Andrew Spicer with mentor Michael Smith from Scotch College in Victoria
The Australian Sports Turf Association’s 2013 Turf Graduate of the Year Andrew Spicer of Kincumber, has recently returned from the United States as part of a tour with Toro Australia.
The Hunter TAFE student, who studied a Certificate III in Horticulture (Turf) was nominated for the National award last year by his Sports Turf teachers at Kurri Kurri Campus. Granted every year to outstanding graduates working within the turf industry, the award aims to provide opportunities to enhance personal development, professionalism, career progression and turf industry skills. As part of his award, Andrew had the opportunity to attend the Toro Sports Fields and Grounds Forum in both Australia and the United States. Andrew, currently employed by Wyong Council, attended the United States Forum at Toro headquarters in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Forum, attended by representatives from universities, councils, municipalities, sports stadiums and colleges from around the US, included roundtable sessions and product testing of the latest Toro commercial and irrigation products. Andrew said he enjoyed the visit to Toro’s US headquarters and the conference was a great opportunity to network and discuss topics with other grounds managers from across the world. “I currently look after 34 sporting ovals that range from rugby league, AFL, soccer, cricket and baseball,” said Andrew. “Many of the guys at the conference managed baseball fields so it was interesting to hear how much time and effort goes into maintaining the grounds,” he said. Andrew said his experiences as the 2013 Turf Graduate of the Year have been an amazing opportunity which he wouldn’t have received without the support of his teachers at Hunter TAFE. His advice to future graduates is to talk with as many people in the industry as you can and learn from them. “Everyone experiences the same problems and has different ways of fixing them,” said Andrew. “Graduates should take any opportunities that come their way. “You will learn so much from talking to other greenkeepers.”
Media release, 8 Oct 2014
Steve Mitchell,
Hunter TAFE