Inside look at Mannus Correctional Centre where inmates shear sheep and pick apples

Take an exclusive look inside NSW’s most unique prison, where inmates swap their cell for 4000 acres of sheep, cattle, timber, and apple orchards, and are put to work earning their keep.

Thousands of sheep and cattle, about 50 rams, orchard upon orchard and over 4000 acres of farmland doesn’t sound like your normal prison, but then Mannus Correctional Centre in Tumbarumba, in the state’s south, isn’t your typical penitentiary.

The all-male minimum-security correctional centre, about three hours drive from the nation’s capital, houses 164 inmates and at the heart of this atypical prison is a green-fingered approach.

The correctional centre teaches inmates the tricks of the farming trade: from shearing sheep, tending to orchards and managing cattle.

The centre’s governor and manager of security Phillip Patricks said the idea was all about providing opportunity.

“We’ve got opportunities here to work in agriculture, timber, maintenance, cleaning, education – there’s jobs and opportunities for everyone, which is one of the really nice things,” he said.

Agriculture and farming is one of the key elements of rehabilitation at Mannus, which sees inmates learn the tricks of the trade, before then – as part of Corrective Services Industries, the commercial arm of Corrective Services NSW – knuckle down to work on the site.

Inmates work in the sheep yards at Mannus Correctional Centre where prisoners learn to shear sheep, tend to the orchards and learn the tricks of the farming trade. Picture: Gary Ramage

Alongside shearing, there’s jobs in timber, orchard and maintenance activities, among many. Picture: Gary Ramage

Each inmate at the centre is employed by CSI, ranging from livestock activities, apple orchards, maintenance, and timber processing.

“They’ll all get an opportunity to work full-time and get wages,” Mr Patricks said.

“And it’s all spread out across our 4000 acres, so it’s a pretty big deal.”

Jennifer Peattie is a farm agricultural overseer at Mannus and explained how a large portion of the inmates were from the city and not reared in the art of agriculture.

“We’re trying to impart our knowledge and give them a chance to get out there, learn some skills and do things they wouldn’t have normally done,” she said.

Governor and manager of security at Mannus Phillip Patricks. Picture: Gary Ramage

Agriculture overseer Jennifer Peattie said shearing speeds varied among the inmates. Picture: Gary Ramage

“The work is sort of cathartic – jail can be stressful, and this gives them the opportunity to get away from that environment.”

Inmates, who are paid per sheep trimmed, swap the barbells for the shearers.

“It’s a completely different fitness from what you’d build in a gym,” Ms Peattie said.

“We had one inmate who was actually a shearer by trade and he worked out all the time, but he wanted to get back on the tools so he could get ‘shearing fit’ for when he got out.”

The speed of the shearing, Ms Peattie said, varied.

The centre is situated among 400 acres of lush green area. Picture: Gary Ramage

“We’ve got some slower and older guys, but then we’ve got some really young and fit inmates, who shear really fast,” she said.

Being a minimum-security centre, the spaces are reserved for inmates on smaller sentences or nearing the end of their respective time.

“We’ve got really any offence – we’ve helped those convicted of murder or serious drug offences near the end of their sentence,” Mr Patricks said.

There’s no inmates convicted of sex offences, however, which was down to the environment at Mannus and its interaction with the community.

The fitness gained from shearing is different to that built in a gym. Picture: Gary Ramage

Inmates are paid per sheep sheared. Every inmate is employed by CIS. Picture: Gary Ramage

“With the open environment and community interaction we have a decision was made by the department that we wouldn’t have sex offenders here, and it’s to ensure the community isn’t at risk,” Mr Patricks said.

The centre is also built on trust between staff, business and the inmates, and Mr Patricks said it was designed for those who “really wanted to change”.

“We’ve got a pretty robust assessment process, so that’s the first thing,” he said.

“And you have some that come and aren’t suitable, don’t like the freedom and struggle coming out of a real structure.

“But the guys who really want to change have so many opportunities here. And that freedom comes with trust and responsibility on their behalf, so they know what’s expected of them.”