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CLIMB ON: Rock-climbing enthusiasts joined Natimuk arts community at the weekend for a virtual version of annual GoatFest Film Festival. The Easter event typically attracts climbers from across the country, but was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings. Festival co-manager Tracey Skinner welcomed 14 Australian and international entries for the festival. She said moving the event online helped bridge a connection among the climbing community. Natimuk residents, from left, Freya Jones, Dusty Schellens, Lani Jones, Amber and Beatrix Schellens won a ‘kids award’ for their video ‘The Natimuk Ninjas’. The girls edited the video to make it appear like they were scaling large grain storage silos at Natimuk. Story, page 9. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Region food project A
BY DEAN LAWSON
major project to help develop, streamline or enhance the Wimmera’s entrepreneurial foodproduction industry is underway, with an aim of opening new doors for regional produce.
Wimmera Development Association is launching a Wimmera Food Innovation Program to encourage growth in a broad sector that includes everyone from large-scale food manufacturers or boutique growers to back-yard hobby businesses. Association project manager Vernet-
ta Taylor said the program was about exploring, enhancing and capitalising on the potential of the Wimmera and southern Mallee as a diverse foodproduction region. She said the region had a long history as a base for traditional broadacre farming and the new program was about identifying growth opportunities for an expanded multi-dimensional food industry. “We want to keep the program open to as many people, producers and creators as possible,” she said. “People involved in this program could be anyone from established
food manufacturers to someone who makes preserves in their kitchen. It might also involve people creating boutique olive oil, smallgoods, prime lamb for restaurants, specialty baked products – the scope is very wide. “It’s about looking for innovation, avenues or conduits that can help. “It really is open to anyone who is in that food-production industry and exploring how they might be able to get greater traction in the marketplace – not only locally and regionally, but potentially nationally and internationally.” The association is inviting people
from across the region to attend any of three online innovation workshop sessions it has organised in the next month – 7pm on October 26, 10am on October 28 and 2pm, November 5. People keen to know more or to join sessions can call Mrs Taylor on 0419 114 274 or email vtaylor@wda.org.au.
Partnership
WDA is partnering with Food Innovation Australia Limited, FIAL, and Beanstalk to present the program, which starts with the workshops to identify a cohort of regional entrepreneurs.
An in-person and virtual 12-week innovation program involving participants will follow. The program will culminate in developing three entrepreneurial case studies to champion, promote and encourage other Wimmera entrepreneurs to get involved. “Over time, we expect that a critical mass of participants will allow for an alumni network of program participants to co-mentor one another beyond the program period,” Mrs Taylor said. Continued page 3
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