Southern school girls gain practical confidence
Just like any southern girl worth her salt Lexis Mawdsley can change a tyre, strop a load, crack a whip, jump-start a tractor, handle a horse and fire a gun.
The 16-year-old Waimate High School student joined 15 other girls recently for a day of intense practical learning at the Real Country Farm at Kingston, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The Southern Girl Finishing workshop put the girls through a variety of activities. Lexis said she enjoyed whip cracking, used to move to cattle, the most and found using strops to secure a load on a trailer the hardest.
Though she grew up on a sheep and beef farm and was familiar with some of the workshops she said it was good to learn knew things like changing a tyre.
‘‘I drive but haven’t had a flat tyre yet, but now I know what to do.’’
Lexis, who plans to be a farmer or farm adviser, relishes the opportunities that come with farming. ‘‘I love the freedom of being out on your own land and you can do what you want.’’
Waimate High careers education leader Marie Donaldson said the workshop was great for students.
‘‘I think the Southern Girl Finishing workshop is a wonderful opportunity for our girls to learn and develop confidence as they journey to discover themselves, as well as getting to see the beautiful outdoors, in a safe and fun environment.’’
Real Country owner Laura Koot said her definition of how to be a ‘‘proper lady’’ does not include which cutlery to use at a formal dinner but instead learning how to be practical, confident and capable through a series of practical farm skills.
She believes confidence can be ‘‘earned’’ by showing her young attendees that just because they haven’t done something before doesn’t mean they can’t do it.
Koot said that newly gained confidence can then be applied to other aspects of their every day lives making what appears unachievable, achievable.