Regional Showcase

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:53): My question is for the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please update the chamber on the 2022 SA Regional Showcase?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his question. The South Australian Regional Showcase People's Choice Award closes this Friday. The Regional Showcase program puts a spotlight on regional South Australia by uncovering, telling and showcasing the stories of success.

I would encourage members and the public to take time to read through the top 20 articles for 2022 on the Solstice Media website, which is solsticemedia.com/regional-showcase, and vote for your favourite by this Friday 30 September. The top 20 includes a range of inspiring stories from across regional communities. For example:

From Eyre Peninsula the mating rituals of the unique colony of giant Australian cuttlefish, swimming just off the Whyalla coastline, can now be viewed in all their psychedelic glory from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat.

From the Far North the small South Australian community of Orroroo won a spot in the national Our Towns program, funded by Rural Aid to give the town a makeover.

From the Mid North a new approach to managing shearing teams is paying dividends in the Mid North and helping address the skills shortage.

On Kangaroo Island endangered flora on KI is being given a lifeline, thanks to the newly established Threatened Flora Seed Production Garden within the island's Cygnet Park Sanctuary.

From the Lower North Elijah Hobby has spent years giving back in the Gawler community of Hewett, creating a safe space for those living with mental health challenges and disability.

From the Yorke Peninsula once locally extinct marsupials, reintroduced to South Australia, are thriving with the help of researchers and the Marna Banggara Rewilding Project.

From my own community in the Limestone Coast is a story about Robyn Verrall, the winner of the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, who is on a quest to bring fresh low-cost produce to country people through local business Kere to Country.

The Regional Showcase program runs year long and celebrates the achievements of individuals, groups and businesses that have made significant contributions to regional South Australia.

PIRSA is a proud sponsor of the program and has been for nine years, since 2013, with the long-standing program now in its 22^nd year. The Regional Showcase aims to shine a spotlight on regional South Australia by uncovering, telling and showcasing the stories of success, using regional journalists. These stories are published to a local, national and international audience, and this helps to grow knowledge of the regions and uncover opportunities for economic investment and growth. The Regional Showcase celebration event will be held on Friday 4 November, and I look forward at that event to seeing the six award category winners being presented.