MLC supports Cootamundra teen to build a future in agriculture education

SHE hasn’t finished high school yet, but Abbey Bailey already has plans to educate the next generation about the industry close to her heart, writes CAMILLE SMITH.

That’ll do: Methodist Ladies' College boarding student Abbey Bailey on her family's farm at Cootamundra, NSW.

ABBEY BAILEY, 16, YEAR 11, METHODIST LADIES’ COLLEGE

SHE hasn’t finished high school yet, but Abbey Bailey already has plans to educate the next generation about the industry close to her heart.

“I would love to educate students in ag,” says the 16-year-old, who is a boarder at Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne.

“There are so many reasons ag is important for our country’s future.”

MLC boarder Abbey Bailey (centre) in the Kew boarding house with fellow students.

The Year 11 student comes from a livestock and cropping farm near Cootamundra, NSW. In addition to teaching ag, she also hopes to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in rural communities.

“In rural towns, I feel as if there’s a real mentality of everyone knows everything about everyone, and it can be real scarring for a lot of people when their private matters get out,” Abbey says. “There’s a lot of stigma around mental health issues and I feel more support is needed, especially with farmers having such high stress and long working hours.”

Abbey says boarding in the city opened many new opportunities, but also made her realise how important the agriculture industry is in her life.

Find out more about MLC’s boarding opportunities: mlc.vic.edu.au/boarding

“I only really started to think about doing something in the farming industry in Year 9, after I moved to Melbourne and I realised how much I appreciate everything about the country,” she says.

Abbey says the time she spent on MLC’s Marshmead farm campus in East Gippsland planted ideas about farming’s role in environmental management.

“While I already knew about farming, there was more in regards to sustainability and how global warming and climate change effect the farming industry,” Abbey says. “I think it also taught the city kids more about how to appreciate organic farmers.”

CLEAN GREEN

YEAR 9 girls at Methodist Ladies’ College have the opportunity to spend a term on the school’s 114-hectare Marshmead campus in East Gippsland’s Croajingolong National Park.

The campus includes a working farm and the ethos is sustainability. All buildings at Marshmead are off-grid. Students are in charge of adjusting their house’s solar panels, learning about water recycling, managing the property’s compost system and looking after calves, chooks and the vegetable garden. Independence and resilience are encouraged.

It is a new environment for many urban students. Rural boarders have the chance to share expertise and expand their knowledge about sustainability.