October 8, 2013
Queensland women have been encouraged to get their nominations in by October 31 for the 2014 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award.
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said Queensland women working in primary or rural industries who had leadership potential and a project that would benefit their industry or community were encouraged to apply.
“Now in its 14th year, the award provides a $10,000 bursary to help each State/Territory winner implement her award vision,” mr McVeigh said.
“It’s also an invaluable opportunity for women to grow personally and professionally, to build their leadership and professional development skills and connect with a like-minded network of rural women who are equally passionate about rural and primary industries.”
Mr McVeigh said the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award had a long history of supporting strong, inspirational women in the pursuit of excellence for Australian primary industries and rural communities.
“Agriculture is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and to help it grow, we need to develop and nurture our most important asset, our people,” Mr McVeigh said.
“The RIRDC Rural Women’s Award is a wonderful way to recognise the vital contribution that women make to our primary industries and to support them in their endeavours for a more profitable, sustainable and innovative agricultural sector in the future.”
The 2014 State/Territory winners will be announced in March 2014 and will compete for the National RIRDC Rural Women’s Award title in October 2014.
- For more information, visit the RIRDC website
A South Burnett woman has featured in the awards.
In 2009, the Queensland winner – and National runner-up – was Barb Madden from Smithfield Feedlot near Proston.
Barb’s “award ambition” was to establish a workable business model to forge partnerships between indigenous beef producers and the broader beef industry.
The local model engaged two separate indigenous beef producers, the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and the Indigenous Land Corporation with Smithfield feedlot to provide the mainstream beef management and training.
