EDUCATION and labour shortages are huge issues in the west and an all familiar underline of the Cobar fabric.
Attendees drew attention to these issues during The Next Crop forum at Cobar on August 2 with local pastoralist and committee member of Regional Development Australia Orana, Andrew Mosely saying he lived at Orange so his daughters could be nearer educational opportunities.
The Mosely family run an extensive Dorper breeding enterprise at Etiwanda Station, Cobar.
Another speaker, Janine Lea-Barrett, Cobar, said she believed family drift from the town was due to mine shift work.
“Miners are here but not thier families, so we are losing children at the schools,” she said. “We’ve got great facilities here, but not the people to use them.”
Phil Yench, another property owner and former Cobar mayor, said the State Government was replacing the hospital’s 30 beds with a 10 bed alternative. “We’ve got to get services back out into the bush,” he said.
Ellie Russell, who returned to town to conduct her own design business said her family was in Cobar.
“I went to school here, then boarding school; my parents chose boarding school for that extra opportunity for me to see and experience for which I’m greatful.
“But since residing back in town I’ve noticed families are choosing to leave once their children reach higher primary school.
“I think our school needs to re-market itself.”
Ms Russell said there was a TAFE in Cobar, so why can’t it train young people for future work skills including apprenticeships.
“We have a big TAFE building sitting up on Bathurst Street that is practically empty most of the time, I believe.”
Ms Lea-Barrett said the TAFE was currently a “white elephant” and was not used at all.
“TAFEs have changed from 10 in the west to five with Dubbo and Orange now amalgamated with Armidale,” she said.
“At present mines have decreased the number of apprentices, but if we had a trades school trained trades people could be utilised on farms as well as industry in town and the region.”
Communication with migrant families had also presented an obstacle that needed attention.
One speaker said there was a lack of support for the town’s migrant families.
“There are a lot of South American families here and I have friends that came here 10 years ago, but there is no support for the wives and families,” she said.
“So forget them to integrate into the local community as there isn’t any support; they are left to do it for themselves.”
Ms McIntyre said migrants were important for the growth and ongoing viability of rural communities.
