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Thursday, December 4, 2014

04/12/2014: Young Tasmanians lead by example at AwF event

The evening of the 22nd of October will go down in the history of Aquaculture without Frontiers (AwF) as the starting point of its Australian organisation, thanks heavily to the students and staff at the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre (HVTTC) in Tasmania, especially Steve Harrison. 

A full complement of fifty people attending the event were treated to a fabulous range of Tasmanian seafood and beverages all donated generously by an array of companies – the 'Who’s Who' of Tasmanian food and drink. We thank them all most sincerely. 


From the outset this was going to be all about the students and they left no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure that the catering was top notch (under the watchful eye of first class local chefs) and that the main event of making people aware of AwF and its activities ran like clockwork. 

Shannon Phillips and Stacey Tomkinson (Cert 1 Aqua students) spoke about AwF, its mission, projects and the significance of the most important period in anyone’s life - the 1000 days from time of conception until their 2nd birthday. 

AwF Australia Director Dos O’Sullivan was representing the organisation at the event but he ensured that Jennifer Cobcroft (IMAS) did the majority of presenting on AwF as she had only just recently returned from working for AwF in Myanmar. Jennifer congratulated HVTTC Year 9 Cert 1 girls on being able to use equipment like photometers to test water quality and highlighted that university students in Myanmar had very limited opportunity to do that due to lack of resources. AwF are close to finishing a much needed aquaculture library at the Myanmar Fisheries Federation in Yangon, Myanmar hopefully opening this early in the New Year. 

Steve Harrison, who had started plotting the event some months before, was excited to see that all the three major Salmon companies (Tassal, Huon and Petuna) not only contributed to the food but also united at the event to support the dinner, along with representatives of the feed company Skretting. Like AwF, he was grateful to the other seafood sponsors - Dover Bay Mussels, Van Dieman Oysters and Abtas - and organisations - Willie Smith’s Cider, Frank’s Cider, Pagan Cider, St Imre Vineyard, Home Hill Winery and Kermandie Hotel - who had supported the event with beverages. The attendees were an array of people from aquaculture and hospitality, educators and members of the community. 

However, the stars were the students of the HVTTC who are enjoying the opportunity of starting off their careers in the aquaculture industry. Based on their efforts on behalf of AwF a bright future lies ahead of them and Tasmanian aquaculture. They proudly raised AUS$2900 for the cause and feedback indicated that many people were interested in finding out more about AwF. 


Read the magazine HERE.



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