HURLSTONE Agricultural High School was established in 1927, now Adrian Piccoli, Minister for Education, has announced the school’s 140ha of rural lands are to be sold for $170 million, permitting developers to construct homes on the site.
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I attended the school from 1945-59 at a time when the leaving certificate took five years.
My first science master was Edgar Smiles, who later on was appointed principal of Farrer.
In 1941 a past student, John Edmundson, was posthumously awarded a VC for gallantry at Tobruk.
This was one of the earliest VC awarded in WWII.
Even in its earliest days, agriculture was a science-based subject.
In 1946, Hurlstone Iris, an ayrshire heifer was born, the first artificially-inseminated calf born in Australia and a result of research work by the Glenfield Veterinary Research Centre.
1977 saw the introduction of female students and today Hurlstone is still the only state co-ed boarding school.
As agriculture is an applied science subject it is so basic to many academic callings.
As Hurlstone is a selective high school, it is little wonder that this school features among the top high schools each year as the HSC passes are released.
Adrian Piccoli advises that of the $170m realised from the sale,
$35 million is to be set aside for establishing a new Hurlstone at Richmond in association with the University of Western Sydney.
This will permit school students to be exposed to agricultural and science research programs conducted by the university.
This newer educational proposal is to be applauded and has been endorsed by the NSW Farmers Association.
All agricultural organisations must be active in ensuring quick results for future rural students seeking enrolment.
The sale of the existing agricultural school assets must be used to benefit rural students of NSW.
Boarding accommodation must meet future student demands, seeking an opportunity at this new university/school campus.
The new Hurlstone needs to be fully established before the remaining $135 million from the sale is allocated to city based programs.
Anthony Stannard
Tamworth