studying a Bachelor of Teaching (Agriculture).
Alison was named the 2011 NAB Agribusiness Beef Industry Rising Champion, representing Australian beef producers at the young Five Nation's Beef Alliance forum held in Denver, Colorado in January 2011. Alison was also a runner up in the RIRDC NSW Rural Women's Award in 2010.
Greg Murtha
Greg runs a small banana plantation, recently establishing one hectare of blueberries on their farm at Korora a few kilometres from Coffs Harbour, NSW. Greg was a high school teacher for 30 years teaching Agriculture and Science specialising in Chemistry and Biology in latter years. Greg and his wife ran Nana Culture producing 250,000 plants per year, supplying tissue cultures to banana nurseries, government research bodies and farmers Australia wide and in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Greg's qualifications include Diploma of Teaching (Science) and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Tony Paton
Tony was a rural financial counsellor for the NE Riverina Rural Financial Counselling Service for over 15 years and now works as a private consultant. As a trainer, he presents Chemical Card Plus and finance units in the Advanced Diploma of Rural Business Management.
Tony's qualifications include Diploma of Applied Science (Agriculture), Diploma of Education (Agriculture/Science), Diploma in Community Services (Financial Counselling), NSW Real Estate Agents Licence, NSW Stock & Station Agents Licence & NSW Business Brokers Agents Licence and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Doug Richard
Doug is a Dorper sheep breeder from Gunnedah, NSW. He presents our Chemical Card Plus, Farm Safety, Farm Planning and other farm related workshops. His recent background in NSW Dept of Primary Industries, including the well known Farming for the Future program gives him a depth of experience in helping farmers understand their farm and their business.
Doug’s qualifications include Masters in Agriculture, Diploma in Education and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
.
Bill Sims
Bill is an electrical engineer and former senior manager in both the electricity and water supply industries, roles which brought him into close contact with many rural communities.
Bill's qualifications include Masters in Business Administration, Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical), Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance and Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training.
Kathy Sims
Kathy is a former rural financial counsellor in Dubbo and Rural Skills Development Manager for NSW Farmers Association . She has worked extensively with farmers in both business and education/training.
Kathy's qualifications include Masters in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education, Grad. Dip in Computer Education, Assoc. Dip. in Farm Secretarial Studies (Rural Business Management) and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Lyn Sykes
Lyn is recognised as Australia’s leading succession planning facilitator, having assisted hundreds of farming families in all states and now trains others in the art of facilitating farm family meetings. She is highly sought after as a keynote speaker at conferences and has featured on Prime Television A Little Bit of Country, and radio programs including Bush Telegraph and The Country Hour.
Christine White
Christine operates a livestock production business, Coolah, NSW. Wool production and first cross lamb enterprise complemented by a cattle agistment service. Christine is an agronomist, she worked with CRT providing a private consulting service to the Coolah district. She presents our Chemical Card Plus and Manage Ag Crop Production training.
Christine's qualifications include Bachelor of Science Agriculture (Hons) and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training
David Worsley
David is sheep and beef farmer from Inverell, NSW. He presents our Chemical Card Plus, Property Management Planning, Farm Safety, and other farm related workshops. David is well known across northern NSW as a gifted trainer who relates well to farming groups.
David's qualifications include Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture), Diploma of Education and Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Karen Harper
Karen is experienced in the on farm “people issues” related to communication, management and succession, and operates her own consultancy, high resolutions. Karen is not only a trainer but also provides individual support and encouragement for our students. Karen’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business in the Field of Real Property Valuation and Administration and the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Maureen Devine
Maureen is a well known, innovative educator with more than 30 years experience in teaching and administration. She has worked in a range of schools in the Northern Territory, and has a wealth of practical knowledge of strategies to support students and teachers for good educational outcomes. Central to this is the value of effective education support workers who work with teachers in a classroom situation or remotely in home tutoring. Her understanding of the education assistant role has been gained both as a classroom teacher, and as a principal of schools where students had very significant support needs.
Maureen has a Bachelor of Education and a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training.