Welcome to our Agriculture Interest Group – led by Julie Mayne
Join our Ag Group by registering your interest with us via eso@qrrrwn.org.au.
You must be a financial member of QRRRWN to join the Ag Group.
Meeting details will be posted in the ‘Members of QRRRWN’ closed facebook group.
Please register for each meeting at the Zoom meeting registration link posted.
Always check you emails for the Zoom meeting link, and download it so that it adds to your Calendar.
First Meeting: Thursday, 25 June 2020 at 6:00 pm
Foundation Members
- Julie Mayne
- Lisa Harrison
- Kate Percival
- Misty Nelson-Green
- Jane Blomley
- Megan Ford
- Robin McConchie
- Bron C.
- Georgie Somerset
- Tracey Martin
Our QRRRWN Ag Interest Group kicked off on 25 June for a half hour meet and greet. Some amazing guest speakers lined up next week to get you all connected and feel inspired!
Thursday, 2 July 2020
Special Guest: Sharon Purcell, Rural Financial Counselling Service
Our first Ag Interest Group guest speaker was Sharon Purcell from RFCS, based in Roma. After a stint of governessing and jillarooing in western Queensland, Sharon embarked on a career with the QCL, followed by AgForce based in Rockhampton and now in Roma working for the Rural Financial Counselling Service. For those of you who are from that area will remember seeing her regularly on local TV campaigning for local graziers and highlighting their issues, be it from cyclones, flooding, pasture die back to land compensation matters. Sharon outlined what the RFCS offers in an informative series of slides, she also compiled a list of assistance available from other sources for rural and small businesses. She brought her passion for the people on the land and all its characters to the session. Her enthusiasm and love for the industry are contagious and her ability to recognise and address their issues through her amazing network connections places her in the perfect position as Outreach Communications Officer, Southern Queensland.
Julie Mayne | QRRRWN Ag Interest Group Leader
Thursday, 23 July 2020
Special Guest: Adrienne Hall, NQ Dry Tropics
Our second guest speaker, Adrienne Hall, Senior Grazing Officer for NQ Dry Tropics spoke to us about growing up in North Queensland where her father managed large cattle stations. She raised her family around Roma and has finally come full circle and returned to the North. Her role in NQ Dry Tropics comes with many challenges, not only is the area vast, communication and education are her main roles within the organisation. Within the organisation, she has started a Women’s Group to address the social isolation experienced by remoteness. Educating children, industry regulations, daughters and daughter’s-in-law and how they fit in these rural family businesses, are just some of the discussions they are having. She also noted the changes she has witnessed on returning home, notably how sociable the area was when she was young. Where regular football and cricket matches, race meetings and various other events were the glue that made communities, now there is hardly anything to attend (even pre COVID). Under the banner Landholders Driving Change (LDC), she also educates and assists graziers through many obstacles, like mining (Adani mine is in her area) chemical runoff into the reef, and the vast array of industry associated with NQ.
Thursday, 17th September 2020
QRRRWN Ag Interest Group members heard from and talked with Wendy Hick, ICPA, Immediate Past President. Wendy shared her journey and the challenges faced by ICPA.
