'Planning for change' a feature of The Country Web

Change is inevitable, but how we cope is largely dependent on our ability to plan, according to the latest version of The Country Web newsletter, produced by NSW Agriculture's Rural Women's Network (RWN).

The special 40-page edition looks at planning from a personal, business and environmental perspective and provides valuable strategies and tools to guide individuals and communities through the change process.

Acting Assistant Coordinator for the RWN, Allison Priest, said change means many different things to people and can be quite stressful.

"While some may see change as exciting, for others it represents a challenge," Ms Priest said.

"Often the challenge can be quite daunting, leaving people to view change in a negative way because they feel they are powerless to shape their future."

She said personal stories of past, present and future planning are used to show that planning is one of the tools people can use to cope with the constant changes now being placed on them.

There is a strong focus on personal goal setting, career and education, retirement, community campaigns and disasters, as well as succession planning, farm safety, property management planning, holistic management and managing stock theft.

The 34th edition of The Country Web also includes a special four-page pull-out section titled 'Tool kit for getting through the drought' and a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Update which will continue to feature in future editions.

The update aims to provide readers with important information regarding changes in NRM, with the new Catchment Management Authorities a feature.

Ms Priest also said that the RWN included a survey in the last edition of The Country Web asking readers to update their subscription details if they wished to continue receiving the newsletter.

"We have started a new mailing list and anyone who didn't complete the survey will not be on the new list, so we hope those people will contact us as soon as possible," she said.

If you would like to continue receiving The Country Web (either by post or through an email alert), and have not forwarded your updated information to the RWN, please contact the RWN on (02) 6391 3620.

Media contact: Allison Priest, RWN, NSW Agriculture Orange, telephone 6391 3620

Issued by: Annette Cross, NSW Agriculture Tamworth, telephone 6763 1243, mobile 0427 201 840