AGRICULTURAL education in New South Wales has a long and proud history.
In 1891, the Hawkesbury Agricultural College was established in an area with close ties to colonial agriculture.
Its influence was widespread, eventually impacting upon the development of the CB Alexander Agricultural College on the historical property ''Tocal" near Paterson in the Hunter Valley.
The development of this educational institution is well documented.
And now it is pleasing to be able to reflect upon the drive of the late EA Hunt in pushing for the establishment of the college that became simply known as "Tocal".
Mr Hunt knew his basic proposal was sound.
"A College could be of lasting value to the whole of New South Wales, and indeed, to the nation," he declared in 1963 when he was considering the long-term benefits to be gained from the will of Charles Boyd Alexander.
And certainly, his single-minded ambition has come to pass.
For this year, the CB Alexander campus will celebrate its 50th year with a wide range of activities during the 25-26 July 2015 at Tocal, Paterson.
Tocal College Principal Dr Cameron Archer AM said the establishment of the College on the magnificent 2250 hectare property has always given it the edge, a wonderful base for practical training as well as a credible platform to promote agricultural education.
"The property is a continual source of momentum for the College's programs be they production, environmental or management driven," Dr Archer said
"and the residential nature of the campus is a great asset given the vastness of our rural industries."
Tocal is now the State's only agricultural college dedicated to providing practical and academic experience for those wishing to embark on a career on the land.
Practical training has always been the core of Tocal's educational activities.
The success of that program evident in the many graduates with successful pastoral careers and the ready acceptance of recent graduates by pastoral employers.
The overriding theme at Tocal is that competency is soundly based on a person's ability to skilfully perform a task having learnt the necessary knowledge and displaying the appropriate attitude.
It is recognised that Tocal's origin as a private institution created a culture of enthusiasm, punctuality, honesty and reliability in the students as much as knowledge and skills.
"These personal skills are highly valued by the rural industry and we work had to focus on them throughout our programs," Dr Archer said
And with recent changes, those expressions of manners and sensibility have been made manifest in the formulation of the present teaching criteria.
The idea of excellence has always been thought important at Tocal.
In celebrating it's 50th year, friends and associates of the College are welcoming all ex-students, staff and interested member's of the wider community to take the opportunity of reliving their time at Tocal and re-establishing contact with an institution seminal in the careers of so many.
For further information view the Tocal website and register to attend the celebratory weekend in July.
