Condo students see many work opportunities at Fletcher’s Dubbo
MARTIN Nash is a Year 11 student at Condobolin High School, going into Year 12, and he was amazed after a recent school tour of Dubbo’s Fletcher International rail freight terminal and meat processing plant.
He was keen to see how much of the meat and grain from his district is packaged up and sent to the end users, many of them in different countries.
“The tour was really good, very interesting to see what happens and how it all goes on. I’ve never been in an abattoirs and I’ve always wanted to have a look, so it was very interesting to see how the sheep come in, how they’re processed, bagged up, packed and then shipped out on the train,”
Martin told Dubbo Photo News.
“If you’re looking to do something like this for your career, or at the grain terminal, it’s good to see how they train you up.
“There’s not just meat, over the other side there is cotton and grain and it was interesting to see how everything has to be organised and on time to keep the train going.”
He’s already had experience with the company. Rather than idling away his school holidays he spends much of them on the spanners at Fletcher’s Kiagarthur Station not far from his hometown.
“I worked as a mechanic during school holidays on Fletcher’s farm near Condobolin, in the workshop with the mechanic over there, and had fun driving tractors and fixing stuff and keeping the shed clean and all that,” Martin said.
“I enjoyed doing that, I went out last school holidays and did a week of work, I like going out there to do mechanics.”
While he was getting his photo taken for this news story, CEO Melissa Fletcher walked past and asked him what he was up to.
When she learnt he’d already put in some time for the company she was impressed.
“Come and work for me up here, we’ll train you up,” she said.
The Year 11 student said he was excited to meet the boss of such a major company.
“I met Melissa Fletcher during the tour of the plant and I’ve met Farren (Fletcher) down at the farm so I’ve nearly met all the family,” he said.
“I reckon it’s good because a lot of kids my age don’t know what they’re going to do. If they came here they’re eager to train you in all sorts of things which is very encouraging for young people like me.”
He enjoys the fact Condobolin High works in with neighbouring schools to create a larger class for agriculture students in a composite program where resources are shared – along with the different expertise of the various teachers.
“It’s really good and we have a lot of fun. On this excursion there would’ve been only three of us if it was just Condo High, so it’s a lot better to have other kids come along and it’s good doing all the class stuff with the other kids as well,” Martin said.
He’s currently looking for an apprenticeship as a mechanic.