As prime and stud cattle were shown to their best advantage at the Gin Gin Show on the weekend a new loading ramp built by Gin Gin High School students eased the process.
Cattle judging chief steward and the teacher in charge of the school's gap program Dan Matthew said it was a great addition to this year's event.
“It's something that came up last year that it was a little difficult trying to use the one loading ramp,” Dan said.
“As part of a project for the high school we put this together over the last three days.”
Shane Kenny and Chevez Walters​ are two of the Gin Gin High School students who helped build the cattle loading ramp and attended the weekend's event to see it in action.
“We helped with the welding, drilling the holes to put the bolts and nuts through,” Shane said.
The boys said it was the first time they had been involved in a project like this. I feel proud.
“Yesterday there was a cattle truck reversed up to it.”
Gap program offers students life skills
Dan said the gap program was a Gin Gin High School at risk or agricultural program.
“A lot of it is around hands-on based learning.
“So construction, engineering, they do ag stuff as part of that and life skills. It's around setting the boys up for success for when they leave school and get a full time job.
“That's our biggest focus.”
He said the cattle loading ramp was just one aspect of the assistance the students offered the Gin Gin Show. Every year the gap students help to set up the show.
“Not just this but we set up the wood chop, marquees go up.
“I think without our gap program and the boys it wouldn't be the show that it is.”
