Tess Bingham & Nicholas Hausler (2023)
From Ballarat Grammar to Marcus Oldham: Old Grammarians Share Their Agricultural Journey
In August, Ballarat Grammar's Round Square Co‑ordinator and Careers Practitioner, Jill Coote, accompanied 15 students from Years 10, 11 and 12 on a visit to Marcus Oldham College. The group was warmly welcomed by Old Grammarians Tess Bingham and Nick Hausler (both OG 2023), who are currently in their first year of Agribusiness studies at the renowned agricultural college.
After spending time working across Australia in a range of agricultural roles since graduating from Ballarat Grammar, both Tess and Nick have returned to study to further develop their industry knowledge and leadership skills. During the visit, they guided students on a campus tour, delivered a presentation about life at Marcus Oldham and joined the group for dinner, providing valuable insight into their experiences and future career aspirations.
For Nick, one of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity to reconnect with fellow Grammar students over dinner.
"It was amazing to see Wigan boys again and share a few laughs from our time together," he said.
Nick is studying Agribusiness and hopes to graduate at the end of 2027 before returning to Warracknabeal to join his family's farming business. He says one of the most rewarding aspects of Marcus Oldham is the people he meets every day.
"The networking opportunities are incredible. You're surrounded by people from all around Australia with different experiences and backgrounds, and you learn something from every conversation."
Interestingly, agriculture was not always the path Nick envisioned. Following Ballarat Grammar, he initially attended Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. While he valued the experience, it wasn't quite the right fit. After spending a year working on a cattle station and in cropping operations in Western Australia, he found himself inspired by colleagues and mentors who had studied at Marcus Oldham.
"The professionalism and communication skills of Marcus graduates really stood out to me," he said. "That ultimately sold me on the college and what I hoped to gain from the course."
Tess is also studying Agribusiness and has ambitions to build a career in agricultural marketing or commodity trading. During the campus tour, she and Nick showed students around the college and provided an overview of the various courses available.
"I really enjoyed showing everyone around and sharing my experience at the college," Tess said. "It's an incredible opportunity for students to experience the campus in person and learn what Marcus Oldham has to offer."
Like Nick, Tess's pathway into agriculture was not entirely straightforward. Originally intending to pursue nursing, she discovered her passion for agriculture after entering the workforce following school.
"When I started working in agriculture, I realised it was something I wanted to do long term," she explained.
Tess says the strong sense of community and practical, hands-on learning environment are among the things she values most about studying at Marcus Oldham.
Reflecting on the visit, she spoke proudly of the connection between Ballarat Grammar and Marcus Oldham.
"Ballarat Grammar and Marcus Oldham have provided me with so much agricultural knowledge," she said. "Being able to share that experience with current students was something I was really proud of."
The visit offered students a valuable opportunity to learn firsthand about agricultural study and career pathways from two recent graduates who are already making their mark in the industry. For Tess and Nick, it was also a chance to reconnect with the Ballarat Grammar community and inspire the next generation of students considering a future in agriculture.
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
