Call to hold stalls for first farm fest

SENIOR students at Ballarat Specialist School will soon showcase their creations alongside outside traders as part of the college’s first ever Farm Fest market.

With staff currently calling out for outside stall spots, assistant principal Mat Gannon said the event is aimed at providing the opportunity for the community to see what the students have made as part of their curriculum.

“This has come about because the whole premise of the students’ learning is doing things that’ll assist them after school. They’ve been making and designing things as part of vocational learning,” he said.

“Recently for example, they’ve made chocolates at the Ballarat Tech School. They’ve made coat-hangers, garden beds, lots of food. They’ve got a lot of stuff we think is good enough to showcase and sell.

“So far, we’ve received about 10 to 15 enquiries from people wanting to have a stall.”

At least five student stalls will be set up inside the school, while the external stallholders will trade along the site’s one-kilometre-round farm track near the school entrance.

Funds made from the students’ goods will go back into the school.

Mr Gannon said the event will serve an exciting dual purpose.

“It’s showcasing who we are, and allowing those external stallholders will definitely compliment things,” he said.

“I think we’re doing great things and these students deserve the recognition. They work hard, they’re very creative, and they’ve got a lot of skills.

“We want to put that on show and this is the first of what we’re hoping will be an annual thing with the community.”

Ballarat Specialist School’s Farm Fest will run from 10am to 2pm on Monday 6 November.

To register for a stall, contact Mr Gannon on 5334 1302 or email the school at [email protected].