Legacy lives on in quality of cadets
Cadets are taught how to build conventional and electric fences and their repairs and maintenance as well. There’s hand piece work in the woolshed such as dagging, crutching and shearing and yard work such as dipping, drenching and vaccinating. They learn how to use and maintain a chainsaw, how to cut scrub and the maintenance of the farm’s buildings, yards, tracks and water systems. There’s pest and weed control, basic vehicle and mechanical knowledge and experience with tractors, four-wheel drives and ATVs.
The first-year cadets are mainly doing general work, but by their second year they have two dogs and spend most of the year doing stock work, including horse breaking.
‘‘As the cadets become more capable they are expected to take on more responsibility and to make reasoned decisions. By the end of the second year it is expected they will have experience in most of the practical work associated with this type of farming.’’
Each new cadet rooms with a second-year cadet and works with them for three weeks out of 11 (they work by an 11-week roster).
There’s no cost to the training. Apart from clothes, harness gear and dogs, all costs including food and accommodation are covered by the station.
‘‘Some people think Smedley has it lucky because it has such a large workforce at its disposal. But it’s not cheap to feed, house, train, educate and supervise 22 young people on site. Our staff here continue to be a huge influence on each cadet’s future and to see the growth of the cadets throughout the year is very rewarding and motivating.’’ THE ex-cadets of the historic Smedley Station are walking advertisements for its longevity and ongoing success.
Those wanting to join the ranks of names on the wall in the stables should attend the 2016 Smedley cadetship orientation day at the station on the weekend of June 11 and 12, from 2pm-3.30pm.
The 5054ha Smedley Station is governed by the Public Trust Office and Howard Estate Advisory Board after the original block was gifted to the Crown in 1919 by the estate of Josiah Howard for the purposes of agricultural training.
Now officially known as the Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm, Smedley takes on 11 trainees each year for two years. Preference is given to those out of year 13 and from the East Coast of the North Island, but any potential cadet is considered, says board chairman Pat Portas, himself a former cadet.
‘‘We welcomed the new managers Rob and Jenn Evans last year and they have settled in well and are continuing the Smedley legacy, including the pastoral care of the cadets, while adding their own touches, such as having the boys spend time in the cook house.’’
The theory component has also been deepened.
‘‘Health and safety was the big driver of that,’’ Portas says.
‘‘We obviously had policies in place but with a new manager coming in and the new legislation introduced around the same time, it was a good chance to tighten it all up. The work of Rob and Tom Goodger and the rest of the staff has enabled the new health and safety laws to be dovetailed into best practice in the practical training, which leads into the culture we want the cadets to take with them when they leave. We want it to become normal habit like putting on their seatbelt in the car, putting their chaps and helmet on when they use a chainsaw. It’s habit forming.’’
The Howard Estate Advisory Board that governs Smedley is soon to welcome a new member representing the Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce. An appointment has been made but is still to be ratified by the Governor General.
The other board members are Fenton Wilson representing the Secondary Schools Principals’ Association; Hugh Pearse representing the rural district councils of Wairoa, Central Hawke’s Bay and Tararua; Pat Portas representing excadets, James Parsons from the A&P Societies and Mike Halliday from Federated Farmers.