Country experience for students

Dozens of students from the Queensland University of Technology have volunteered their time, trading in their holidays for a country experience.

COUNTRY TALES: David McCabe speaks about pregnancy testing cows. Picture: Contributed

DOZENS of students from the Queensland University of Technology have given up their time around the region this week, trading in their holidays for a country experience.

The students are part of the QUT Big Lift group, a student-run organisation that focusses on rural and indigenous issues.

Big Lift's Elliott Ashton said the group has spent a week offering a helping hand to communities in Chinchilla, Injune, and Dalby.

"We spend a night and then have a day of projects trying to engage with the community with needs-based volunteering,” he said.

The mid-year trip has been running for four years and focusses on educating students on issues including youth drain and coal seam gas.

The students have volunteered at a variety of locations including the Dalby Delicious and Delightful festival, the Injune school, retirement village, church, and community gardens, and the Chinchilla museum, Drought Angels, Mens Shed, QCWA, and library.

On Tuesday night the students gathered at Cameby Hall to hear from a number of speakers while enjoying a hot dinner on a chilly night.

Some topics included CSG activity, watermelon farming, and cattle producing.