Deep ties with Charles Sturt University have inspired a family of three generations of alumni to continue their connection with the University, long after the ink on their degrees has dried.

Three generations of the Watts family have graduated from Charles Sturt University - Mr Kevin Watts, his son Ben and Ben’s wife Fiona and their daughter Brooke.

Kevin studied at Mitchell College in Bathurst in the 1980s and completed a Diploma in Teaching/Psychology.

Ben Watts completed a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture in 2010 at Charles Sturt in Orange. His wife Fiona Watts graduated with a Master of Business Administration from Bathurst in 2003 and then completed a Graduate Diploma in Vocational Education and Training in 2008 and micro courses online in 2024.

The most recent Watts graduate was Brooke, who completed a Bachelor of Business (Management) in Bathurst and online in 2021.

Ben, Fiona and Brooke are all currently based in Molong, running the family business Bralca. Bralca was a traditional farming operation which has branched into training consultancy to meet the growing needs of Australian agriculture.

Their services include pest animal mapping, drone system consultancy, drone pilot and training, ultrasound, rural events management and business services.

Ben and Fiona are Bralca’s owners/directors while Brooke is the current Business Operations Coordinator. The trio said it was important for them to maintain connections with the University after graduation.

“Maintaining a connection to Charles Sturt University as alumni has presented a range of opportunities, including networking with fellow alumni, and now a partnership to benefit hundreds of high school students across NSW that are passionate about agriculture and animal and veterinary sciences,” Brooke said.

“This connection has been vital.

“Collaborating with Charles Sturt for the wether challenge ensures we maintain an educational focus to ensure students have access to post-school studies that in turn will increase the uptake of careers in agriculture.”

Ben said alumni connections are important to his business as he relies on them for networking and knowledge sharing.

Ben said studying at Charles Sturt ensured he had the networks and depth of knowledge to excel in his career.

Executive Dean of the Charles Sturt Faculty of Science and Health Professor Megan Smith said the relationship with Bralca allows collaboration with alumni to inspire the future of the agricultural workforce.

“We have a common goal – together, through education, we can build a strong agricultural workforce and help to address the sector’s workforce shortage,” she said.

“Bralca is a regionally located business, like Charles Sturt University, and both are dedicated to improving the skills of regional communities.

“The event is a hallmark of promoting interactive and competition-based learning in sheep and wool production.

“Charles Sturt University was eager to enhance the experience for students and teachers alike.”

Professor Smith said the University’s course portfolio in agriculture and environment and animal and veterinary sciences aligns with future educational needs of the passionate high school students involved with the program.

The NSW School Merino Wether Challenge is supported through funding and resources from Australian Wool Innovation, with coordination and logistic provided by Bralca. The purchase of the wethers is donated by the Dubbo National Ram Show and Sale association committee.

The relationship between Bralca and Charles Sturt saw schools participating in the NSW School Merino Wether Challenge collect their wethers from the University in Wagga Wagga in March.

Charles Sturt and Bralca hosted a mid-challenge event on Tuesday 18 June in Wagga Wagga for up to 200 students from 69 participating schools.

The aim of the challenge is to educate high school students on the commercial production of Merino sheep. Each participating school is allocated six sheep for six months, after which they will be judged during the Dubbo National Merino Ram Show and Sale according to meat and wool quality.

The mid-challenge day involved rotating workshops consisting of a Charles Sturt Global Digital Farm tour, wool harvesting with the Australian Wool Innovation, merino sheep young judges workshop, animal production and nutrition, and EIDs and emerging technologies.

The challenge culminates in Dubbo from Tuesday 27 to Wednesday 28 August for the final judging and evaluations.