Women interested in apply for the 2010 Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Rural Womens Award have one more week to submit their entry, with applications closing 15 October 2009.

Rural women wanting to learn new skills and provide inspiration to others are encouraged to put their hand up and apply for the 2010 Rural Womens Award.

Sally Green, a Central West member of Industry & Investment NSWs Rural Womens Network State Advisory Committee said the awards recognise women who make a difference in their communities.

"The award is about recognising and encouraging rural women and their contribution to rural Australia, but more importantly, it will provide them with the support and resources to build their leadership skills and their capacity to contribute to more vibrant and sustainable rural communities," she said.

"Now is the perfect time for women to apply with a change in the award criteria.

"Women can now apply to use the bursary to further develop their leadership skills or their knowledge of innovations, industries and markets, or they can submit a project proposal.

"The award is open to women of all ages who are involved in agriculture, primary industries or resource development including broadacre and intensive livestock and cropping enterprises, horticulture, forestry, fisheries, natural resource management and related industries."

A $10,000 bursary will be awarded to each State and Territory winner, and the winners and runner-ups have the opportunity to participate in the RIRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors based leadership program.

One of the seven State and Territory winners will also be selected as the 2010 Australian RIRDC Rural Womens Award winner.

Kim Currie, the 2009 NSW Rural Womens Award winner from Orange, has more than 25 years experience working with regional producers and has forged new and innovative ways of promoting rural and regional NSW through food and wine.

Her goal is to help develop vibrant regional communities by linking local produce, people and experiences - forging closer relationships between producers and consumers.

"I would encourage anybody who has wondered about doing something like this and perhaps lacked the confidence or who thought there were other people more worthy, to believe in themselves and just go for it," Ms Currie said.

For an information package and a list of past winners and finalists who have kindly offered to mentor women applying for the award, contact Allison Priest, NSW/ACT Award Coordinator on 02 6391 3620 or email: allison.priest@industry.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Tom Braz 0428 256 596