Students start cane toad project
Conservation and Land Management (CLM) students will be installing cane toad traps in the near future around the lake and campus at Palmerston. The project is a self-driven student initiative coordinated by CLM lecturers. Explained lecturer Prue Adamson, the students initiated an Action Plan last year as part of their studies.
The ongoing implementation will include looking at biodiversity issues within pest management, assessing pest impacts on the surrounding environment, creating opportunities for student learning and project work, as well as inclusive community engagement pathways. It is hoped that student groups from local Palmerston schools will also utilise the program and become involved with similar studies.
Palmerston Youth Festival – Tourism and Hospitality students participate
Tourism and Hospitality students were involved in the Palmerston Youth Expo on Saturday 8 April. Their interactive display was designed to spark young people’s interest in these areas of study. Palmerston campus staff and students extend their appreciation to student Marcus Sproule, who coordinated student efforts. The Youth Festival was organised through the Apex Club of Litchfield as part of National Youth Week 2006.
Students from remote communities visit campus
Students from Bradshaw, Bulla, Timber Creek and Derby Aboriginal communities visited the campus last week to participate in cookery skills training. 13 students attended.
Territory Culinary Challenge
Ty Lee is coordinating the Territory Culinary Challenge, launched in February in the Darwin City Mall. Last month saw a focus on four city chefs and their restaurants participating in the inaugural challenge. The challenge winds up on 30 April and Ty will keep everyone informed of the winners.
Future television program - ‘Walkabout Chef’ Steve Sunk
A television series featuring Palmerston campus senior cookery lecturer Steve Sunk is one step closer, with funding having been negotiated with the NT Film Office. Simon Says Television (SSTV) has expressed interest in the project. The series will be an insight into everyday Aboriginal lifestyle and traditional life on the land. Each episode will capture a different region of the NT, featuring a variety of foods, landscapes and environments.
Steve is a master chef at CDU and is well known throughout the NT for his delivery of remote training to communities.
Karawa Training Restaurant
The Karawa Training Restaurant has been open for business since 28 March and is an integral part of the learning outcomes for students studying Food and Beverage, and Cookery.
The meals are prepared by the students in certificate levels II and III studying Commercial and Asian Cookery and served by students in certificates I, II, III in Food and Beverage.
The higher-level certificate and diploma students gain valuable experience taking on the roles of trainee-supervisor and manager.
The feedback from restaurant patrons has been outstanding and is a tribute to the dedication of lecturing staff. For restaurant bookings call 08 8946 7904.
Visitors
The Alice Springs-based Director of Remote Coordination, Paul Fitzsimons visited the campus on 30 March. Paul was investigating various educational pathways and community opportunities and will have further meetings with relevant staff about these initiatives when he visits Darwin in mid April.
Community engagement
The School of Tourism and Hospitality is participating in the Worlds Greatest Shave annual national fundraising event from 4-6 May 2006 to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation. Students from Hairdressing, including VET in School participants, will be undertaking the coloring and shaving activities.