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Calling all rural women

Monday 17 August, 2009

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Rural Industry Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award.

The award recognises, celebrates and encourages the enormous contribution of women to rural Australia.

Open to all women involved in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, natural resources management and related service industries, it provides a $10,000 bursary for a winner in each state and territory.

The winners and runners-up also have the chance to attend the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Course.

2009 South Australian winner Susi Tegen is a livestock and crop farmer on the Limestone Coast, who is also managing director of FREE Eyre, a ‘cluster’ that identifies new business opportunities for the Eyre Peninsula.

Susi said winning the award had given her the opportunity to research cluster group ventures in Europe, the US and Canada.

“The opportunity to meet with and be challenged by like-minded people has been beneficial. It’s just been a fantastic learning experience,” she said.

“This opportunity has also been great for FREE Eyre because it has further raised our profile. It has also given us access to other people across the industry and such a network is so important.”

The 2010 South Australian winner will be announced at a ceremony in Adelaide early next year, and will go on to represent the state in the national awards in Canberra.

The award is a RIRDC initiative in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries. Major sponsors are the Australian Women’s Weekly, ABC Radio and Rural Press.

Applications close on 15 October 2009. For more information, contact Edwina Clowes on 0417 727 544 or visit www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au.