Mucking in on the farm is all in a day’s learning for students at Salesian College.
The fruits of their labour will be on show at the annual Rupertswood Harvest Festival on Sunday, November 6.
Now in its second year, the festival showcases the range of agricultural learning that students at the college undertake “on the farm” – actually at their own campus in the Rupertswood Mansion grounds.
Students will be selling their seasonal produce and conducting tours of the historic mansion as part of the festival.
The mansion was built as a residence for Sir William John Clarke, the first Australian-born baronet, in 1874-76.
Agriculture program co-ordinator Matthew Fitzgerald says last year’s inaugural festival was a great learning experience for all the students.
“One of the things we do for the harvest festival is let the students produce hay, using the process from start to finish. The festival’s main aim is to get them to plant something, grow it, promote it and sell it – to see the whole process.
“We’re showcasing the way we use agriculture to help kids learn. There’s lots of maths out here that they don’t even know they’re doing, and they have a lot of fun.”
Last year’s festival was a community success, prompting the college to repeat it in 2016.
The festival is geared to be a family fun day out with live music, children’s entertainment, shearing demonstrations, tours of the mansion and lessons around the vegetable patch.
The festival at Salesian College Sunbury is from 10am to 3pm.
