SHE was once a jeans model, managed Wetherby Station, worked in Spain as a photographer, and now Jenny Petrich, Rifle Creek Station, Mt Molloy, is passing on her depth of knowledge to teenagers and adults all over Queensland.
Every week Ms Petrich flies from Cairns to Rockhampton, spends three days with students from the Rockhampton Grammar School, and then flies back home to catch up on all the jobs.
A trainer for Northern Skills Alliance, she said working with the Rockhampton students for the Certificate III in Agriculture (beef production) was just one of her many roles.
I go into the remote communities and work with the on-country rangers.
- Jenny Petrich
She is also involved in training in Charters Towers, is the junior vice chairman of the Australian Stock Horse Association, and works closely with the ranger programs in the cape and the Torres Strait Islands.
“I go into the remote communities and work with the on-country rangers,” she said.
“They’re mostly doing Cert III in Conservation Land Management.
“I work from school leavers to very mature adults looking at everything from feral animal control, weed management, environmental solutions, patrols and working with tourists; it’s fantastic stuff.”
Ms Petrich said juggling her commitments required great time management skills.
“I’ve just been home over Easter and sprayed weeds, mustered cattle, ridden my young horses, done some shoeing, cleaned the stockyards ready for weaning, and then it was back to Rockhampton,” she laughed.
“There’s always someone at home to keep things running when I’m not there though.”
A passion for agricultural education led Ms Petrich to try her hand at training, and she said for the most part, students from rural backgrounds were unaware of how many skills they already had.
“It’s great seeing the up-and-coming kids who are going to be our future industry leaders,” she said.
“To assess their skills and make them realise that these are worthy skills that they have from helping mum and dad is so important.”