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Home »  RWN  »  RIRDC NSW Rural Women's Award

Rural Women's Network

Past winners and finalists for the RIRDC NSW Rural Women's Award

Jenny Bradley

Jenny Bradley, 2005 Winner

These highly motivated and successful women are excellent examples of the diversity and talents of rural women working in primary industries in this state. Their efforts have helped boost the productivity and sustainability of our primary industries and our rural communities.

2008 Winner: Tracey Knowland, Bangalow

Tracey, along with her husband Stuart, owns and operates Bangalow Wholesale Nursery at Bangalow in the Byron Bay hinterland. Tracey’s business specialises in trialling and developing superior selections of small to medium Australian temperate/subtropical rainforest trees and coastal tolerant trees. Her target markets include the landscape and development industry. Tracey proposes to use the bursary to fund her participation in the 2008 National Nursery & Garden Industry Association National Conference in Adelaide in March, followed by a study tour of Victoria's largest wholesale production nurseries to look at sustainable growing methods. Tracey also hopes to build on a water recycling project as part of their nursery business, and share her experiences with other women in rural and urban-based businesses.

2008 Runner-up: Louisa Kieley, Goolma

Louisa and her husband Michael own and operate a superfine wool enterprise at Goolma in central western NSW. Her focus for the past two years has been on climate change and sustainable farming. She has coordinated a number of workshops and summits, bringing together scientists and farmers to share information about carbon farming. Louisa’s award project involves building and launching SoilCCentral.com – a website devoted to research and knowledge of carbon soil sequestration, including ideas and farming techniques to increase carbon in soils. She hopes to use her project to highlight the benefits of increasing carbon in our agricultural soils to help save family farms and the environment at large.

2007 Winner: Eleanor Cook, Coolah

Eleanor Cook has a strong commitment to the sustainability of rural communities and to creating a strong base to help support the economy of small country towns.

Originally from Sydney, Eleanor’s rural life began when she met her husband Phillip and moved to a farm near Coolah in the State’s north-west, where she has raised their son. She has applied her marketing background locally by becoming involved in a range of local fundraising committees, helping to establish the Community District Development Group, which has attracted $1.5 million in funding for local community projects over recent years.

Eleanor is also the editor of the local community newspaper, and is involved in a range of tourism and promotional activities that focus on raising the profile of Coolah and district.

Eleanor’s project aims to reduce fund-raising pressures on rural community members, particularly rural women, by establishing a community-managed trust fund. This would enable bequeathed funds to be invested and the profits used to support a wide scope of work across social, economic and environmental projects. While Eleanor’s aim initially is to establish the fund locally, she hopes to develop a simple model that could be used by other rural communities.

Eleanor’s project and its emphasis on community sustainability is particularly relevant as much of rural NSW struggles to cope with the drought. Eleanor hopes that the community trust fund would attract complementary support from individuals, the private sector and Government.

Eleanor’s vision is summed up by her personal motto: ‘Work smarter, not harder: it’s as simple as ABC.'

Eleanor received a $10,000 Award bursary and was awarded a place on the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (valued at over $5,000). In addition she received a $1500 Women in Business Mentor Package sponsored by the Department of State & Regional Development, Women in Business Program.

2007 Runner-up: Fiona Kliendeinst, Emmaville

Fiona Kliendeinst’s passion for the wool industry extends back to her childhood growing up on a merino sheep farm at Emmaville near Glen Innes. After studying agricultural economics at Armidale, Fiona spent a number of years working in Agricultural Marketing in Sydney promoting Bioclip.

After deciding the city life was not for her, Fiona moved to Armidale. There she met her husband Paul, eventually joining him on his family’s superfine wool property at Uralla. In addition to working full-time on the farm, and raising their three children, Fiona has become a key player in the superfine production industry, and their flock’s wool quality has attracted national recognition.

Fiona’s latest focus has been the development of a woollen clothing fashion line, ‘Luv2wearwool’. Fiona’s interest in developing a clothing line grew from the realisation that it was difficult to buy woollen clothing, and she was determined to address the gap by starting her own range. Local women from wool-growing properties pool their sewing and designing talents to produce a combination of high fashion and practical woollen clothing.

Fiona’s project focuses on expanding the Luv2wearwool production base at Uralla to include a full-time studio employing local women in all aspects of woollen garment production, including the processing component. She believes this will play a vital role in showcasing the qualities of NSW’s fine wool to the rest of Australia and the international fashion scene. She also wants to better promote the use of Australian wool for both high fashion and everyday clothing ranges.

Fiona was awarded a place on the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (valued at over $5,000). In addition she received small business training vouchers valued at $150 sponsored by the Department of State & Regional Development, Women in Business Program.

2006 Winner: Kate Schwager, Wee Waa

Kate is a woman passionate about rural communities and promoting the importance of agriculture to regional towns and cities. She won the 2006 Award in recognition of her efforts to promote rural towns and their links to agriculture, as well as her contribution to the cotton industry.

Originally from Blayney, Kate lived in Sydney and travelled overseas for a number of years before deciding to return to country life at Wee Waa with husband Billy. In addition to helping her husband on their cotton and wheat share farming enterprise, joined regularly by their three sons, Kate is involved in a number of farming and community groups.

Currently the Publicity Officer for the Women's Industry Network Cotton (WINCOTT), Kate was the publicity officer for Wee Waa Inc for a number of years during which time she set up a regular newsletter promoting local events and products, and coordinated two major festivals. Kate is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1998, Kate set up the weewaa.com website as a way of promoting her community and exploring an off-farm income opportunity. Seven years later, Kate has now developed a Rural Towns Package (based on the weewaa.com website) which she hopes to share with women in other small rural communities as a viable business opportunity.

Kate plans to use her bursary to further develop and promote the Rural Towns Package, and to deliver training and assistance to women interested in setting up a community website. She believes this type of promotion will not only help promote the attractions and local produce of a rural town, but educate the wider community about agriculture in NSW.

Kate received a $10,000 bursary to implement her project and completed the RIRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

2006 Runner-up: Mary Howard, Wiseman's Ferry

From a background in farming and boat building, Mary and her husband Graham have established a local prawn trawl business based at Wiseman's Ferry on the lower Hawkesbury River.Her involvement with the fishing sector dates back to the early 80's, and while she admits the industry faces its share of challenges, she couldn't imagine any other way of life.

With over 30 years experience in the commercial fishing sector, Mary has worked hard to promote the sector over the years. She also has a long history of community activity and industry representation and is currently a Director on the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority, an Associate Member and Minutes Secretary of the Hawkesbury Trawl Association, and a member of the Women’s Seafood Industry Network.

Mary is working to develop some new promotional tools including a promotional DVD and brochures, and a book featuring the history and stories of fisher families across NSW. She believes this could help better inform and educate the wider community about the commercial fishing industry and its contribution to the NSW seafood sector. Mary also wants to provide information on environmental strategies and initiatives that are currently being undertaken by commercial fishers, which are playing an important role in protecting the sustainability of the fishing industry.

Mary was awarded a place on the RIRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

2006 Finalist: Cath Ford, Rosebank

Cath is an organic farmer with 110 acres of macadamia nut and coffee trees at Rosebank on the North Coast.

Originally, from Sydney, Cath left the city for a ‘sea change’, and decided to try her hand in agriculture despite having no experience in the industry. Nine years on, Cath and her husband Chris are running a successful enterprise, which is going from strength to strength.

Cath's farm's focus centres on production from 6,500 macadamia trees and 12,500 coffee trees. Determined to arm herself with as much information as possible to give the farm the best chance of achieving profitability, she undertook a TAFE course, which amongst other things, introduced her to the principles of organic farming and sustainability. She is now almost fully certified organic, and is passionate about sharing her new found knowledge with others. In addition to the production systems she has established, she has also set up a coffee processing plant which also saves neighbouring coffee bean farmers additional costs in time and travel.

Cath's project focus was to create a support network for women working in the macadamia and coffee bean industry and included producing a guide for fellow broadacre macadamia nut and coffee farmers to convert from conventional farming to sustainable farm practices.

Cath received a $1,000 bursary and a gift certificate to Westpac's Beyond Survival Workshop (valued at over $1,000). 

2005 Winner: Jenny Bradley, Armatree

Jenny’s passion for farming began in her early years on the family property at Armatree, a small rural village near Gulargambone in the State’s Central West. After continuing her education at Wagga Wagga in agricultural/science and teaching, Jenny taught agriculture to students at Lake Cargelligo and Forbes before deciding to return to the family farm.

Jenny took up the challenge of full-time farming together with husband Craig and developed an interest for lamb production and marketing. In the last five years, in addition to raising their children Peta and Jack, Jenny’s focus has centred on the lamb industry and developing better ways to meet market specifications.

Jenny is the only female director on the Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Cooperative, widely regarded as one of the largest and most successful sheep marketing groups of its kind. She has also played a key role in her local community and is an active member of the Gulargambone Rural Advisory Service and the local Country Women’s Association.

Jenny will use her bursary to study lamb marketing techniques and visit world class producer groups in New Zealand to help improve Australia’s lamb industry. She hopes also to further develop her leadership skills and encourage women to take a more active role in lamb and other rural industries.

2005 Runner-Up: Kate Woodward, Scone

Kate’s interest in agriculture developed when she first encountered Brown Swiss cattle during school activities on the Central Coast where she grew up. It was an interest she pursued through rural science studies at Armidale, then working in the dairy industry, before pursuing a career as a cheese maker specialising in products made from Brown Swiss cattle.

Today she is the Managing Director of Hunter Belle Cheese, a small specialty cheese factory based in Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter. As creator of the business, Kate was responsible for all aspects of planning, raising capital and developing their six cheese products. The factory has been set up at the Verona Winery where visitors can watch the cheese making process and enjoy a tasting complete with local wines.

Kate also helps husband Lachlan in the running of the Wallawong Murray Grey Stud and is a regular speaker at industry and community events and devotes time to encouraging rural youth to pursue their ambitions.

Kate will use her bursary to study cheese making techniques in American and Europe and hopes to generate growth in the industry. She hopes also to further her leadership and management skills by developing a successful agribusiness model to share with others.

2004 Winner: Rebecca Arnott, Coolah

Rebecca’s commitment to agriculture and sustainable rural communities began on her family’s mixed grazing property at Coolah in Central Western NSW.

Rebecca completed a degree in Rural Science at the University of New England before heading overseas to complete a Masters in Business Management while working in agricultural and food industries in England. She then spent a further three years travelling throughout the US, Canada and Zimbabwe, working in a variety of roles with cattle producers.

For the past two years Rebecca was employed as the Chief Executive Officer for Hunter Natural Cooperative, a beef marketing group aimed at helping producers increase their productivity, profitability and identifying new ways to market beef produced in NSW.

In February 2004 Rebecca moved into a new challenging national role. She is currently National Brand Manager for the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) and is responsible for growth, development and profitability of the AACo’s 1824 Brand product for both domestic and export markets.

Her commitment to agriculture extends beyond the beef cattle industry to include various initiatives that provide support to rural women. Rebecca has established Women’s Farm Walk and Discussion groups in the Cooma, Wagga Wagga and Hunter to provide networking and educational opportunities for women working in agriculture.

Rebecca hopes to develop and participate in a successful industry supply chain. She is committed to seeing a greater share of the retail dollar going back to the producer which will in turn lead to more sustainable rural communities and wants to see more women and young people become involved in rural enterprises.

2004 Runner-Up: Lorroi Pagett, Dubbo

Growing up in outback Bourke, Lorroi has always had a passion and commitment for sustainable agriculture and rural life. This led her to study veterinary science and live in rural NSW.

Lorroi graduated from Veterinary Science nine years ago and for the past three years has been working at Dubbo in western NSW in a mixed practice. She has specialised in artificial breeding and is one of the few internationally accredited export embryo transfer veterinarians.

Lorroi’s interested in the Dorper sheep breed began in 1999 after a visit to South Africa.

“I was impressed by the hardiness and survivability of the Dorper as well as its low maintenance. It became obvious to me that it would become a sustainable and economically viable industry for Australian producers."

In October 2000, together with her partner, Justin, Lorroi established a Dorper stud near Dubbo. From an initial small herd of six purebred ewes, she increased their ewe numbers to almost 200 using intensive embryo transfers.

Lorroi’s immediate goal is to become a Dorper judge, then ultimately an inspector and assist the industry by providing a local source of knowledge for Australian breeders. Her longer term vision is to see Australians embrace Dorpers as a profitable and sustainable meat sheep alternative.

Lorroi believes that women and younger people have an important role in agriculture because they readily embrace new ideas and are willing to become involved in alternative industries.

2003 Winner: Milada Safarik, Dora Creek

At just 23 years old, Milada Safarik embodies the spirit of vision, perseverance and determination.

Milada grew up in Sydney where she completed a science degree in marine biology before moving with her family to the northern central coast of NSW. Following the brainchild of her father, Ladislav (les), Milada spent many years researching and developing the prospect of farming marine worms for fishing bait and continues her research with a Masters in Marine Science.

The initial hard work has paid off. After finding a suitable aquaculture site in Dora Creek, construction of eight pilot ponds were finally completed resulting in the creation of the first Australian marine worm farm, Aquabait, in 1996.

Currently, the only alternative to Aquabait's specific cultured bait is harvested along the intertidal coastal regions, which is causing growing ecological concerns. The depletion of an organism so low in the food chain can cause a catalyst effect by affecting commercial fishing stock reliant on the worms for its primary food source.

Milada believes the business offers other benefits such as increasing local community employment and providing groundbreaking scientific research in marine worm ecology. With the pilot enterprise well on its way, the Aquabait team are preparing for the construction of a further 16 ponds with future growth opportunities in the pipeline.

Aquabait is in its first season of production selling both live and preserved bait to Australian fishing shops with budding export market interest.

"If you have a dream and a goal that you want to achieve - don't give up. Even when it feels like it will never happen just stick with it and be determined."

2003 Runner-up: Megan Mosely, Cobar

Six years ago Megan Mosely married and moved from the wet and lush surrounds of New England to the hot, harsh beauty of outback Cobar.

Undaunted, Megan has embraced her dramatic lifestyle change, and together with husband, Andrew, is passionate about transforming their family-run 70,000 acre property: Etiwanda using Holistic Management farming practices. Further down the track, Megan's vision is to set up the property as an open-learning site for the greater community.

"I wish for as many people as possible to know about Holistic Management and to see the many benefits it has environmentally, socially and economically. I know no better way to inspire people to change than to be successful and profitable while sustaining our natural resources."

The Mosely's have formed a definitive Holistic Management goal, which they constantly refer to in all their decision-making about their mixed stock of cattle, goats and merino and dorper sheep. They have chosen their stock based on their hardiness and suitability for breaking up the hard capped layer of their arid land to allow for optimum water retention and seed germination.

"Our goal is to have a healthy and prosperous lifestyle with time to spend with our daughter, Emily and to do the things we like. To have minimal chemical input, increased mineral and water cycles, abundant wildlife, a diverse set of grass species and importantly, to have a really good and diverse base of ground cover.

2002 Winner: Robbie Sefton, Coonabarabran

"I always take on challenges. I really embrace change - I love it. If I'm not challenging things I'm not playing the game."

One of the challenges Robbie took on five years ago was to move with her husband from Western Australia to central west NSW across the Nullarbor - 4,000 sheep, horses and their dogs in tow.

Robbie originally comes from a large, close family in Deniliquin, and through her life experiences, has developed a fierce determination to achieve her own unique vision. Robbie is passionately committed to creating opportunities for young people and bringing their vibrancy back to the 'bush'. Through her national communications consultancy, Robbie often employs young women who have gained degrees in cities but choose to return to and work in the country.

Robbie's 'Hunters and Gathers' project will further involve rural people by capitalising on their wealth of local knowledge, while creating opportunities for employment and chances for their views to be heard. It will create a third dimension to her current 'virtual' business, which includes catering for national government and business clients from her farm office base near Coonabarabran.

"It's about rural Australia being productive, profitable and sustainable by having the right people in the right places, getting the right information at the right time."

Robbie is a key member of a number of community organisations as well as a graduate and recent nominee to the board of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

2002 Finalist: Sandra Doyle, Goulburn

Sandra Doyle moved to Goulburn five years ago from Wollongong and has a comprehensive background in teaching including special education. Although enjoying much success and community recognition in her education career, Sandra has only gained a sense of true self-satisfaction since embarking on her latest challenges of goal breeding.

"It's great to come from the city and go into something in agriculture and learn to do it as you're going along and really enjoy it."

Sandra together with her husband, has developed and established a goat-meat cooperative to produce and sell goat to a la carte restaurants. During this process, Sandra recognised a need for goat-meat farmers to have access to education to help expand their knowledge and improve their future development in the industry. She especially saw an opportunity to foster professional support networks for rural women working in the industry.

Inspired by her own results, Sandra is developing a training program to enhance the ability of goat-meat farmers to produce livestock of a quality level equivalent to that of the sheep and beef industries. The training program would also increase the participants' knowledge of marketing and qualifications for the goat-meat industry restaurant trade.

Sandra believes women are particularly suited to Boer goat farming because of their patience and personal approach to animal handling and the Boer goat's placid nature.

"Because it's an evolving niche market, Boer goat breeding is an excellent opportunity for women and a chance for them to grow with themselves and discover new skills."

2002 Finalist: Ruth Quigley, Trangie

Ruth Quigley grew up in Sydney where she worked as a nurse before she married and moved to Trangie. At this time, Ruth undertook tertiary studies and further education in computing and bookkeeping to help her become more involved in the large family cotton farming partnership.

While raising her three children, she developed strong relationships with women in her local community, and as a result, Ruth is now actively involved in many community groups. During one season, when the family had difficulty finding a picking contractor, Ruth identified the lack of an information source for people in the cotton industry, and decided to do something about it - hence the birth of Ozcotton.net.

"I believe you learn to adapt in life. You take what is thrown at you, or you go under. Technology was thrown at us, so why not take it on board?"

While communicating with contractors and grower associations Ruth discovered she could expand her cotton website idea by creating a cotton web 'community' for sharing ideas, information and services throughout Australia. The site also acts as a portal for showcasing NSW products and innovations to the world.

Ruth proposed to build up a team of programers to assist in the growth of the site, and to enable her to further develop other ideas such as olive production, its processing and marketing opportunities as well as various other local value-added products.

2001 Winner: Jon-Maree Baker, Narrabri

Jon-Maree Baker is one of the youngest Award finalists. With her husband Jeffrey, they run a mixed farm at Narrabri producing dryland lucerne hay and run 120 head of Santa Getrudis cattle. A keen campdrafter, Jon-Maree and her husband have also developed a stockhorse stud.

Jon-Maree’s involvement with agriculture began on her family’s cattle grazing property at Moree. She completed an Australian traineeship with the Lands Office, and spent three years ‘out west’ at Coonamble and Warren jillarooing on sheep and cattle properties.

Jon-Maree is now the Executive Officer of Cotton Consultants Australia, promoting the association, facilitating information transfer to the consultants and representing their views at industry level. Her primary role involves organising a winter meeting program each year to ensure the continued professional development of all members.

“I like working with positive people and that’s what I found in the cotton industry. They’re always looking for something new to learn to benefit the crop.”

As an alternate director of the Australian Cotton Industry Council, the cotton industry’s peak body, Jon-Maree is one of three women at this level and participates on several other key industry committees. She believes women in agriculture have a huge role to play, and that support for women starting in a male-dominated industry and working to achieve their full potential is crucial.

“I had to do a lot of things I’d never done before. I feel I was very lucky in that I was supported by a tremendous group of people and by having that support it enables you to go with confidence and participate in the industry.”

She recently initiated WINCOTT, a network for women in cotton, and is now designing and developing a three-part training program to provide women in the cotton industry with the technical, business and leadership skills they need to meet the challenges presented in this dynamic and demanding industry.

“My vision is that the women in the cotton industry will be encouraged to participate in the industry at a higher level. I feel that women are already there but it’s that encouragement and knowledge and the skills to participate at a higher level that I feel are lacking."

”The three components of the program are designed to address the key issues women in the industry face. “I see the project as initially as a pilot program that would be run with the cotton industry. However, I would envisage that other agricultural industries would be able to look at how this model is run and maybe develop it to suit their own needs and their own issues, particularly because the three main issues are technical, business and leadership, and I feel they are common throughout all of agriculture.”

Jon-Maree’s enthusiasm and commitment to her industry is unflagging. She firmly believes women in the cotton industry have a huge role to play and she is committed to providing them with the support to achieve their best and the best for their industry.

“The key to what I’d like to achieve is to give the confidence to participate in the industry at a higher level because women have so much to offer.”

2001 Finalist: Barbara Nuthall, Young

As a child Barbara suffered from asthma, and her father took a number of country postings to improve her health. Her family moved from Sydney to Cunumulla, Bonalbo, West Wyalong and finally Young. There she met her husband Greg, and they settled on the family property Dutton Park. Over the years the Nuthall family have built up a property of three and a half thousand acres, primarily grain, and sheep and lambs.

Barbara has seen the role of women in agriculture evolve over the years, and says women today wear many hats. She has been involved with organisations including SkillShare, Outward Bound and Australian Women in Agriculture, and places great emphasis on support structures for success. She is a firm believer in teamwork, and the tenacity, strength and ingenuity rural women bring to agriculture.

“I can get quite vocal about this because I think that a woman contributes so much to the running of the property, and it’s unrecognised what they actually do. And I feel that in most cases a farm or a property that is well run, there’s always a woman in the background.”

With her family grown up, Barbara found the opportunity to develop her own venture. She has now been breeding and selling geese for three seasons, pioneering a new industry where knowledge and stock are in short supply. Barbara believes there is potential to create opportunities for value adding activities and further employment, and sees niche markets such as her geese venture as a tremendous opportunity for women and agriculture. She says the Award bursary will enable her to access the expertise of countries like Ireland, America, China and Taiwan, where intensive farmers can produce 90,000 geese per week.

Her activities in Australia have led to enquiries from a variety of end users here, and her sons are now successfully producing ducks intensively, with 1500 a week going to Sydney markets alone.

“It’s made me realise just how many niche markets there are because we’ve been approached to do all different things.”

Barbara has also been approached to produce guinea fowl, pigeons, mini-turkeys and free range chickens.

“We’ve got so many more cultures in Australia alone that people are asking for new different types of food, so that’s why I think all those niche markets have got a point in Australia.”

Barbara believes there is potential to develop an abattoir in Young for fowl, which would create opportunities for value adding activities and further employment. She sees niche markets such as her geese venture as a tremendous opportunity for women and agriculture.

2001 Finalist: Linda Duffy, Hay

Linda Duffy was raised on a mixed farm at Deniliquin, and is a qualified accountant. She worked in Melbourne, Bendigo, Deniliquin and outback Western Australia before arriving in Hay to take on the role of rural financial counsellor.

Linda has been described as ‘her own little success story', managing to assist one in three farming families in the Hay district.

Linda has very clear ideas about how she wants to contribute to agriculture.

“My vision for agriculture is to be involved in an industry that is vibrant and positive, and looking to the future – we need to embrace change and encourage one another,” she says. “Agriculture in itself cannot be sustainable without using the human resource to the maximum.”

Linda is completing a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture, and says her studies have shown that human resources are critical to long term viability of rural industries. She believes it is vital to encompass the skills and experience of past and future generations to achieve vibrant growth.

Linda sees this Award as an opportunity to develop a way to capture valuable knowledge and strengthen the critical support systems rural families need to get through the tough times.

"What I’m seeing quite a bit is... the older generations of people who have enormous amounts of skill and knowledge and expertise in all sorts of endeavours and perhaps their rural field, so it might be in their livestock breeding or how they’ve coped in certain circumstances. And what I’m really interested in is conveying that information to subsequent generations.”

Linda has been developing the concept of a system of mentoring to link older people and younger people and encourage reciprocal sharing of knowledge and skills. She believes a project to enhance support structures in rural communities would bring enormous benefits, both social and economic, to the rural sector. These would include improved communications skills, a sense of shared purpose in the community, and maximising of resources.

2000 Winner: Diana Gibbs, Cootamundra

Born in France and educated in London, Diana speaks English, French, German and Italian. She and her husband, Bernard Whyte, run a mixed farming business in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales. Predominantly wool growers, they also produce grain to retain viability in their enterprise.

While fully involved in the management of the farm, Diana has continued to run her own business as a resource economist and strategic planner. She has worked with many rural communities and industry groups to identify a preferred future and the actions needed to achieve that vision.

Her passion is for a sustainable agriculture, and Diana and Bernard founded Riverina Wool Growers Pty Ltd in 1996, a wool marketing group actively exploring a range of mechanisms to life the members returns from wool growing. Her vision is for Australian producers to become more closely linked to their market and customers.

These days her energy is directed towards a joint venture with the Wiradjuri people of the Riverina. Riverina Wool Growers Pty Ltd is working towards developing a direct marketing business to sell Australian wool knitted garments to Europe, featuring Koori designs. Diana sees this as an exciting advance for wool growers, who are taking a step beyond their traditional roles, and a wonderful way to promote quality Australian products and Australian culture.

2000 Finalist: Margaret Taylor, Bega

Born and bred on a dairy farm at Warragul in Victoria, Margaret Taylor has always had farming in her blood. She completed her teacher's training at Wagga Wagga, and a post graduate diploma in special education.

Having married a farmer, she has always been involved in farm management, and taken an active role in industry issues and initiatives. Husband Bill and Margaret received their dairy licence and converted their 150ha farm at Bega to the dairy industry. Margaret and her husband milk 120 head, with the help of one full-time employee.

Margaret has continued to work casually as a teacher while raising a blended family of eight delightful and accomplished children. Their ages range from 18 to 29 and they now live 'from Galway to Glebe'. She is an author and educator, bringing resources to students in rural areas, and creating links between urban and rural communities with her work.

Margaret creates connections and addresses needs in the industry wherever she finds them, and is the founder of UDDER Choices, a women in dairying discussion group. Last year Margaret raised an enormous amount of money and organised the completion of the only socio-economic impact study into the deregulation of the dairy industry, based on a pilot study at Bega. Her latest project is to develop a series of workshops on managing change and creating opportunity for rural communities across New South Wales.

2000 Finalist: Sue McGinn, Kempsey

Sue McGinn and her husband Brett run Coral Hill, a 65ha dairy farm at Kempsey. They are justifiably proud of their almost fully registered herd of around 160 head, which they've built from scratch. Sue is highly involved in the Holstein-Friesian Association of Australian, holding several committee positions.

She has never been on a farm in her life until five years ago when she met and married Brett, a fourth generation diary farmer from Queensland. Since then she has thrown her heart and soul into learning the business and developing the farm, her own role, and the role of women in the industry. She has pursued involvement with the dairy industry by founding the Macleay Association of Dairy Women, and the Kempsey Dairy Discussion Group. She is one of the few women Ward Representatives for the Dairy Farmers Corporative. She displays a comprehensive knowledge of the management of dairy farmers and livestock, and the issues affecting all dairy farmers.

Sue recently took on the challenge of mastering computers and the internet, and Coral Hill is now the first dairy farm to have a website. She has a broad range of interests, and works with the local high school to involve youngsters in agriculture and the dairy industry. Sue's latest project is organising the first International Women in Dairying Forum. Her aim is to build a strong network amongst women in the dairy industry to facilitate greater learning and opportunity. She is particularly keen to see women take up leadership roles.

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