title: supporting environmental education in Victorian schools
Title: LandLearn
   
title: newsletter
  
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ISSN 1447-428X
Volume 14, Issue 2
Term 2 2009
»In this issue
» The Effect of Smoke on Wine Grapes
» Food Choices - part 1
» Food Choices - part 2
» Food Choices - Worksheet
» Career Profile
» Professional development update
» e-newsletter subscription
» past issues
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Did you know?

  • Chickens can be as light as the Pekin Bantam (500 grams) or as heavy as the Jersey giant (4.6 kilograms)
  • Even in the twentieth-century eggs were highly prized. Fox example, in 1918, eggs were so difficult to find after World War I in Germany it was necessary to have a doctor's prescription to buy one.
  • Eggs are an "eggcellent" source of protein and are relatively inexpensive
  • China is the world's largest egg producer
  • White eggs come from chickens with white ear lobes, while brown eggs come from chickens with red ear lobes
  • Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than a week in the fridge
  • The number of laying hens in the world is estimated to be 5690 million
  • If you are lucky enough to own an Araucana hen, you will have blue or green eggs - a very unique bird!
  • The largest egg is laid by the Ostrich and can measure up to 20 cm length and 15 cm diameter.
  • The record number of eggs laid by One Bird : 361 eggs in 364 days. This was achieved by a Black Orpington hen called 'Princess Te Kawan'.
  • Records Number of Yolks in One Egg : 9, great for an omelette party!

 

Career Profile
Inside 60 seconds with Kieran, Grape Industry Development Officer, Box Hill DPI
Kieran, Grape Industry Development Officer, Box Hill DPI

LandLearn: What is the favourite thing about your job with DPI?
Kieran: Probably getting out and about amongst the regions, talking to farmers and farming groups, looking around their properties and suggesting ways of improving their businesses. Being out of the office and in the outdoors a lot is the best thing.

LandLearn: What is the worst thing about your job with DPI?
Kieran: Paper work and being stuck in the office meeting deadlines for reports. I'd rather be working one on one with the farmers in the field.

LandLearn: What are your most enjoyable days at work?
Kieran: Just working in the wine industry, seeing the quality of the product improve, assisting growers to move to another level and produce higher end products.

LandLearn: What are your least enjoyable days at work?
Kieran: I don't really have any bad days, I'm an optimist and like to stay positive. We all have our ups and downs but I find it better not to dwell on the down side.

LandLearn: What has been your most embarrassing moment at work?
Kieran: I once took some growers from around the state on a bus tour of the Heathcote Wine Region. When I had waved them goodbye, I started the bus and promptly took out a fire hydrant. Luckily, there was nobody on the bus, but at least one grower saw it and of course, the others heard about it. It was pretty embarrassing - I've never had a car accident before.

LandLearn: What steps did you take to get to your current position?
Kieran: I have a lifelong family background in horticulture as I grew up on a vineyard near Mildura. I left university with a Commerce degree, worked back in the North West region on vineyard improvement, then moved to Melbourne and did a Graduate Diploma in Education. This background in viticulture combined with education helps me now as I'm doing a lot of adult education in my extension role. So I guess I have combined a passion for horticulture with education to get to my current position.

LandLearn: Kieran, thanks for going inside 60 with LandLearn.

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For more information please contact the LandLearn Team: landlearn.program@dpi.vic.gov.au - Ph. (03) 5482 0453
This document was reviewed 28 May, 2009