Inarrabri

ing Institute where I learnt many

skills around the grain industry.

Later I had another opportunity

to do some relieving work at

the Australian Cotton Research

Institute which was then called

the Narrabri Agricultural Research

Station (NARS) for 2 weeks, and

have now been there for the

last 20 years. I have had many

opportunities working mainly

for CSIRO and one of them was

taking on the role back in 2007 to

be the Education Officer with the

Cotton CRC. I still work for CSIRO

and share my time now between

developing education capacity

in agriculture and assisting in the

science of managing insect pests.

I love my job!

Many teachers of today say that

science has become a favourite

hands-on subject because of the

assistance you are able to pro-

vide. How do you help schools

deliver a practical curriculum?

The teachers make my job easy!

They are so willing and open to

allow me and my many science

friends to come in and let us show

the students some real life practi-

cal examples of science. We live

in an area surrounded by science

and agriculture organisations so

we should be helping students,

helping them see what is around

them and open their eyes to

the many possibilities. Everyone

loves to do something practical

to touch and feel. I always like

to work with the teachers to see

what they are looking at during

the term and come up with some

fascinating practical way of show-

ing the students.

Part of your involvement allows

for opportunities to display

student works and wide-spread

competitions. How has this

evolved?

My role as Education Officer is to

cover all cotton growing com-

munities. I get to work with some

amazing people who help with

these projects such as with the

Enviro Stories Competition, which

are the little books that students

write for students and the best

get published. Narrabri has 28

published primary school stories

and Wee Waa has 2. These are

posted out to over 400 schools

across NSW and QLD. The Pri-

mary Industry Centre for Science

Education (PICSE) Science and En-

gineering Investigation Awards are

run every year and involve both

primary and secondary schools

in our Shire. The investigations

are often displayed in the town

libraries in Narrabri and Wee Waa.

Parents and the public are welcome

to come along and see the poster

boards. They will be amazed at

what some of the students can do!

This year’s awards are being judged

on the 27th August at the Crossing

Theatre.

Are other communities lucky

enough to have Science Liaison

Officers and how are you funded?

I am funded by the CRDC and

CSIRO and receive in kind sup-

port from organisations like Cotton

Australia. I think cotton communi-

ties in general are unique because

the Cotton Industry is so innovative

and conscious of the need to build

their workforce capacity and under-

stands the importance of a healthy

community. Other organisations

have education roles- however

when funding is tight, education is

often the first to suffer.

What scientific communities can

you draw from to assist schools?

Narrabri has such a high number

of science and agricultural or-

ganisations with people who are

passionate about their work and

the majority are keen to help

out. They come together to help

show students the science behind

everything we do. They are there

for the students to have fun and

the students love it. I have made

some great contacts and friends,

especially when putting together

our science days.

Do you think being a local girl

has helped in the delivery of your

job?

I think yes, it certainly helps to be

able to know so many people and

drop in on them and ask that big

favour and commitment of their

time. However, Narrabri people are

genuinely generous anyway.

Are you an all work, no play kind

of girl or do you have other hob-

bies and interests that occupy

your time?

Well, that’s a tough one as I love

my job so much sometimes it

seems hard work yet its great fun

doing work shops and activities

with the students. Although I do

share my passions with other inter-

ests, I used to play quite a number

of sports over the years and I am

currently working with some school

friends to organise our 30th school

reunion in October. However my

favourite non work passion is work-

ing with my horses. I am learning

the fine art of horse whispering

with an amazing family friend and I

love going on trail rides.

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