• Ethical, Sustainable, Profitable wool production wins two Premier's Sustainability Awards
• Rabbit action network celebrates international accolade
• New Rural Assistance Commissioner appointed
• International Rural Women's Day
• The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award
• New faces for WestVic Dairy Board
• What’s on

Nicole Finnigan onstage with Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, at the event last Thursday night

The Finnigan family wool-producing farm, Kia Ora, has won the Small and Medium Enterprises category Award and the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award in this year's Victorian Premier's Sustainability Awards for their cross-operational commitment to sustainability.

E.S.P. or Ethical, Sustainable, Profitable wool production is now a feature of the farm, just north of Warrnambool. The Finnigans approach pulls together existing data and knowledge to change farm practices such as reducing chemical use, changing genetic selection of sheep, sowing permanent pastures, slowing or stopping runoff into rivers and increasing carbon sequestration.

In 2018 Kia Ora, as part of the Fox and Lillie Genneys Group, was accredited under the International Wool Textile Organisation’s Responsible Wool Standard. There is no higher wool quality standard.

At the annual Awards’ ceremony in Melbourne, the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio presented Enable Social Enterprises as winner of the Premier's Recognition Award for their work training and employing disadvantaged people in a thriving e-waste business.

Sustainability Victoria’s interim Chief Executive, Carl Muller, said the awards showed how management of environmental issues was of growing importance for all Victorians – no matter age, no matter where they live or what they do.

“Each year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards continue to discover Victoria’s best and most inspiring Victorian individuals, organisations and businesses who are developing and implementing new sustainable practices,” he said.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners. Your contributions will have positive long-term benefits for us all.”

Agriculture Victoria received a United Nations Public Service Award this year for its work with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) in ‘delivering more inclusive and equitable services to leave no one behind’.

Representatives from Agriculture Victoria and VRAN travelled to Azerbaijan in June to receive the award.

Over the last six years, the network has delivered an innovative and integrated approach to managing rabbits in partnership with community, to address the destructive and costly pest, the European rabbit.

Chair of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, Gerald Leach, said the event was about the network coming together and celebrating this significant achievement.

“We share this award with the VRAN committee members, mentors, government agency staff and broader communities in recognition of their tireless work and energy in sharing our states rabbit problem and solutions,” Mr Leach said.

About 30 people including network members, mentors, key contributors, founding members and Agriculture Victoria staff gathered at the Melbourne Museum last week to celebrate the award.

Agriculture Victoria Acting Executive Director for Biosecurity Services Michael Rosier said it was proven that the most effective approach to manage pests was a suite of integrated management techniques owned and led by community who work in collaboration with one another.

“The network has shown exceptional leadership in being willing to take on an issue that knows no boundaries, and is incredibly invasive and costly to our agriculture,” Mr Rosier said.

Additionally, Mr Rosier acknowledged three of the VRAN committee members who had recently been accepted into the Academy of Community Engagement, recognising exceptional accomplishments in engagement.

“We’re recognising the great contributions of the community members to the network, and how their support and cooperation has helped make this network an international success.”

Since its establishment, VRAN has reached 6,000 people, covering more than 2.5 million hectares on public and private land. By the end of 2019, it is expected that a total of 10,000 people will have been engaged with the network.

For more information about the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, visit https://rabbitaction.com/

The Victorian Government has appointed a new Rural Assistance Commissioner to engage with Victoria’s agricultural communities and provide advice to government on how they can best be supported into the future.

The former Victorian Farmers Federation President Peter Tuohey will take up the role to provide insight on the challenges and opportunities facing regional and rural communities.

Responding to ongoing drought and dry seasonal conditions, challenges within parts of the dairy industry and opportunities to boost Victoria’s agriculture output will be a key focus while Mr Tuohey engages with communities and workers across the sector.

The Commissioner will also focus on the rollout of the recently announced $31 million drought support package, and the impacts and needs of the dairy industry transition in Northern Victoria.

Mr Tuohey will engage with farmers and rural communities to identify any immediate and emerging issues coming out of difficult seasonal conditions and industry transition, as well as informing what assistance might be needed in the future.

Alongside Mr Tuohey, the Victorian Government will continue to work with local governments, business groups, industry bodies and community organisations to make sure regional and rural Victorians are getting the support they need.

Over 600 rural and regional women gathered at 30 different locations across the state this week to share stories and knowledge, enjoy a cuppa and celebrate International Day of Rural Women as part of the Victorian Rural Women’s Network’s #CountryCuppas initiative.

Victorian Rural Women's Network held a Country Cuppas gathering at Parliament House on Tuesday morning to honour the vital contribution rural women make to the state’s communities and economy, including the $14.1 billion agriculture sector.

Rural business and community leaders, young farmers, mothers and disability and gender equality advocates attended the event, which provided guests with the opportunity to forge new connections and strengthen old ones, share ideas and experiences and create lasting networks.

For more information about the Victorian Rural Women’s Network, visit: https://extensionaus.com.au/VRWNetwork/home

The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities.

The Award provides a platform to inspire and support Australian women to use and develop their skills to benefit their industries and communities.

Over the past two decades, the Award has gained a significant profile, and is recognised as a program of influence among parliamentarians, industry, media and Award alumni.

Each state and territory winner receives a $10,000 bursary for innovative ideas and projects, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

AgriFutures Australia is committed to the future growth and advancement of the Award as a means of identifying, celebrating and empowering women.

The Rural Women’s Award is one of many AgriFutures Australia initiatives ensuring our rural industries prosper now, and into the future

Applications close 31 October.

For more information, click here

Local dairy farmers, Daniel Parkinson and Brad Collins joined the WestVic Dairy Board at its recent Annual General Meeting.

Two positions became available following the retirement of directors, Mark Billing and Jess Howe. Associate member, Jo Fife was elected to one of the Director positions with Daniel filling the second, Brad joins the Board as an associate member.

The AGM also saw Simone Renyard, Jacqui Suares and Rhonda Henry reappointed to the positions of Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer, respectively.

Daniel returned to his family’s large-scale farm at Kirkstall five years ago after working as a civil engineer in Melbourne. The business covers 2,400 hectares and milks 2,550 cows. A desire to make a positive contribution to the dairy industry is Daniel’s motivation for joining the WestVic Dairy Board.

“There are many opportunities available to young people in our industry, with multiple pathways available. The industry needs capable, skilled people and WestVic Dairy has a role to play in that - with the workshops and courses that it runs, as well as the information and resources that it provides,” Daniel said.

For Brad joining the Board is an opportunity to help promote the industry and challenge the often-negative narrative.

“We are in one of the best, if not the best dairying region in the country and we produce some of the best food available – we should be proud of that and promoting ourselves and our industry.

“We also need to be mindful of the increasing disconnect between us and our city consumers and ensure they know how much we care for our cows, environment and people,” he said.

After two decades of share farming and leasing, Brad took over his family farm at Dixie in February this year and is currently milking 250 cows on the 155 hectare property.

For WestVic Dairy Chair, Simone Renyard, new members joining the Board provides a great opportunity to hear new ideas and brings different perspectives to the group.

“I would like to welcome Daniel and Brad to the Board. I’m sure the range of skills they bring will be a valuable asset to the WestVic Dairy team.

“As a Board we each have our own areas of expertise and experience, this diversity enables us to come together and provide the best service possible to the farmers in our region,” said Simone.

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