2009 RIRDC Rural Women of the Year Award
Guests gathered in Sydney on Monday evening 9 March for a very special evening to celebrate and recognise the achievements of two outstanding rural women: Kim Currie from Orange and Gillian Hogendyk from Warren.
The Gala Dinner, hosted by Minister Macdonald, was attended by more than 100 government, industry, and community representatives.
Also attending the dinner were The Hon Tony Kelly MC, Minister for Policy and Minister for Lands; The Hon Phillip Costa MP, Minister for Water and Minister for Regional Development and The Hon Verity Firth MP, Minister for Education & Training and Minister for Women.
A special video featuring Kim and Gillian was shown on the night which portrayed both Kim and Gillian in their daily lives and gave an overview of their award proposals and what they hoped to achieve through the Award.
Guests also heard from our 2008 Award Winner, Tracey Knowland from Brooklet who spoke about her Award experience and the benefits and successes of her project since winning the Award back in 2008.
The Honourable Nathan Rees MP, Premier of New South Wales was a special guest at the dinner and had the honour of announcing our 2009 NSW RIRDC Rural Women's Award Winner - Kim Currie.
Kim's award recognised her commitment to improving agri tourism and using farmers markets and other initiatives to boost awareness of food production efforts in NSW, and help strengthen rural communities.
'Kim's energy and enthusiasm for the innovative promotion of food and wine promotion in the central west is well known, and has the potential to help similar rural communities across the State to better promote their products to consumers, Minister Macdonald said.
Kim plans to take the skills she has developed as Taste Orange's inaugural executive officer to help rural communities use food and wine promotion to boost agri tourism.
By winning the $10,000 winner's bursary, Kim will tour other international food producing regions and bring back even more new and innovative ways to achieve these goals.
Runner-up in the 2009 Award, Gillian Hogendyk was recognised for her efforts in using her knowledge of cotton and other irrigation industries to involve her peers in conservation activities that help achieve better natural resource management.
'Gillian has shown incredible leadership by inspiring cotton industry members in the north west of the State to play their part in improving wetlands such as the Macquarie Marshes, and sharing their new knowledge with the general community, university and school students', Minister Macdonald said.
'This years Award saw one of the largest and most diverse range of applicants attracted by the Award in recent times, and indicates the depth of talent in our rural sector.
'In spite of more than half the State remaining in one of the worst droughts on record, these women are developing new initiatives and projects that benefit their communities and industries.
'Both Kim and Gillian are excellent examples of how good ideas and commitment can inspire others in playing their part to better promote and sustain regional communities."
Kim and Gillian will attend a Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in Canberra with other State and Territory Award winners and finalists in May.
They will then be joined by winners and finalists from the previous 10 years of the Award for a special 2-day reunion forum.
Kim now goes on to compete for the 2009 Australian RIRDC Rural Women's Award title which will be announced at the National Award Dinner in Canberra on Monday 25 May. We wish Kim the best of the luck for this next stage.
The 2009 NSW Award was supported by our generous sponsors: the NSW Farmers Association, Department of State & Regional Development, Department of Environment & Climate Change NSW and the Office for Women's Policy, Department of Premier & Cabinet.
Applications for the 2010 Award open 1 August 2009.