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Visit builds bridges

Source : http://www.stockjournal.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/visit-builds-bridges/2657953.aspx

20 May, 2013 03:30 AM

COLIN BETTLES

Deti Inayatun, Yogi Sidik and Yudhistira Pratama, and the program’s student mentor Alward Foster, met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard during the pastoral exchange program.

THREE Indonesian students from the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association’s (NTCA) Indonesia and Australia pastoral exchange program will never forget their short time in Canberra.

The exchange students met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, federal Trade Minister Craig Emerson, Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig and Regional Services Minister Catherine King during a tour of Parliament House last Thursday.
And for good measure, they also met the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, who also attended the friendly meeting.
Speaking to Fairfax Agricultural Media, one of the students - Deti Inayatun from Bogor Agricultural University - said it was “very humbling” to meet Ms Gillard and the other senior government officials.
Those same feelings were echoed by the two other exchange students, Yogi Sidik and Yudhistira Pratama, and the program’s student mentor Alward Foster.
Mr Foster is an Indigenous stockman, trainer and mentor who has been involved in the NTCA international program for two years.
They all said Ms Gillard expressed genuine interest and support for what they’re trying to achieve through the industry exchange program.
They also said the Prime Minister and she was constantly smiling.
“She was very, very happy to meet with us and very humble,” Mr Foster said.
During the meeting the students and NTCA representatives spoke about how the program - involving 16 Indonesian students in total - helps build cattle-handling skill and expertise and promotes strong industry and cultural links between the two nations.
They arrived in Australia recently and have already completed a basic training course at the Katherine campus of Charles Darwin University which offers diplomas in livestock handling and animal husbandry, relevant to pastoral management.
Next week the students will start a six week stint at individual cattle stations in the Northern Territory where they’ll apply practical aspects of their training program.

NTCA Executive Director Luke Bowen said the exchange program also focussed on animal welfare training which would then be shared amongst other animal husbandry students in Indonesia, helping to build overall skill and capacity with Australia’s near neighbour.

Mr Bowen said the program also aims to expand the knowledge and awareness of the Indonesian students in the northern Australian pastoral industry.
He said it would establish and expand relationships for mutual Australian and Indonesian industry growth and benefit, building on the already strong and long-standing pastoral industry relationships between northern Australia and Indonesia.
On the same day the students visited Canberra, the Animals Australia activist organisation and Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie held a media conference to repeat their calls for a ban on the live export trade, including ending Australia’s cattle trade to Indonesia.
But the NTCA said the exchange program showed a “proactive and forward focused approach to addressing animal welfare issues through the sharing of industry knowledge and information, and building long-term relationships”.