16 • Riverland Weekly – Thursday June 9, 2011 ADVERTISING FEATURE
BUSINESS SA AND GROWSMART TRAINING DIPLOMA IN HORTICULTURE ■ DIPLOMA: Century Orchards managing director Geoff Ablett (left), water manager Jason Garvie and operations manager Anthony Wachtel in the field and (inset) the latter two are currently undertaking a Diploma in Horticulture. Photos: JANE WILSON
QFM Production grower and packer of Zest stone fruit prefer to use Growsmart as the training organisation to develop their staff’s skills and knowledge.
Phone: 8595 3480
Training is an investment in the industry’s future L
Quality training to build your skills - Building people - Leadership skills
Diploma in Horticulture - CURRENTLY RUNNING! Book with John Chase on 0419 848 672 or Ian White on 0419 832 871 TODAY! Other training Options s Turn your experience into a qualification through skills recognition s Certificate III in Production Horticulture s Operate and maintain Chainsaws s Chemcert s Tailored Short Courses
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AND COMPETENT TRAINERS Ask about any form of training you require and we will assist you to secure it. Contact John or Peter ct Joh for more information re informa
OXTON based Century Orchards managing director Geoff Ablett believes training employees is an investment into the horticulture industry’s future. With a majority of the company’s employees trained at different levels, Mr Ablett said highly skilled workers add professionalism to the industry and will become future leaders. Currently, Century Orchards operations manager Anthony Wachtel and water manager Jason Garvie are undertaking the Diploma in Horticulture with Growsmart Training and both believe it is an important stepping stone to the next level of their careers. Mr Wachtel, who has been working for the company for almost seven years, said training has helped build his career. “Getting the qualification for the things we were doing is important,” he said.
Even after almost a decade working for the Loxton company, Mr Garvie said gaining accredited qualifications is vital. “It’s recognition for what you do already,” he said.
Getting the qualification for the things we were doing is important.
Mr Ablett is encouraging other horticulture businesses and workers to take part in the training and said the industry can be built up from inside organisations. “Having a highly skilled workforce, I believe, adds to our professionalism and you need to invest in your staff to be able to get the best out of them,” he said. “They are doing the job,
they may as well complete the training and have a recognised qualification and they (the qualifications) can also be used in other industries as well. Although things are tight at the moment with the Aussie dollar and we’ve just come through a really bad year for disease pressure, we can’t forget about the future and we’ve got to keep planning and working towards the future, rather than saying it’s all too hard.” Mr Ablett said it is sad to see people who have had long careers in the horticulture industry exiting without any official training to demonstrate their qualifications. “We have people who have been working in the industry for their entire lives and have no form of qualifications,” he said. “Some of the people who are exiting the industry have a lifetime of running businesses and no qualifications, that’s ridiculous.”
Proud to be associated with the Horticulture Diploma in the Growsmart program.
9 William Street, Berri (above the Salvos) P. 08 8582 2270 admin@rhctraining.com.au www.growsmart.com.au
Century Phone: 8584 4777 s *UBILEE Phone: 8589 3038