FOREWORD THINKING FOREWORD THINKING
PETER FREWIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AGCSA
Conference set to be a ‘Crown’-ing week for industry
T
he past few weeks have been extremely busy as we put the final touches on what is the highlight of the annual calendar for those involved in the turf industry. The 32nd Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition is now only weeks away and while most things are in place, there are a few items still to prepare to ensure all who attend have a great experience. After being held for many years at ‘Jeff’s Shed’, this year the conference will be wholly staged ‘across the road’ at the Crown Entertainment Complex. With both the education and trade exhibition components literally a room away from each other it should make for a fantastic venue. Every conference is a big one for the AGCSA but this year’s takes on greater significance as it also marks the 25th anniversary of the association in its current structure. Although originally established in 1981 to further the profession of golf course management in Australia and the Pacific Rim, it wasn’t until 1991 that the AGCSA began to represent the industry in its current form.
AGCSA
This year’s event will not only feature the usual high quality education and social events but also see the inaugural AGCSA Future Turf Manager’s Initiative (FTMI) presented by AGCSA Gold Partner Jacobsen. This event is staged across many countries and is a great opportunity for those looking to take the next step in their careers. The FTMI includes a mentoring programme and training in areas like CV writing, communication and managing staff which are skills that are often not a high priority for those starting out in the industry. In 2016, 13 lucky candidates have been selected to take part and in this edition we profile the first intake in what we hope will become a long-running feature of every conference. The 32nd Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition also sees the return of the popular AGCSA phone app. The app is a great tool for those attending the event and it’s also a great resource for those not attending as it contains a great deal of information from speakers and our trade partners. The app is free through the Apple or Android stores. The trade exhibition will also feature the ‘Hear from the Trade’ education sessions which are free of charge. Aside from presentations by our major sponsors Hybrid Ag, Jacobsen, Nuturf, Rain Bird, Syngenta and Toro, there will also be presentations by Ohio State University (The Ohio Program) and Danger Sun Overhead.
RTO DECISION DEFERRED For those that read this column, you would be aware the AGCSA has been looking at the possibility of becoming involved in the training sector by way of working with a current RTO. In recent times there has been significant change with Skills Impact recently taking over from Agrifoods as the skills provider for our sector.
New Zealand is blessed with many fine golf courses, with Kinloch near Taupo one of the most spectacular
|
4
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 18.3
|