Jack ready to fulfil dreams at Smedley
Jack Bradley of Ormondville at 18 has the opportunity to fulfil his dreams, having been accepted for Smedley Cadet Training in 2020.
He has come a long way from the days when he was a “not too good student” — in his words — at Norsewood School.
It is a school and a village which has turned Jack around.
After a chequered career at Norsewood his parents Kylie and Cameron enrolled him at Te Aute College thinking the discipline and structure of a boarding school might turn him round.
At his entrance interview when asked what he wanted to do in his life his answer was farming and in the shorter term to go to Smedley Cadet Training.
He has got his wish as the parents’ hopes have been fulfilled.
In his first year as a year 9 Jack settled in well, enjoying the camaraderie and challenges of house sports and culture. Every year he won an award at Te Aute.
He says his teachers really took care of him and in year 10 he enrolled in a Taratahi Primary Industries Trade Academy course in agriculture and horticulture, being awarded the Most Conscientious Student in that year.
Continuing in this programme as a Level One student he topped his class at Level Two and was first in Hawkes Bay for the course.
Year 12 continued the same way but Jack participated in an Automotive Programme run by EIT to get familiar with farm machinery.
At the end of the year with more awards and a lot of practical experience working holidays on Bruce William’s farm and locals taking him crutching, he applied for Smedley.
He was advised to gain even more farming experience before reapplying the next year.
So he returned to school in 2019 and was made a prefect, a member of the 1st XV and a House Captain.
He enrolled in a Primary ITO Agriculture and Horticultural Level Three more advanced programme and worked one day a week on the Gateway Programme, getting practical experience at Brownrigs Station where he gained experience in horticulture, agriculture, sheep and beef farming.
At the End of Year Te Aute Prizegiving he, along with the rest of his 1st XV team were capped by members of the famous 1979 Te Aute side which had a pack out-weighing the All Blacks.
He won The Te Aute Cup for Senior Cross-country, and prizes for First in Science and Ag/Hort.
At the end of proceedings he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award For Vocational Excellence, one being awarded to each school throughout NZ. It comes with a $2000 grant.
Not surprisingly he has been accepted for Smedley in 202 and is planning to buy a working dog with his money.
Ormondville is a small community and it is proud to celebrate the success of one of its young people.
His proud parents admit that he has come a long way since his days at Norsewood School and his mum Kylie says he would not be where he is without the help of the local community and the instillation of values gained at Te Aute College.