Lights, cameras, careers: Coolamon kids take control of live show

COOLAMON students have stepped out of the classroom and into the control room, taking charge of the lights, cameras and sound for one of their school’s biggest live productions.

Fourteen students from Years 7 to 10 at Coolamon Central School were given a rare taste of the entertainment industry last week when a purpose-built Mobile Training Unit rolled into town packed with professional production equipment.

The three-day visit culminated in the school’s Music and Variety Show on Thursday night, September 10, where students were tasked with putting their newly acquired skills into action during a real live performance.

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Armed with industry-standard lighting and audio desks, video cameras, a vision mixer, speakers and communications equipment, the students worked behind the scenes to help bring the production to life.

For many, it was their first opportunity to get hands-on with the type of technology normally found at professional concerts, performances and live events.

And according to Coolamon Central School principal Kingsley Ireland, it did not take long for the experience to spark some big ambitions.

“It was an exciting opportunity for my staff and students to try their hands with up-to-date technology and learn how we can build the capacity of our performances and productions to a level that’s reflected in industry standards,” Mr Ireland said.

“I’ve got a massive amount of enthusiasm bubbling along from kids.

“They just want to be looking at gear and are asking me, ‘When is the school going to be purchasing this?'”

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More importantly, Mr Ireland said the program had opened students’ eyes to careers they may not previously have considered possible from a small regional community.

“Kids can now look and go, ‘There is a future. There is something that I can do in this,'” he said.

“Having access to this Entertainment MTU for a small country community is huge.

“Putting this modern technology out, like smoke machines, lights and video cameras, in the hands of kids and staff is a fantastic opportunity.”

The Mobile Training Unit was developed by the NSW Department of Education to bring practical vocational education and training directly to regional, rural and remote schools.

Across Terms 3 and 4, the unit and two specialist VET teachers are travelling more than 3500 kilometres to visit 10 NSW public schools west of the Great Dividing Range.

Coolamon Central was one of those stops, with four staff members joining the 14 students for three days of training in audio, lighting, vision streaming and staging.

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The workshops were led by Wagga High School Creative and Performing Arts head teachers John Russell and Joel Lowrie, combining their teaching experience with industry expertise.

For Year 9 student Abbie, the experience also delivered a crash course in one of the realities of live entertainment: things do not always go according to plan.

“It can be very difficult to run a show, but all you’re going to do is stick with your team and stick with what you’ve been told,” she said.

“If things change at the last minute, just go with it.”

Fellow Year 9 student Roxy said the program had shown students that the skills they were learning could extend well beyond a school production.

“This stuff can be really fun,” she said.

“It can also help with future jobs and activities you want to do. It can also help you explore what stuff you might want to do in the future.”

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Mobile Training Unit teacher Joel Lowrie said giving regional students experience in authentic live productions was central to the program.

“Students will get practical experience of live productions that place them in authentic, high-pressure situations, allowing them to apply their new skills in real-time but with guided support,” Mr Lowrie said.

“Our goal is for the MTU to inspire more students to pursue training and careers into the creative arts industry and add extra liveliness and energy in smaller communities.”

The program is also designed to train teachers and build the capacity of regional schools to eventually deliver VET Entertainment Industry courses themselves, particularly where access to equipment and specialist expertise has previously been a barrier.

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Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said bringing the equipment and expertise directly to regional schools was about ensuring geography did not limit students’ opportunities.

“It’s a terrific opportunity for students to explore entertainment careers through hands-on learning which can inspire them to pursue post-school pathways in the industry,” Mr Whan said.

“By bringing industry-standard training directly to schools, the MTU is ensuring location isn’t a barrier to opportunity for young people.”

For Mr Ireland, the lasting impact could be just as important as what happened on stage on Thursday night.

He hopes the enthusiasm generated by the visit will continue long after the truck and its equipment have left Coolamon.

“Having the knowledge in the school and that enthusiasm is probably the key underpinning aspect that will keep the concept running in our community,” he said.

“I would hope that other schools would take it up and really benefit from it so that they can build the same sorts of capacities in their schools.”