Sign In / Register
The development of Sheepworld, just north of Warkworth, into a model that offers vulnerable young people real-world opportunities will kick up a gear this year.
Owned and run by youth organisation Springboard, students are already learning skills through the existing café, farm and tourism businesses. This is now being expanded with wider opportunities such as furniture making, firewood processing and native tree cultivation and planting.
A horticultural centre has been built, largely through the support of loyal sponsor Kennards Hire, and young people from across Springboard’s various programmes recently potted 8500 seedlings. The plants will grow for six months and then be planted out on the farm in wetland areas as part of a revitalisation plan for the farm.
Founder Gary Diprose says caring for the environment, particularly its waterways, and teaching the students the same guardianship, is a way of giving back to the community.
“We owe our community a huge thank you for coming on board with the Sheepworld journey.”
He describes the energy and excitement around the property this year as inspiring.
Key to this positive momentum has been the purchase of Sheepworld four years ago.
“We feel we’ve turned a corner – financially and as a visitor attraction,” Diprose says. “We’ve had one of our best years ever.”
“The business is now cycling funding back into Springboard, a blessing at a time when Government and philanthropic funding is contracting.
“It’s now part of our financial portfolio, helping to stablise the work we do.”
Last week, an intensive three-day workshop was held at Sheepworld, again sponsored by Kennards, which focussed on tourism marketing, particularly to an international audience.
Springboard is a wrap-around service that delivers education, wellbeing, and employment programmes for more than 400 young people every year.
Inspirational leader leaves Springboard
Springboard founder Gary Diprose will stand down as managing director in September.
He says it feels like the right time to step aside and let Springboard’s next chapter be led by the next generation of leaders.
“I always wanted to ensure that Springboard would not falter when the founder moved on and for five years now, our team has been putting systems and people in place to ensure that the transition would be as seamless as possible,” he said.
“We are now settled after four years at Sheepworld and are planning the next five to 10 years, and it feels like the right time to step aside.”
Thousands of young people have passed through Springboard since seven young people started an Alternative Education programme with Gary in 2002.
“That was the start of my journey of what it really looked like to walk in the shoes of a young person who had given up hope for themselves.
“It has been a journey with lots of fun, learning, connections with incredible people, moments laced with pride, wonder and at times frustrations.
“It has been a privilege over these 24 years to serve North Rodney. We have seen so many radical life changes over the years and have witnessed the massive growth to what Springboard looks like today.”
Gary says that Sheepworld will always be a resource for training and developing young people for the generations to come.
His last day with the organisation will be September 30. The organisation will then be lead jointly by chief executive Dan Gray and chief operations manager Stephanie Lane.
