WE ARE FARMERS OURSELVES AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE OUR WHOLE LIVES.
WHAT WE DO.
TOP PADDOCK RURAL TRAINING AND ADVISORY PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR THOSE PEOPLE TAKING THEIR FIRST STEPS ON THEIR FARMING JOURNEY.
OUR APPROACH.
We are farmers ourselves and have been involved in agriculture our entire lives. Our training and advisory services have a focus on regenerative techniques and this extends to our grazing practices.
OUR TRAINERS.
Our highly experienced, accredited and award winning trainers make the small group classes fun, practical and rewarding. Drawing on decades of education and agricultural experience they work with you to develop your skills and confidence.
OUR LOCATIONS.
The training and short courses are conducted on a selection of properties on the mid north coast of NSW. We have a number of courses set to run on properties in Kempsey in 2021, get in touch to find out more details.
THE TOP PADDOCK STORY.
For Graham Bramley, growing up on a mixed farming operation on the Mid North Coast was the beginning of a lifelong connection to farming. The family farm produced pigs and beef cattle, however they also grew a variety of forage crops, turf and Poll Dorset sheep. The farm also processed its own livestock and sold them through their wholesale and retail chain between Newcastle and Nambucca Heads and west to Armidale.
After 50+ years the passion for agriculture has never left, if anything it has evolved and grown stronger…
This grounding lead to formal study in Agriculture, which included a Bachelor in Applied Science Systems Agriculture from the University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury), Diploma in Education from the University of New England, (Armidale), Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Graham has spent time working in Agricultural based industries that included Feed Milling, Beef Cattle, Pig Production, Meat wholesaling, Transport and Education.
After 50+ years the passion for agriculture has never left, if anything it has evolved and grown stronger with a focus on sustainable and regenerative techniques that aim to revive farms and work in synchronicity with the ecosystem.
Graham has spent the past 21 years working as an Agriculture Teacher in Kempsey NSW. He runs the College Farm and teaches Agriculture and Primary Industries. He has also taught Metal work and Science and has been a Pastoral Care Coordinator and Leader of Learning in Vocational Education and Training.
Graham is also a member of the NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers, he regularly attends their conferences to keep up to date with the latest research and technology being applied to the industry. Graham Manages an 85-hectare College farm and also “Greenvale Park”, a 83 Hectare farm on behalf of a local client.
Graham has also spent time working for brief stints on large properties harvesting and sowing crops in the Central West of NSW and the Riverina districts.
Graham has also organised farm tours to far western NSW and the Riverina for his Year 11 students studying Agriculture and Primary Industries. He has recent exposure to a variety of Agricultural Industries and has an extensive network of contacts in the farming community that come with a lifetime of involvement in Agriculture.
Awards and recognition
In 2013 Graham was awarded a World Teachers Day Citation from The Australian College of Educators for “Achieving experience and creating employment pathways for students through Agriculture and Primary Industries.”
In 2016 Graham was awarded “The Excellence in Catholic Education Award – Experienced Teacher Category Award for the Lismore Diocese. There are 45 Schools in the Diocese from which Graham was chosen as the overall winning recipient.
In November 2020, the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Faculty which Graham has lead since 2015 was chosen as the winner of “Australian Training Awards – School Pathways to VET Award”. The faculty was recognised for its engaging programs, community engagement and employment outcomes it was achieving for its students.