Graziher Christmas Guide

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CHRISTMAS GUIDE

a Bush Christmas

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A Bush Christmas photography CLANCY JOB

A few of our writers and photographers let us know how they'll be spending their Christmas in the country.

Jess Howard

This Christmas I’ll be home on the family property for the first time as a mother of two, but the holiday itself will unfold in much the same way it did when I was a kid. The little people will rise before the sun and they’ll have to look but not touch their presents. Opening only happens after the master of the house (my Dad) has risen, dressed, read the paper and had his cooked breakfast. Once his ritual is complete, the kids are unleashed on their epic pile of gifts before a hot roast lunch cooked by Mum - even if it’s 4000 degrees.

There’ll be plenty of beers (my brother will see to that) and probably a few barneys before everyone retires to a cool place to digest their dinners. In good years, we’d pile into a trayback and drive to the house dam or have a run through the sprinkler, but sadly the dams are empty this year and I suspect the air conditioner will have to do. Everyone’s hoping Santa delivers a big fat afternoon storm to bring a bit of green back to the paddocks, but no one's holding their breath. I’m praying we’re not joined by the giant brown snake that appeared in the kitchen last week. He managed to evade capture then but hopefully my Mum’s wailing let him know he’s most definitely not welcome back.

IG @jessicahowardphotography FB @jessicahowardphotos

Grace Quast

This is our first Christmas as Mr and Mrs Quast, so both our families and probably a few orphans will be coming to us. Christmas

Eve, anyone who has arrived will traipse down to the small pine forest on our farm and choose a tree together; that’s when we know Christmas has really arrived. Everyone helps with the decorating, accompanied by champagne and Mum’s favourite Christmas compilation that she’s been belting out for weeks. Our Christmas is a melting pot of traditions old and new; a Quast Turkey will be ordered in from Tamworth, the ham from Moree and the seafood will arrive by freezer truck on Christmas Eve. Thanks to a year spent in the garden our herbs and vegetables can be picked fresh on Christmas day, and the fruit trees mean we don’t even have to make our way inside when we get hungry. It’s our favourite time of year, our house was built for people and celebrations. The scent of errant pine needles mixing with fragrant brandy custard warming on the stove, and that lingering smell of chlorine as we traipse from the pool, to the dining table, to the porch, and back to the pool again.

IG @grace_quast

Emma Addinsall

“Oh and BYO high chair,” read the text that came from my mother-in-law, along with the token delegatory list of nibbles, salads and sweets to bring for the ‘big day’. The year 2019 welcomed three new babies on my husband’s side, and the plans of a long table lunch down the centre of the beautiful old woolshed will now have three high chairs perched around it alongside 5 other rowdy little cousins. The usual culprits of ham,

turkey and pudding will make an appearance, but for me – it’s my mother in laws delicious trifle that I hang out for. After lunch we’ll spend a chunk of time orchestrating naps, assembling portacots or strolling along the quiet country roads pushing prams, nodding off ever-slightly ourselves. And when the late afternoon sun dips, it will be time to sit back and savour a crisp beer or wine while the kids run under the sprinkler, and the tin on the homestead roof cracks and pops, expanding in the heat. And we’ll soak up these prized and fleeting moments of family all together.

IG @littlewildlovephotography www.littlewildlovephotography.com

Georginia Poole

Our family Christmas net is cast wide - from great aunts to second cousins - no one willing to relinquish our three-generational yuletide squad. It’s the annual pilgrimage to the family property, “Mookoo”, Garah, a place so many of us have called home, that we all cherish.

It’s the reassuring comfort of Christmas at Mookoo, where my parents still live. The ritual of cutting a tree from the pine ridge, the hot lunch on a 40 degree day, the entertaining drunkles. But this year we’re shifting camp to the Toowoomba cousins, and things could get a bit National Lampoon.

We have the run of a whole motel, they’re leaving us the keys. Our uncle is concerned whether we can still order a hot breakfast.

There will be plenty of laughs, a beautiful spread by my cousin hosting, and hopefully Santa brings some rain to really top things off! @georgiepoole

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CLANCY JOB.

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GRAZIHER PROFILE

the

Flyer's Ball!

ll dusty roads led to the iconic North West Queensland town of Longreach in October for the third annual MGD Flyers Ball. With the dazzling backdrop of an almost full moon, the red carpet was illuminated with guys and gals decked out in

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SALLY M PHOTOGRAPHY.

‘The Flyers’, as the Ball has become affectionately known, is the brainchild of cousins Stella and Jessica Batt, who both grew up on outback properties in NW Queensland. The ladies, who now live and work in Longreach, wanted to rekindle some of the Longreach of yesteryear, when there used to be a Ball every night during Longreach Show Week.

“We wanted to provide an event that attracted our SE Queensland friends, gave people the opportunity to dress up and get together for beer and a yarn,” Stella said.

Stella and Jessica lead a team of hardworking committee members and an army of foot soldiers who transformed the ancient Sheep & Wool Pavilion at the Showgrounds into a vision of fairy lights, flowers and rustic elegance which transcended even their expectations.

Stella said of the effort, “It was amazing how many people we dragged into setting this up. Friends, partners, family, you name it. All we promised was free beer!”

It has also been important to the women that funds raised from the ball are used to make a difference in rural and remote Queensland, and they couldn’t think of a more worthy cause than the Longreach Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Longreach Hospital Auxiliary

Club, who have been the recipients of the Ball’s proceeds since its inception in 2017.

Reflecting on their chosen charities, Stella said, “Regardless of what day it is, whether it’s a bumper year or a terrible one, these two groups will be there to support the bush, no matter what.”

Stella believes the two entities play a major role in the vitality and sustainability of the Longreach community and rural and remote Queensland as a whole. “The Longreach RFDS and the LHAC encompass so many of the important aspects of health care in our community, including mental health, disability services, and overall health and wellbeing. A robust health care system is crucial in every outback community, and we’re happy to do what we can to help,” Stella says.

Since the Flyers Ball kicked off in 2017, its popularity has skyrocketed. This year saw a huge demand for tickets, which sold out in record time, with numbers needing to be capped at 350 and organisers receiving requests for extra tickets well past the cut-off date.

Patrons came from further than ever before, including Byron Bay, Adelaide, Brisbane, Roma and Mt Isa, which is a true testament to the widespread exposure the Ball is attracting.

Stella says, “The growth of Flyers has really proven that regardless of where you live, you can put on a

spectacular event. You can literally be in the middle of nowhere, and as long as you have a keen workforce, generous sponsorship and some healthy passion, there is no barrier. It can be done.”

Flyers success has also been reflected in the healthy sum of money donated to its charities, with a whopping $10,000.00 each gifted to the Longreach RFDS and the Longreach Hospital Auxiliary Club respectively.

Coupled with the $30,000 donated over the last two years, the much vital funds have been utilised by the RFDS to re-stock and upgrade medical supplies such as bandages and other first aid equipment on their aircraft. The Hospital has benefited from new equipment including recliner chairs for its new Day Surgery Unit.

Stella and Jess love everything about living and working in rural NW Queensland and are excited to continue the momentum of the Flyer’s popularity. “When you live out West, life is what you make it. If you want a great social life and an awesome lifestyle, you have to get out there and create it, and that’s exactly what we plan to do!” says Jess.

Baking for a Bush Christmas recipes and photos JANE SMITH

If you are hosting Christmas this year perhaps you are thinking back to summery childhood celebrations with traditional dishes such as enormous roast meats, crispy vegetables and proper gravy. Or perhaps you have updated your family traditions to include seafood, crunchy salads and platters of seasonal fruit.

Or perhaps like me, you sit somewhere in the middle and you are dreaming up a menu of traditional food with an updated twist.

M a l t y G i n g e r b r e a d Fo l k JANE’S TIPS Gingerbread folk are irresistible and I find them even more appealing when they are bite sized. A bag or little box of these make a perfect gift for teachers, mail contractors, colleagues or midnight snacks for Santa and his reindeers.

Gingerbread folk can be iced and decorated with silver cachous or various store bought sprinkles and decorations or simply left plain.

INGREDIENTS 280g plain flour ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) 1 ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg 100g unsalted butter softened to room temperature 100g dark brown sugar

Place butter, sugar and malt extract in a large bowl and mix either by hand or with an electric mixer until pale and creamy. Add the egg and egg yolk in a slow stream and mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.

Place the dough between two sheets of baking paper.

With a rolling pin, roll the dough between the sheets of baking paper into a rough disk approximately 3-5mm thick. Place dough in the refrigerator until firm or for up to 4 days.

Remove dough from the refrigerator and cut into desired shapes using biscuit cutters. Place the biscuits on baking trays lined with baking paper. Continue to re-roll between the baking paper to make use of all the dough. If the dough becomes soft and difficult to handle return it to the refrigerator to firm up again and then continue.

1 egg

Place trays of cut shapes back into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This will help the biscuits to retain their shape during cooking.

1 egg yolk

Preheat oven to 170°C.

80g malt extract

METHOD Sift flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and spices together in a large bowl, set aside.

Remove biscuit trays from the refrigerator and cook in batches for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size of the biscuits. Remove biscuits from trays and allow to cool on wire racks.

Pumpkin Christmas Cake JANE’S TIPS There are not many things that symbolise a traditional Christmas more than a slice of dense, rich fruit cake. The potent aroma of dried fruit soaking in brandy brings back memories of childhood Christmas preparations in my grandmother’s kitchen. This fruit cake includes pumpkin which prevents it from drying out, although the pumpkin taste is barely noticeable. Made into small cakes it could be given as a special gift.

If the cake is browning too quickly towards the end but is still not cooked through, turn the oven temperature down to 150°C to prevent the cake from burning on the edges.

INGREDIENTS 100g sultanas 100g currants 100g raisins 100g flaked almonds 170ml brandy 400g pumpkin, deseeded, peeled and chopped into chunks 4 eggs at room temperature 130g dark brown sugar 125ml neutral tasting cooking oil such as sunflower oil 250g plain flour sifted 4 tsp baking powder sifted 1 tsp mixed spice sifted 2-3 tbsp brandy, extra (optional)

METHOD Place all dried fruit and almonds in a bowl and add the brandy, stirring to combine. Soak at least overnight or for up to several weeks. In warm areas if soaking for an extended time place soaking fruit in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.

Place chopped pumpkin in a large pot of water and bring to the boil. Simmer until cooked through and soft. Drain all excess water off the pumpkin. Set aside until it is cool enough to handle and then process pumpkin through a food processor or with a stick blender until smooth. Set aside.

Line two 5” square cake tins or one 8” square cake tin with ovenproof baking paper. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth. Add the oil, pureed pumpkin and dried fruit mix. Sift in flour, baking powder and mixed spice. Stir until well combined.

Spoon mixture into lined tins or tin. Cook 5” cakes for 1 hour or until cooked through when tested with a skewer. For an 8” cake extend the cooking time to 1.5 hours.

Pour extra brandy over the cakes or cake while still hot, optional.

Cool cake for 10-15 minutes in the tin and then carefully turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Panettone Breakfast Bo wl JANE’S TIPS

½ cup fresh passionfruit pulp

To make stewed apricots place 300g of fresh apricots, halved with the stone removed in a pot with a snugly fitting lid. Add a splash of water to the pot and place over low heat with the lid on. Stir the apricots occasionally until the fruit collapses.

½ cup thick cream or Greek style yoghurt

Panettone is available from major supermarkets and Italian food suppliers around Christmas time.

METHOD

Brioche is available for major supermarkets year round.

Spoon a generous dollop of cream or yoghurt on top of the fruit and scatter with mint leaves.

INGREDIENTS – makes 2 bowls

Using a small biscuit cutter or a sharp knife cut the panettone or brioche into shapes or small pieces and scatter over the bowl.

1 cup stewed apricot 1 cup fresh berries such as strawberries, blueberries, red currants or a mixture 2 peaches or other stone fruit, quartered with the stone removed

¼ cup fresh mint leaves 1-2 thick slices of store bought panettone or brioche

Divide all fruit between bowls.

Serve immediately.

T H E R E ' S A N E L E P H A N T I N M Y PA D D O C K

Christmas

Podcast Recommendations Nicole Bond is the host of fresh and innovative podcast, There’s an Elephant in my Paddock.

Released earlier this year, the podcast is a national conversation about those tricky topics concerning country Australia. It’s produced by award-winning Graziher journalist Jayne Cuddihy.

Nicole Bond is the host of fresh and innovative podcast, There’s an Elephant in my Paddock. Released earlier this year, the podcast is a national conversation about those tricky topics concerning country Australia.

It’s produced by award-winning Graziher journalist Jayne Cuddihy.

“Because I live a long way from my extended family, and no one wants to visit us in Longreach this time of year, Christmas is characterised by hours and hours and hours in the car on the way to family festivities.

But instead of dreading the travel, I’ve come to look forward to uninterrupted podcast listening, even my kids get in on the audible experience! If you’re staying put, what better way to relax and unwind by downloading a great conversation.

podcast, never fear! It’s very simple to listen to podcasts if you have a smartphone and in the podcast world there really is something for everyone. The biggest challenge is finding what you are interested in or what style of podcast you like.

If you have an iPhone there is already an app on your phone - it’s purple and says podcasts. Click on it and search these recommendations to get started. If you have an Android you will need to download an app to start listening to podcasts, most won’t cost a cent. I use Podcast Addict or Stitcher but there are plenty of options to try. So my Graziher gift to you are some recommendations to get you started, or if you are a seasoned listener hopefully introduce you to some great listening for the whole family.

If you started to get an eye twitch at the mention of

P O D C A S T R E C O M M E N DAT I O N S , N E X T PA G E !

P O D C A S T R E C O M M E N DAT I O N S !

1. BRAINS ON - is a podcast from Minnesota Public Radio.

It’s a science program for kids which curious adults will also appreciate.

2. THE UNEXPLAINABLE DISAPPEARANCE OF MARS PATEL - often called a cross between the Goonies and Spy Kids, this fictional mystery will have children aged 8 to 12 on the edge of their seats with each episode.

3. RURAL COMPASS - from her home base in Cunnamulla, outback Queensland, artist and businesswoman Samantha Meurant interviews rural women living and working hard in rural and remote areas across Australia.

4. DISPATCH TO A FRIEND - earlier this year botanical artist, journalist and pecan farmer Annabelle Hickson was a guest on our first live show. Ever since, when I’ve needed to feel wrapped in a soft, familiar hug I turn to her podcast Dispatch to a Friend. In a word, it is delightful.

5. ABC CONVERSATIONS WITH RICHARD FIDLER - if you have never listened to a podcast this is the perfect familiar voice and format to make the transition from radio. There are very few interviewers in Australia as good a Richard Fidler and I have never heard a boring guest on this podcast.

6. And of course a shameless plug for us! If you want to stay engaged and catch up on some of the big issues affecting rural communities and agriculture download THERE’S AN ELEPHANT IN MY PADDOCK. We’ve had some mind-bending conversations this year! From our first episode where guest Georgie Somerset asked “what’s hindering rural Australia’s voice” to Matt Bennetto trying to stop the country town population drain and the disengaged politicians representing some regions. Our most popular conversation was prompted by journalist Sally Cripps wanting to know who is looking out for country vets. Jayne and I will be working harder than Santa’s elves on a couple of cracking new episodes over the break so make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the discussion.

Huge thanks to our sponsor the Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland. We also want to wish all our listeners in 2019 a Merry Christmas and hopefully soaking wet New Year.

"The gift of uncomfortable informative conversations."

Download There's an Elephant in My Paddock podcast this Christmas.

AGRIFUTURES X EVOKEAG

Taking on the wild west

of agtech

With a long and proud history stretching back more than a century, Genazzano’s Boarding House provides a wonderful sense of ‘coming home’ for the girls

200 kilometres south-east of Perth is a town called Yealering. Of the 100 locals you’ll find Kelly Pearce, a grain and prime lamb producer and a self-professed “tech impatient farmer”.

Together with her husband Alan, mother-of-two Kelly runs the family’s farm whilst juggling an agricultural research and science innovation enterprise, called Wheatbelt Science.

Sixteen years in agricultural research has provided Kelly with a unique lens on how the couple run their operations, with agtech propelling decisions on their crops and stock.

Analysing yield data from the cloud, monitoring satellite prediction platforms and real-time in-field tests; a days’ work for Kelly and the results have led to continual improvements, increased yields and profits. But she says it’s not all smooth sailing and the technology still has a long way to go.

"We need to push the systems that better facilitate inseason decision making. There is a sense of frustration out there as we collect so much data but we aren’t using this data to our full advantage,” said Kelly.

Kelly will be shining light on how we can improve productivity through precision agriculture at evokeAG., the Asia Pacific’s largest agrifood tech event. Over the two-day event in Melbourne, Kelly will also be looking

for opportunities to connect with the technology makers, and share insights on how more collaboration can lead to technology which better addresses the challenges farmers face. "evokeAG. is a who's who in the zoo of agtech," she explained.

"The networking opportunities are incredible and it's a chance to step away from what you do every day, hear new ideas and leave the event feeling inspired to do something different on your farm."

Joining Kelly on stage is AgThentic’s Sarah Nolet who will offer a global perspective on the agtech ecosystem and is quick to point out that agtech is well and truly on the map in Australia. At evokeAG., she’ll discuss how we are getting ahead and the collaborations providing the fuel for acceleration.

“The new wave of innovators, products and services rolling out across the globe are ripe for the picking and have big potential to help Australian agriculture increase profitability, meet changing consumer demands, reduce negative environmental impacts and create new career opportunities in regional communities,” said Sarah.

“What we need to work on, though, is harnessing the momentum and pointing it toward the development of solutions that solve real problems for farmers.

Entrepreneurs and new technologies can bring value to

Australian agriculture, but they cannot do it alone.”

For Kelly, agtech adoption isn’t a question of when, but sometimes, how.

“I’m fortunate that I come from a research and technology background and new innovations excite me however for some farmers, the agtech world is like the wild west and there are a lot of conversations about data protection and storage which can be off-putting.”

Kelly says there is a simple strategy for embracing new technologies on your farm.

“Know your weaknesses and problem areas; only then will you be able to adopt the most effective agtech solutions for your operations.

“Attending events such as evokeAG. are also a great opportunity to explore what’s new out there and meet the faces behind the technology. The event leaves you feeling motivated to make a change on your farm.”

Sarah Nolet says across the industry, more attention needs to be placed on agtech.

In the latest AgFunder AgriFood Tech Investing Report, it was another record breaking year for agrifood tech, with $16.9 billion of funding in 2018. Of this, the US dominated the investment landscape with 567 investments totalling 46% of the market. In comparison, Australia has just 0.17% of global deal flow.

“We need to act now to establish us as a player in the global innovation ecosystem as we are already at risk of missing the boat. It’s not just down to entrepreneurs making the technology and farmers adopting it. We need all the players in the agtech ecosystem to be collaborating to turn Australian agriculture into a $100 billion industry.”

Key to this, Sarah says, is to ensure primary producers have access to technologies that will help them maintain their “social licence” to farm, ensuring we remain competitive in the global marketplace, and helping farmers thrive in a world of rapidly changing consumer preferences.

For our “tech impatient farmer” Kelly is on an ambitious path to support the maturity of the agtech ecosystem in Australia, but says key to this is ensuring the value of agtech is recognised and the best products are brought to market. evokeAG., to be held in Melbourne in February 2020, will be a key event to connect people across the agriculture sector to change the conversation about the future of food and farming.

“We know digital technologies alone hold the potential to increase the gross value of production by over $20 billion, an increase of 25 per cent. We’ve only just

“My poor husband thinks I treat our farm property like a research station, and it’s probably true!”

begun to scratch the surface when it comes to the benefits agtech can offer our rural industries and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s to come” said Kelly. evokeAG. 2020 will take place in Melbourne at the iconic Royal Exhibition Building on 18-19 February 2020. Tickets are available online, with discounted group, student and primary producer delegate passes also available.

Contribute to the food, farm and future conversations by using the #evokeAG hashtag and follow evokeAG. on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

AGRIFUTURES

Living

Moore

Life has been hectic for Victorian Mum and businesswoman Claire Moore since she was announced the AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award National Runner Up in a glittering ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday, 11 September 2019.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHAEL LENEHAN Life has been hectic for Victorian Mum and businesswoman Claire Moore since she was announced the AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award National Runner Up in a glittering ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday, 11 September 2019.

Returning to Victoria with a new determination following the awards ceremony, Claire admitted she was honoured to be named National Runner Up which has also led to some new fears being faced.

“To be honest, I headed back to Victoria and finished my Certificate 111 in Beekeeping which was great and sad at the same time,” admitted Claire.

“I enjoyed my time at Ag School learning and making friends with other beekeepers so much I didn’t want to graduate and I held off handing in my assignments because I was living the dream.”

Claire’s dream and passion is driven by the challenges facing bee populations across the world and she’s on a mission to inspire Australian bee keepers to increase their hive numbers and expand their commercial bee keeping operations while also exporting Australia’s healthy and clean bees to the world.

It’s been a lifelong passion. Claire grew up in a very small town near the Great Ocean Road called Bellbrae and attended Geelong College later moving to Melbourne where she completed a Bachelor of Arts

majoring in political science. When she graduated, she started working in finance and spent more than a decade working in the city in stock broking.

It was during this time, Claire lived a double life, working in an office during the day while at night attending beekeeping clubs to learn more from commercial beekeepers. She would see her work mate’s eyes glaze over when she spoke about bees and the mailroom politely asked if she could have her queen bees posted “elsewhere” when her hives needed requeening.

Always fascinated by queen breeding, Claire decided early on she would prefer to be a queen breeder than a beekeeper for honey.

Claire met her partner Paul while volunteering making sandwiches for homeless people in inner city Melbourne. Paul is a horticulturalist and is always in the backyard. Claire purchased her first hive (which she still has) in 2007. Naively, she brought the hive home in the back of a two door hatchback with bees escaping while driving down the Eastern Highway!

Claire and Paul have always been passionate about sustainability and they converted their backyard into a massive veggie patch with fruit trees, bees and chickens.

Their backyard has been featured in newspapers and on television many times as a model of suburban

“I have achieved a lot in less than 8 months and now I would like to take stock of what I’ve learnt, increase my hives and work for a larger Commercial Beekeeper for practical experience before applying for the Artificial Insemination Program.”

sustainability.

When their first child Hugh was born in 2011 the couple purchased ten acres in Kyneton. Claire wanted to be a full time keeper and Paul was tired of inner city traffic going from garden to garden. In 2013-14 they designed and built a sustainable house that was a finalist in the UN World Environment Day Green Build Awards on their ten acres and moved to Kyneton permanently. They’ve also had two more children, Freya in 2014 and Wren in 2016.

Claire and Paul began investigating different regenerative farming practices once the firm Claire was working for closed its doors in Australia and that’s when she moved into bees full time. But it’s not been all smooth sailing. Claire’s Mother died of cancer in mid-2016 and in September 2016 Paul developed epilepsy and had a tough time finding the right medication and spent the next eighteen months controlling his seizures.

The couple started a pastured egg business and now run 1200 hens (they were lucky enough to be the first farm in Victoria to obtain a low density pastures poultry permit) and they attend farmers markets nearly every weekend.

The business is going fabulously, but the passing of Claire’s Mother at 68 has reinforced the old adage of how short life really is. Chatting in the palliative care ward, Claire’s Mother told her, “I don’t have time for cancer, I still have so much to do”. That’s when Claire decided she had to get going on her beekeeping and queen breeding dreams and to apply for the AgriFutures™ Rural Woman’s Award.

“I am very thankful I applied for the AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award which has enriched my life in

so many ways. I am now working on increasing my hive numbers, rearing queens and running my first event in The Good Life Farm Co Hive Share program,” said Claire.

“I was nervous about teaching but I’ve ended up really enjoying it and I’m enjoying it so much I have started a qualification in Training and Assessment.”

Adding: “At times I’ve found the process frustrating as I’m my harshest critic and a perfectionist to boot so I have had to stop being so hard on myself.”

“I have achieved a lot in less than 8 months and now I would like to take stock of what I’ve learnt, increase my hives and work for a larger Commercial Beekeeper for practical experience before applying for the Artificial Insemination Program.”

Claire has also applied for funding for a Beekeeping and farming program on her farm which will increase jobs in her home town including NDIS jobs which if she can get it across the line will be a huge win for the local economy.

The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award to recognise, celebrate and acknowledge exceptional rural women. Over the past two decades, the Rural Women’s Award has provided 293 women from a range of industries with the opportunity to achieve positive change for rural and regional Australia through diverse and innovative projects relating to primary industries.

The Award provides a platform to inspire and support Australian women to use their talents and abilities to benefit their industries and communities, and award recipients become part of a strong Alumni, that together, shape the perception of women in regional and rural Australia, and provides a significant network to support their future endeavours.

food farm future

18 19 February 2020 Melbourne The Asia Pacific’s largest agrifood tech event Future-proof your farming operations

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Network with the boldest and brightest minds in our industry A showcase of the latest emerging agrifood technologies and trends

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g r a z i h er Wo rk s h i r t s .

g r a z i h er P i c n i c b l a n ke t s .

Merry Christmas!

PHOTOGRAPHY CLANCY JOB