SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RURAL WOMEN'S AWARD

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question regarding the South Australian Rural Women's Award.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Rural women who have shown a capacity for leadership or leadership potential are recognised and supported by this award. It provides a financial and professional platform on which women can further their contributions in their chosen field and out in the community, whilst also encouraging leadership diversity in rural communities and our primary industries. Can the minister tell the chamber about this award?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I had the pleasure of attending the 16^th Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award for South Australia today, and I was pleased to see there the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. David Ridgway. It was a well attended forum and, as always, a very enjoyable one, which reflects the importance of the event.

This is a very important award that supports women with leadership potential who have the desire and commitment make a greater contribution to their industry and their community. The winner receives a $10,000 bursary provided by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to implement a vision for their industry and support the winner's professional development through formal business management training, the establishment of business plans or designing things like pilot programs.

Both finalists will also receive a one week residential Australian Institute of Company Director's course to enhance their leadership capabilities. The course teaches the critical skills required around the duties and roles of board membership, along with knowledge in risk management, strategy development, and organisational and financial performance. The award is jointly sponsored by PIRSA, Westpac, ABC radio and Fairfax Agricultural Media. It is open to all women, regardless of formal qualifications, who are involved in natural resource management and primary industries.

This year's finalists were selected from a very strong field of applicants. Anna Hooper is a winemaker at Cape Jaffa Wines in the Mount Benson wine region near Robe. Very dedicated to science and the environment, she has been instrumental in developing one of the first certified biodynamic wine ranges in South Australia. Anna's vision is to see the South Australian wine industry recognised as a world leader in environmental performance, made up of environmentally savvy businesses valuing and investing in long-term sustainability and deriving associated benefits from their efforts. I congratulate Anna on winning the event this year. She is certainly well qualified as a very dynamic woman.

The runner-up was Dr Mardi Longbottom, who grew up on a farm in Padthaway. She is a grape grower, viticulturist and viticultural consultant with 21 years' experience in vineyard management, technical viticulture research, education and extension. Mardi has enjoyed working with women across all areas of the grape and wine sector and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience to stimulate and encourage the next generation of female viticulturists. Mardi's goal is to showcase positive female role models who are actively engaged in a diverse range of careers in the viticulture industry and promote viticulture as an opportunity for varied and exciting career pathways to secondary and tertiary students.

As I said, I congratulate Anna on winning the event and hope that she will use her award bursary to explore how Australian wine companies can become global performers in environmental performance and investigate areas for improvement. I am sure all members of the chamber will join me in congratulating Anna on her goal and on winning the 2013 Rural Women's Award.

I acknowledge and thank PIRSA, for all their hard work in helping to organise the event, and also Roseanne Healy, the director from RIRDC. These events always require a lot of time and effort behind the scenes. The panel they established to peruse the applicants went through quite a rigorous process, and I appreciate all those people who have volunteered their time to assist in this important event.