Julie Gooch drives road trains across the south west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton, down to Esperance.But she is not your average truckie; she’s petite, fit and has degrees in music, teaching and law.
Jun 20 2015
Better roadside facilities on truck routes would draw more women to transport industry: driver – ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Jun 10 2015
AgVision Sydney to help address national agri-skills crisis
For the first time, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has partnered with the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) and Junee High School to bring AgVision to Sydney Showground on 29 July, an event designed to encourage and inspire young people to become the future of agriculture in Australia.
AgVision Sydney is an agri-careers exhibition that will provide secondary school pupils (Years 9 -11) with a unique chance to learn about the industry, while gaining a greater understanding of the wide-ranging careers available in agriculture, science and agri-business.
The initiative forms part of a national response to Australia’s agri-skills crisis, outlined by recent Government studies and reviews of the industry.
Murray Wilton, General Manager of Agriculture at the RAS, said AgVision Sydney will provide a platform for developing a greater connection between students and the agribusiness sector, where they can experience first-hand what it’s like to work in an industry trade or service.
“During AgVision Sydney, approximately 700 students will gain a hands-on learning experience through a selection of 50 workshops, which will be run by industry specialists and professionals from all over the state, who have established careers within the agricultural sector,” Mr Wilton said.
“Our mission is to deliver coordinated and engaging agricultural education programs and events, highlighting the importance of food and fibre and the farmers who produce it.
“AgVision Sydney will help to achieve this and encourage the students to become future leaders of agriculture. As a result, The RAS is proud to be part of this excellent initiative with DEC and Junee High School,” said Mr Wilton.
During the event, the workshops will profile a range of careers, including technology, research, development and extension, primary production, secondary production, processing, logistics, transport, handling, marketing of products, commodities as well as services.
Students will have the opportunity to choose five sessions to attend, which run for 35 minutes each. Presenters will be supported by teachers from attending school students in each workshop, to ensure all students receive the information they need to make informed decisions about study pathways.
Applications open for schools and the students on Monday 15 June and close Wednesday 15 July 2015.
AgVision Sydney: The Details
WHEN: Wednesday 29 July 2015
WHERE: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
TIME: 8:30am – 2:30pm
WHO: Students Years 9-11
ADMISSION: $10 per student
REGISTRATION: Opens 15 June; Closes 15 July 2015. For further information, contact Danielle Krix: education@rasnsw.com.au or phone (02) 9704 1147
About AgVision Sydney
AgVision Sydney is a hands-on workshop for students in Years 9-11, designed to encourage and inspire young people to become the future of agriculture in Australia. The program is a result of a partnership between the Department of Education and Communities (DEC), Junee High School and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. Currently held only in Junee, AgVision Sydney enables Junee High School’s landmark event to be expanded exponentially by rolling out to a much larger audience across a huge geographical area.
May 29 2015
From iconic brand to iconic photographs
Matt Lawson is the national sales manager for the iconic clothing company Driza-Bone. Over the last four years the Australian company has evolved to offer a great range of apparel alongside their traditional oilskin coats.
“Part of my job has been to introduce the new range to customers throughout the Eastern half of Australia. As I don’t like to fly, I have been zig zagging the land meeting some truly amazing people while selling a brand that everyone loves. My trips where taking me away from home for up to two weeks at a time and I was driving for 8 hours a day which was both exhausting and lonely.”
About 18 months ago Matt started to break up his day by stopping and capturing photos of the country on his iPhone, and a second passion was born.
“I’d always enjoyed photography and I found the phone camera easy to use and even if I was only able to stop for two minutes, it was very calming.
“I’d found some great rural photography pages on Facebook, so when I got to my motel room at the end of a day I’d do a quick edit and share my photos from the day. When people started to like my photos, I grew more confident and started to ask for critique and advice.”
Matt took the critiques on board and worked to improve his photographs, gaining a loyal following of supporters as well as photographers lending their professional advice.
Sunflowers, Dalby Qld
Dusty drive
“These two photos are special to me for similar reasons. The sunflowers I stumbled upon while driving near Dalby in QLD. They were my first iPhone photo and the reason I decided to pursue photography. The driveway is my first photo on a DSLR camera. To me it truly depicts the Australian way of life.”
“I learnt on the run from some truly inspiring photographers and I was lucky enough to have photos shared on USA Today, ABC Australia and other great sites.”
In late 2014 he decided to take the next big step and get a “real” camera. He purchased a second hand Canon 500D and again had to start learning from scratch.
“I was listening to online tutorials while I drove and also leant heavily on the photography friends I’d made throughout the year.
“Photography is an amazing past time. I can honestly say that I continue to learn so much every single day. I try to take photos that inspire others and I hope to continue to grow my portfolio and show everyone our beautiful country.”
Matt’s all time favourite three photos
Lincoln Rock, Blue Mountains NSW
“I took this at Lincoln Rock in the Blue Mountains. I was in awe at the sheer beauty of the area and it was the closest I got to capturing it.”
Tenterfield webs
“I took this south of Tenterfield. As with a lot of photography, timing is everything and I just happened to be in the right spot as the sun reflected through the dew drops.”
old shearing shed, Nathalia, Vic.
“This to me feels very Australian – It’s an old shearing shed in Nathalia, VIC. It feels like time stood still there.”
Matt’s photography website
Matt’s photography passion has the support of his employer; he has a FaceBook page and he has just launched a dedicated photography website – http://www.mattlawsonphotography.com/
Oct 06 2014
Murrumbateman on show – field days 18-19 October
With over 400 exhibitors, almost 1,000 volunteers and raising almost $1million for the Murrumbateman community over the past 5 years, the Field Days are guaranteed to dazzle you with some of the latest farming equipment and methods, live entertainment, lifestyle and home improvement exhibits, antique machinery and local produce, wine tastings, fast rides and kids amusements, and craft from the region.
The power of the Murrumbateman community is behind this event, and with Fast Ed from Better Homes and Gardens cooking up a storm in our Spotlight marquee, you’ll find everything you seek for a great family day out right here at Murrumbateman, just 20mins out of Canberra on the Barton Highway.
Win $50,000 off your mortgage
Visitors to the Murrumbateman Field Days, will have an opportunity to win $50,000 off their Mortgage simply by uploading their best Field Days photo to Facebook.
To enter, visitors need to attend the Murrumbateman Field Days on Oct 18th and 19th, and “Like” the Murrumbateman Field Days facebook page. Then, when they upload their best Field Days photos to Facebook, they will be entering the competition to enter for their chance to win the Bendigo Bank $50,000 Mortgage Payment.
Entries open at 9am on October 18th, and will close at midnight on October 19th. Twelve lucky finalists will be selected by Bendigo Bank before 9am on Monday Oct 20th and placed in a photo gallery on the Murrumbateman Field Days facebook page.
Then the competition is opened to the public to vote for their favourite Field Days photo, with the winning photo printed in The Land and the Canberra Times on Sat Oct 25th.
“Bendigo Bank has always been a fantastic supporter of the Murrumbateman Field Days” says Field Days Manager Kim Williams. “However, this year they have totally blown us away by offering one lucky Field Days visitor an opportunity to take $50,000 off their Mortgage”
Should the winner not have a current Mortgage, Bendigo Bank has decided that the prize can be used as a deposit on a new Mortgage.
“We want everybody to have an opportunity to win this amazing prize”, says Kim Williams. “So, we are only excluding Bendigo Bank employees, Murrumbateman Progress Association Executive Committee members and MPA employees from entering the competition. All our volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors and Field Days visitors will have a chance to win the $50,000.”
Bendigo Bank is a regular supporter of regional community events around regional Australia and have been supporting the Murrumbateman community by sponsoring the Field Days for over 5 years.
Get cooking with Fast Ed
Fast Ed Halmagyi, from the 7 Network flagship TV lifestyle show Better Homes and Gardens, has agreed to be their 2014 Special Guest Celebrity Chef.
Ed agreed to appear at this year’s Murrumbateman Field Days to help promote the flag ship event and the area’s
fantastic wines and produce by performing cooking demonstrations twice a day in their featured John Deere
Spotlight on the Region marquee.
The John Deere Spotlight Marquee is the centre piece exhibit for the Field Days filled with exhibitors and producers from the Murrumbateman Region, featuring local wineries, chocolatiers, oils and finishing sauces, jams and relishes, fungi, herbs, cheeses and organic lamb and beef, all grown within the Yass Valley.
Field Days tickets & details
Dates: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
Venue: Murrumbateman Recreation Ground, Barton Hwy
Hours: 9am-5pm Saturday and 9am-4pm Sunday
Admission: Adults $15 per day, Concession $10 per day, 12-16yrs $5 per day, and Under 12yrs Free
Murrumbateman Field Days tickets can be purchased online at www.mfdays.com.
Web: www.mfdays.com
Like us on Facebook.com/Murrumbateman-Field-Days
Parking: Free
Mururmbateman – A Thriving Commercial District
Murrumbateman, just 30km north-west of Canberra, is home to almost 3,000 people. With a steady stream of land releases in recent years and a strongly growing ‘tree-change’ population, it is a dynamic and unique place to live and do business. The local economy comprises an interesting mix of activities – traditional agriculture, a strong tourism focus, manufacturing and construction, health care and professional services. For many years the unique blend of rural lifestyle and proximity to Canberra has lured an intriguing mix of artists, craftspeople, thinkers and entrepreneurs to Murrumbateman.
The close proximity to Canberra creates challenges and opportunities. A large number of Murrumbateman residents are employed in Canberra and commute daily. As a consequence, these people may also shop and conduct business in the ACT. That’s the bad news. The good news is that many of those working in Canberra have excellent jobs and good incomes, creating demand for a diverse range of local services – many focussed around lifestyle and recreation. And of course, the Canberra district is home to many of Australia’s finest cool climate wineries which act as a drawcard for tourists, creating demand for tourism and associated services.
Majestic Mushrooms is a local success story. Owners Helen and Ian Chu are classic tree-chargers and typical of many of Murrumbateman’s newer residents. They abandoned their professional jobs and Sydney lifestyle to focus on their high-tech mushroom growing facility. They conducted years of research and invested significant capital to create a state-of-the art growing shed where a range of mushroom varieties are produced under strictly controlled conditions – hygiene and climate control are paramount. Employing up to 30 pickers, they distribute widely across the region – via the local farmer’s markets, retail outlets, restaurants and cafes.
Another local business making a big impact is Rapley’s Constructions. In business since 1975, Gary Rapley and his team of 7 full-timers and many more contractors are involved in construction, agriculture and equipment hire. Visit a local tourism business and there’s a strong likelihood you’re standing in a ‘Rapley Shed’ – they range from basic machine sheds to 5-star wineries.
Recently, the face of Murrumbateman’s cosy shopping precinct on Hercules Street has undergone some dramatic change with a number of health providers opening practices. Leading the way was Yass Valley Dental. Their original practice in Yass was running at full capacity, with many clients coming from Murrumbateman. They opened the Murrumbateman practice in 2009 and currently provide a full range of services tailored to the needs of the population. The practice opens early and closes late, they even open on Saturdays one a month. Since Yass Valley Dental arrived, a pharmacy and two medical practices have also commenced operations. The arrival of these ‘essential services’ has been seen my many as a ‘coming of age’, reflecting a maturing and confidence in the local economy.
Murrumbateman today is a rich and vibrant community. The region continues to grow and the economy continues to diversify. It’s a wonderful place to visit, do business and call home.