Australia’s Turf Industry has a lot to thank Melbourne Polytechnic for as over many years they have produced some of the best turf managers – both on farm, in the golf industry and on sports fields.
Katie Fisher talks to Mark Burchell, lead teacher at Melbourne Polytechnic, about the importance of a good industry-based foundation that produces turf managers who finish a highly specialised course offering first-rate knowledge and industry connections.
What more could you want from an institute then to be situated on the fertile banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River at Fairfield, adjacent to the highly regarded Yarra Bend Golf Course?
This is where Melbourne Polytechnic’s widely respected Certificate III and Diploma of Sports Turf Management Courses are located. While the courses do have a prime focus on giving future sports turf managers the skills to manage the biggest and best sporting grounds around the world – many turf farms send their own apprentices to learn the key art.
With the turf management industry anticipated to grow by 15 per cent over the next five years, Mark Burchell believes the Certificate and Diploma courses can offer huge job opportunities for highly skilled greenkeepers, managers, and turf farm apprentices.
What sets the courses apart, according to Mark, is the industry-based teachers who teach the students how to design and develop systems for irrigation, drainage, weed, pest and disease control and safe chemical use.
“Students finish the courses knowing how to plan and manage sports playing surfaces, how to diagnose and manage soil and plant health, and how to analyse and trial new materials,” Mark explained.
“Students train at Melbourne Polytechnic using state-of-the-art facilities with industry-standard levels.
“We give our students the opportunity to join industry bodies essential for networking and career advancement, including the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Sports Turf Association.
“They also have the opportunity to be nominated for internships at elite sports grounds across the globe, and apply for the Future Turf Managers program, based in the United States.”
With TurfBreed now locating its southern Living Library of Turf at Melbourne Polytechnic, Mark said it was a terrific opportunity for the course to have a private company willing to share their industy knowledge.
Above: Mark Burchell, Lead teacher at Melbourne Polytechnic
“It is a hands-on site where Melbourne Polytechnic students are able to learn how to tell the different characteristics between Buffalo, Couch and Zoysia grasses,” Mark said.
“And we can offer independent feedback to TurfBreed from all sectors of the horticultural industry about their varieties – from landscapers, turf managers to parks and gardens.”
Mark stressed the ‘Living Library’ would also bring industry and growers to the site where they could share insight about the different varieties to the students.
Melbourne Polytechnic’s Certificate V in Sports Turf Management covers everything from irrigation, plant pathology, botany, construction to renovation, with the Diploma being the next level, going deeper into plant biology, pathogens and diseases, and also subjects such as managing staff and finance.
Sports Turf Management student Nathan Andrews who recently completed the Cert III course was nominated by his teachers for the prestigious Graduate of the Year Award at the Annual National Awards given by the Sports Turf Association.
Nathan has nothing but praise for the various courses and will now complete the Diploma.
“Even when I started my course, I wasn’t aware of the different pathways that can become available to you once you’re qualified,” he said.
“If you’re willing to work there’s so many different areas in the turf industry.”
Nathan, who works for Citywide Service Solutions, had to put some serious thought into his future as part of the award process. He also won the State Award, on the way to his national victory.
“While being a tradesman and still working on the tools it would be good to be head curator at an international stadium, like the MCG, as obviously I love footy and cricket, so preparing the MCG for Grand Final Day or the Boxing Day Test would be pretty special,” he said.
“But also in our industry you separate yourself with your knowledge and I’m fortunate where I don’t mind being in the classroom and I enjoyed learning more.
“We give our students the opportunity to join industry bodies essential for networking and career advancement, including the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Sports Turf Association”
“So if I’m ever in a position where I’m not on the tools anymore, it’s more of a role such as a consultant or a coordinator in the turf industry.”
Nathan added: “Other benefits (of the course) are you get to work outside, you get to work on sports fields. If that’s what you’re passionate about it’s a great job.
“I was fortunate to have great teachers at Melbourne Polytechnic that helped me along the way and helped me get to where I am now.”
Mark is rapt with Nathan’s success and said it was because of his “excellent in class behaviour and attitude, his willingness to do his work, how he would always ask questions and his good leadership qualities that he’ll put to good use in the future”.