Wednesday, 21 December 2011
MINISTER NAMES FINALISTS IN NSW RURAL WOMEN’S AWARDS
A goat farmer specialising in skin care products and a former agronomist who has established a unique social media platform have been named as finalists in the NSW Rural Women’s Awards,
Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said today.
Corinne Annetts from Uralla in the New England district and Danica Leys from West Pymble have been selected for their contribution to rural industries to compete in the 2012 Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award.
“Both Corinne and Danica share two great success stories and demonstrate that hard work, fresh ideas, and resourcefulness can make a real difference to our primary industries and small businesses in regional areas,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“Our NSW finalists were chosen because they are both innovative and have utilised the latest technology to increase opportunities in their enterprises, which will only be of great benefit rural communities.”
Corinne Annetts
- Has established her own goat stud enterprise at Uralla which produces skin care products made from goat’s milk which are sold to local and international customers.
- These products have proved successful in helping people who suffer from eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and scarring.
- She also produces goat’s cheese and plans to expand her cheese business to provide local produce for restaurants, cafes, events and functions.
Danica Leys
- Has established a social media forum, AgChatOz, which provides an opportunity for people involved in the agricultural industry to make valuable connections, share ideas in weekly discussions and promote agriculture to a wider audience.
- Danica was formerly an agronomist and worked in Narrabri and Dubbo and now works as a lawyer specialising in agribusiness.
- She plans to expand AgChatOz to increase its participation, streamline its social media platform and be involved in seminars, field days and workshops across Australia.
The winner of the 2012 Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award will receive a bursary of $10,000, and both the winner and runner-up will participate in the RIRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors’ course.
The Rural Women’s Awards are coordinated by NSW Rural Women’s Network through the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The winner will be announced on 21 February 2012 at Parliament House, Sydney.
Click To Download The Minister’s Media Release