Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

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Industry award for horticulture trainer

Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE's horticulture manager, Leigh Taig, was recently recognised for his contribution to education and training with the 2009 Australian Hydroponics & Greenhouse Industry's "Hydroponics Industry Training Award" in Sydney.

Leigh has worked with the protected cropping industry with GOTAFE for over five years delivering much needing industry training to numerous greenhouse enterprises at Certificate III and IV level.

Leigh has also facilitated two night short courses each year in Commercial Hydroponic Crop Production over this five year period.

Australian Hydroponics & Greenhouse Association President, Graeme Smith, nominated Leigh for the award saying that Leigh was a key contributor to the recently completed HAL project, 'Pathways to Production' that has delivered 63 new units at Certificate II to VI levels.

"These units addressed a number of identified constraints to industry development including grower access to formal accreditation and training, career path development and creation of schools to industry pathways. This project has created a new national discipline in production horticulture entitled Controlled Environment Horticulture," said Mr Smith.

"Leigh has sponsored technical trainers from a specialist greenhouse training institute in Holland (PTC+) to Australia to deliver training in greenhouse technical management. This level of training is normally only available by travelling to The Netherlands at significant cost to the grower. This sponsorship has also allowed a highly regarded Dutch trainer (Ben van Onna) to deliver specialist workshops at the AHGA biennial conferences since 2003."

Mr Smith said Leigh is working with the AHGA and GOTAFE towards the establishment of national training centre for controlled environment horticulture.

GOTAFE Divisional Manager Shane Hellwege said the Institute is pleased to be working closely with industry to meet their needs. "This is great recognition of Leigh's contribution to delivering training to the hydroponics industry and the Institute congratulates Leigh for this achievement," said Mr Hellwege. "GOTAFE looks forward to expanding and supporting the hydroponics and greenhouse industry into the future with the new Centre for Controlled Environment Horticulture."

For further information on horticulture training please phone 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).