Jeff Coutts Blog

Ahh, the Yorkshire dales

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:38:00 +1000

Having just come back from a good six weeks holiday in Europe, I thought it time to update my blog with another overseas instalment. Having had this business for almost a decade, I thought we were entitled to long service leave like anyone else - hence a full six weeks to allow the brain to wind down fully. Fortunately for me, Amy was there to hold the fort and so I could (almost) ignore the email traffic while travelling (its remarkable how much wireless access is available out there!).

So - the trip! We started with a couple of days in Singapore to re-set the brain - a spin around the Flier (like the London Eye!); dinner at the zoo; and a walk around the botanical garden - oh, and a drink at Raffles...as you do!

Then, on to The Netherlands - the old stamping grounds where we lived while I did my postgraduate studies at Wageningen. Apart from visiting great friends and revisiting special places, a highlight was dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant in Wageningen - the mystery 5 course dinner! Exquisite. Not that life is (only) about culinary experiences!

Next Russia.... so different to what I expected! The nice open cities, green spaces, architecture, onion

churches - fantastic Moscow underground galleries - and of course the Kremlin (actually means a fortified city apparently) and Red Square (‘beautiful' - rather than colour red!). We did a river cruise up to St Petersberg, then by train to Helsinki before flying on to Manchester in the UK.

As much the trip to date had been great with many new and pleasant experiences, touching down in Britain is always special! My mother's family came from around the Lake District and my father's came from Scotland - so I am convinced that Northern England and Scotland is in my blood. And hence my sense of place and well being while being amongst stone walls and green fields and stone villages and churches and ruined abbeys ...... and sheep!

So, during visits to the Isle of Mull, Iona, walks in the Lake District, Hadrian's wall and the Yorkshire dales - I had my sketch book and just drank in the smells, sites and sounds. My aim is to take the peace I felt on into this next year - and be even better in my work for it!

I could try and draw some nice deep lessons from all this - and relate it to my work (evaluation and extension) - but, I think I will just lie back and think about the Yorkshire dales and let it take me forward.

Convergence – a moment with my father

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:51:00 +1100

In the extension arena, we often talk about managing change. We talk about capacity and resilience and making changes to improve our own lives and our communities. It’s not just about taking the latest technology and applying it – but to have thoughtfully learned from our experiences and training and weighing up what to apply across our social, economic, environmental landscape.

My father, Keith Coutts, died recently. It is a time of change in our extended family. Someone who was always there – back in my ‘home town’ – is there no longer. And somehow, the rest of us fit back into normal life and move on to take his place in life’s march.

How do you sum up the meaning of your father’s life to yourself? At the funeral, I had a chance to speak and reflect and wondered what I could possibly say that could capture even a window into that link and relationship. I chose a short moment in our lives when, as I put it, our lives converged. Dad was a blacksmith welder (among other things – father, husband, church elder, scout leader) and lived almost all of his life in Ayr, North Queensland. I left Ayr at 17 and went off to start my career in agriculture and rural development and seemed to spend my life moving around, changing jobs and living in different places and countries.

However, there was a particular point of convergence. My parents visited Robyn and I (and our then 2 little girls) when we were volunteering at a place called ‘Christian Leaders Training College’ in Papua New Guinea. I was managing a poultry farm and Robyn worked in the preschool area. This was my parents’ first time out of Australia – and it was quite a privilege that they visited us in this remote spot of the world. I was tasked at the time with building a security fence around our layer sheds – the ‘raskols’ had started stealing in earnest and the tide needed to be stemmed! This is where Dad’s ‘blue collar’ work met my ‘degree’ (and practically-challenged) career and we spent time together building the fence. He showed me, for example, that you could line up a post on one side of the road with one on the other by using a hose full of water!

So there was the convergence – in a distant country together; in a ‘church’ setting; and working manually to bring about a management need. I’m not sure that our lives ever converged again in the same way – but that moment never left me.

Resilience. Being able to move on and use our inner and social capacity that we have built up over life time – and take what life throws at us...or the opportunities that present to us! Being in the capacity building game, I hope I get a chance to have impact on my own family – and others – in some small way.

Fiji

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:21:00 +1100

Having finally set foot on Fiji – I thought I would revert back to my international theme for this update! Even though I had lived and worked in Papua New Guinea (see my earlier blog) and had projects in Asia, I longed for the opportunity to do something in the Pacific Islands. Many years ago, I had to choose between a poultry-based job in Fiji – and one in PNG. I chose PNG but often wondered where life would have taken me and my family had I chosen differently.

My entry to Fiji this time was through a workshop organized by the University of Queensland as part of an ACIAR project (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) which looked at extension capacity building needs in the South Pacific. I was a bit of an interloper – not having done the hard yards in the project - just coming in at the end (or what I hope might also be a start!). What was fascinating was meeting a core group of people who really had a heart for extension – and developing skills in ‘extension workers’ and managers around participative processes. [For those who are unfamiliar with the term ‘extension’ – it comes from an agricultural based-role referring to better linking farmers with research relevant to their farms. This has since broadened beyond agriculture and to include more personal can social capacity building!]

But Fiji! At last - standing on the soil – and beaches! I only had a glimpse really – but was not disappointed. I saw a country with mixed development, plenty of potential – good farmland, emerging industries – and a great tourist spot. I also heard more of some of the other Pacific Island Nations and now also hope to visit places such as Vanuatu and Samoa – amongst many more. Maybe the opportunity to engage in a project such as this might provide an opportunity to learn with other like-minded people in these places.

And the tourist side was also great! My wife Rob joined me after the workshop for a taste of the beaches and islands – and we both discovered that we could actually snorkel if we put our minds to it! It helped that the water was so warm and the coral so inviting. And speaking of taste, the Indian food was just superb!

A final comment re Kava – the national drink! I did get to taste it (see the photo) – but an yet to understand why a chalky, brown fluid is so popular! Ah well, maybe you have to drink a few to find out?

Survey Workshops

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:35:00 +1000

One of the factors that has prompted us to launch our specialised rural survey service has been the survey workshops that I developed with Kerry Bell – a whiz with numbers and statistics! Kerry and I had been co-running the University of Queensland’s ‘Evaluation of Projects and Programs’ Masters course for a number of years.

We had about 2 hours during the one week residential to devote to survey design and analysis and were always left frustrated at the end that we could not do it justice – and it was an area that students were very interested in. So we finally developed a course where we could devote 2 days rather than 2 hours to helping people understand the whole survey process! And we’ve been pretty satisfied with the results and the feedback from participants.

When I was Director of the then Rural Extension Centre (a joint Department of Primary Industries and University of Queensland venture) we developed and ran courses mainly for people already employed and engaged in extension or educational activities themselves. We applied ‘adult learning principles’ in the way we ran our courses to maximize the value that people got out of the experience. We focused less on the ‘bit of paper’ and more on the practical value to participants. And people responded!

This lesson has stayed with me since – don’t be an ‘aloof teacher’, but be a ‘learning facilitator’. Build on the knowledge and motivation that the course participants already have….ground it in their own experience so that they own it and can use it when they leave.

Although training is not my major focus now – it is something that I have undertaken across a range of topics, place, groups and circumstances over the years. From the formal UQ courses in Evaluation and Research Methods held on campus to training in evaluation, extension, facilitation, and participative development across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines – and also once in South Africa! In all cases, I have used adult learning principles - and gained as much from the interaction as the participants did.

After completing a review of extension around Australia for the Cooperative Venture in Human Capacity Building, Kate Roberts (an evaluation consultant based in Melbourne) and I ran courses in the evaluation of different extension models – and evaluating ‘empowerment’. One exercise that we did in the training was to have the participants design a symbol capturing the range of interests of the group in the context of the learning that they were undertaking. One example is shown in the picture - a strong symbol of people standing together and caring about the natural environment which they shared. It also symbolized how we can learn from each other to make a difference!

Tassie

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:18:00 +1000

It's not exactly 'overseas', but Tasmania is separated from mainland Australia by Bass Straight! So maybe it 'almost' fits the travel theme of previous blogs.

It really is a beautify island sate - and I have been fortunate to have had some good project work in Tasmania over recent years. For a number of years, I worked with my colleague Gordon Stone in evaluating the Stronger Learning Pathways project in the Cradle Coast (North West region). This project was attempting to address the low standing of continuing education in the region. This gave us lots of reasons to travel to that part of the state - Burnie, Smithton, Wynyard and heaps of other coastal towns - to enjoy the tulips (yes there is a tulip farm just outside of Burnie!) - and look out for fairy penguins on the beach in the evenings.

Another project in Tassie that I was involved in evaluating the was 8x5 wool profitability project (I was never sure what the '8x5' stood for!). This took me over to the east of the state - a drier area, but older heritage towns remarkably like England! The project found me (and Robyn) in a cold and draughty wool shed observing a workshop with wool producers about alternatives to fly control. Rather than use a typical 'feedback sheet' to gauge how the wool farmers liked the workshop, I used a 'dart board' - three rings like a target up on the wall where they could peg how much the workshop hit the target for them! This project showed the extra impact of on-going groups compared to more passive ways of bringing about change.

From wool to milk - and I had the chance to evaluate a dairy 'Pasture-Plu$' project - mainly across the North of the state. A little greener than the drought-affected wool areas. This project encompassed training, 'focus farm's, workshops and a 'young farmer's program and was very successful in engaging a large number of dairy farmers in thinking about pastures and better business management. Again this project showed the value of the 'personal touch' - against the continuing flow of governments thinking that websites will take away the need for on-the-ground extension programs!

Lastly, I have had the opportunity to work with one of the Natural Resource Management regional bodies - NRM North - based in Launceston. This has involved evaluating a large program looking at 'best practice salinity management' (I hadn't even been aware that there was a salinity problem in Tasmania!) and different approaches to Property Management Planning. This is another project that has shown the much added value of having people visit properties to work through the best options (not that I don't value training and groups and good information to support such engagement!).

As well as work - Robyn and I did have a nice 10 days work-free bed and breakfasting around Tasmania - including getting over to the pristine West! And, on one work trip, I managed to spend a day riding a horse through the mountains in the south - encompassing rain, snow and sleet all in one ride! So for walk or play - I recommend Tassie. I think I could easily live there (maybe if it was a tad warmer!)

South America

Wed, 27 May 2009 05:38:00 +1000

I seem to have started a theme about experiences in other countries – and as I am freshly back from a holiday in South America, I thought I would continue the theme. Robyn and I teamed up with a group of mainly Toowoomba-ites, and marshaled by our common travel agent (Wendy), headed off to South America just after Easter. We had not been there before and it was all a bit of a mystery to me.

We started in Argentina – Buenos Aeries. I found a country that seemed very much like a version of Australia – just with the Spanish background rather than the British influence in Australia. In both countries the original inhabitants were forced out to the more inhospitable areas – and you are left with quite a transplanted culture in the cities and agricultural parts. Flying over the agricultural land was just like flying over NSW and SW Queensland. Even our visit to a local tourist ranch reminded me of the early Australian era as well (well, except for the more colourful clothes and dances!). A highlight was the large cemetery where Eva Peron was buried! More like a city than our traditional Oz plots.

Next was Iguazu Falls. Anyone who has watched the movie “The Mission” has seen the magnificence of these falls! And you needed to go to both the Argentinean and the Brazilian side to truly appreciate all of the aspects. The highlight for me was coming face to face with a troop of monkeys – always good to say hello to the rellies!

Then onto Brazil – or at least Rio. What an incredible city! It even made Sydney with its great harbor look a little small. Standing at the feet of Jesus (the big stature on the hill) you could see the whole city and its bay and islands in their magnificence. Much was built on the backs of slaves – who brought and sustained a rich culture with them despite this context. The Samba night was a bit of a highlight!

The focus of the visit was Peru – Machu Pichu was in Robyn’s ‘bucket list’! Spending time up around 13,000 feet in the Andes made the Great Dividing Range down the East Coast of Australia (on which Toowoomba sits!) seem like a sand dune. Peru was just like the pictures in books I have seen over the years – fantastic mountain scenery; heaps of Inca ruins; lamas and rural people tilling the land in very tradition ways. There is a lot poverty and lack of access to education and health. We were fortunate to meet up with a great small foundation established by an Australian woman with a Peruvian partner - www.peruschallenge.com and look at some of their work with impoverished communities. Well worth checking out and supporting!

Machu Pichu certainly was worth the visit! Friends of ours walked for 4 days along the Inca trails to get there – but we took the train! Just as well, as you needed all your energy walking up and down slopes as you explored the ruins.

We then found ourselves at Lake Titicaca – the highest navigatable lake in the world (I think) – with the highlight being the villages on the reed islands – pretty impressive technology and adaptation!

So now back in Australia and wondering what I took away from the trip (apart from the trinkets bought to help the tourist economy!). One thing was the close comparison between Australia and Argentina and Brazil – and accident of history and a similar trajectory. Close neighbors in this sense (and serious competitor in agricultural products!) – we could certainly learn from each other (including how better to work together with the original inhabitants of our lands). The experiences in Peru highlighted the skill of the ancients in what they did, what they made and how they organized society – and the shame of having lost so much of the details. It also highlighted that many communities still lack basic services – health and education – and we all could do more to contribute from our wealth.

Memories of Papua New Guinea

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:35:00 +1100

One place that I have enjoyed going to over the years is Papua New Guinea. My first experience there was as a very young Australian Volunteer when my wife Robyn and I went to Hagita High School and Plantation in 1976 near Alatou in Milne Bay Province. I managed a copra and cattle plantation and Robyn taught at the Catholic High School. This was just after independence and it was great to experience the hope and confidence of this new nation. One claim to fame - at least for Robyn - was making the outfits for the school brass band to welcome the Queen on a visit to Alotau.

Our next sojourn to PNG was from 1981-84 when we went to Banz near Mt Hagen from 1981-84 to use my poultry management skills to manage Girumbin Poultry - a commercial enterprise associated with the interdenominational Christian Leaders Training College. While I managed the poultry, Robyn worked with the many pre-schoolers that belonged to staff and children. The Highlands was very different to the coastal areas - cooler, more people around.... and more conflict. It had a terrific climate - ideal for poultry - the only down side was the cost of bringing imported feed up the long Highland's Highway from Lae. The poultry operation was based around breeders, a hatchery, sale of day old chickens and a layer farm - and was quite profitable while provided training and jobs for a good number of highlanders. It was here that our eldest daughter started school - at the Banz International school (which I believe is no longer there).

Since then, we have been involved in a number of projects which has meant regular trips to the country and having the chance to watch it grapple with nationhood and wielding a diverse culture into one that speaks the same language of measured development. A favourite destination has been East New Britain Province - an island in the north - and The University of Vudal. There we have been involved in working with the agricultural department and providing a range of training packages to staff. East New Britain - despite the destruction to much of the capital Rabaul from the volcanic eruption - has a good steady development and very stable community - and always a pleasure to visit and work with the people. In one project - an AusAid funded training project - training in a range of topics was undertaken in the villages themselves with University or Department of Agriculture staff (using adult learning approaches). Our role was to monitor and evaluate the process and impact of the training - and there was a lot of positive impacts that we observed from the project!

Another project was known as the PNG Scientific Communication Project (SciCom) - funded by the AusAid through Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). I was project leader, Robyn was the gender advisor and various staff from the University of Queensland paired with PNG national staff to develop post-graduate training courses. Dr Ken Rickert from Toowoomba was the academic leader and Laurie Fooks managed the project from Lae. The project came about largely through the efforts of Robert Songan - who at the time was on the staff at Unitech in Lae - who had a vision for such a course. These courses could be delivered in one-week blocks and aimed to develop the skills of university staff and researchers in government or private agencies to better communicate the outputs of their research. The most exciting part of this project was seeing the way that the PNG national staff embraced the concept and became such advocates and deliverers of the course throughout PNG.

Its been more than a year now since my last visit to the country. I miss the smiles and "Moning tru...yu stap orait?"...the people and their resilience faced with sometimes very difficult circumstances. It is their country and they know it well. They put up gracefully as we 'foreigners' come in with yet another project to help. Maybe...I will have chance to get back someday.

Purpose of this Blog

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:37:00 +1100

In this new website, I was keen to have a place where I could provide an update on my latest experiences and thinking when it came to evaluation, extension or development issues - an opportunity for a bit of free thought. Although the blog doesn't allow direct comment as such, feel free to use the contact page to email me any feeedback or thoughts that have been triggered by my entries.

In this line of business you get to experience a wide range of places, sectors and projects. Over the last few years I have worked in such areas as: the Philippines (ACIAR project looking at improving the decentralised extension system); Indonesia (looking at what was happening in applied agricultural research approaches - and before that smallholder shrimp production); Laos (looking at a livestock forage project in the high country); New Zealand (looking at the role of Agricultural Consultants in agricultural extension and environmental services); and of course across Australia (wool and dairy industries, and an educational program in Tasmania; sugar projects in Queensland; agricultural development in the Kimberlies; natural resource management programs in various states). And with an evaluation focus, you really get to hone in what is happening and why and the issues surrounding them - and meet some fascinating and great people along the way! Quite a privilege!

One person who made a significant impression on me was Sandy Cuthbertson - one of the founders of the Centre for International Economics - who passed away very recently with many of us very saddened by his loss. Sandy was a real gentleman and excellent soul. I travelled with Sandy some years ago to the Philippines for a scoping study - just prior to starting up my own consulting career. During our visit, I asked him to share his experiences about successful consulting - I was after the top 10 lessons! Over the next few days, Sandy tried to oblige - very thoughtfully and humbly. I can't remember them all now, but his Number 1 message was "be generous"....in the broadest sense! Consulting to him, was not about 'screwing the client' and charging for every minute - but to give of yourself to do what was needed to be done to make the world a better place. He found that such an approach had its own rewards - and the dollars took care of themselves. A nice lesson that I took with me when I took the jump to the consulting world.