Ag Town of the Year

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:22): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister speak to the chamber about her recent visit to Penola, which was announced as the Agricultural Town of the Year 2024, for its celebration event?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his question and for the strong interest that I am receiving from the rest of my colleagues here. I know that we share a commitment to regional areas, and I am delighted to see the Ag Town of the Year events continue.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The government benches—please!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I was very proud to join the Penola Ag Town of the Year celebration two weeks ago. There was a really good turnout, and it was clear that the chilly weather and rain didn't deter people from attending the celebrations. Being from the South-East myself, I am sure that Penola residents are very used to those chilly temperatures, and the event organisers were well prepared, too, with a number of fire pits around for attendees to warm up at.

The Ag Town of the Year celebration coincided with Penola's inaugural winter cattle show event, which was held on Sunday 8 June. I am advised that this event was a fantastic success and provided an opportunity to get more young people involved in agriculture. One of the interesting events on show at the celebrations was the hobby horsing competition. This is the first time, I must admit, that I have heard of hobby horsing, but it was quite entertaining to watch and apparently there is a whole movement of hobby horsing around the country and around the globe.

The competition was run in various age groups, all the way up to age 18. It involved the children simulating equestrian activities while using a hobby horse—that being a stick with a horse's head. The judges considered various factors in their assessment, including costume, the design of the hobby horse, where the children had actually made their own, and the skill in completing the routine, which included showjumping and dressage. I was asked to participate in the competition, but I did decline on this occasion. I did find that very suddenly I had a back injury that would prevent me from participating in the hobby horsing!

However, it was very, very popular and I think it really did speak to the vibe, the feeling of people there, at the celebration.

The government of South Australia, through my department, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, is proud to present the Agricultural Town of the Year program, in partnership with Solstice Media and InDaily. The program celebrates towns that excel in agricultural practices and are great places to live and work. It recognises the enterprising nature of regional communities, such as Penola, that evolve and innovate to create an environment and culture where agriculture can thrive.

I want to share some of the feedback from the ag town judges about Penola and why they chose the town to win the award in 2024. They commented on the sheer variety of agricultural pursuits undertaken in Penola, including dairy, beef, lamb, grains, potatoes, forestry, wine and more. As one of the judges put it, Penola offers ag upon ag upon ag. They were also very impressed by Penola's commitment to agricultural education, from the local ag teacher, Corey O'Connor, who also was a Rural Ambassador of the Year state finalist last year—and I was pleased to talk to him at that event—and has inspired an impressive uptake of the school agricultural program, to George the Farmer, who is sharing Australian agriculture with the world.

The judges commended the creative and strategic collaboration between community, council and local business groups to propel the town forward. The judges praised the genuine community spirit and joyful pride displayed by Penola's residents, which was highlighted to the judges through an extensive agriculture showcase. Lastly, Penola demonstrated a deep understanding of local conditions and how to leverage them, such as pivoting from hemp seed production to hemp fibre production.

I was pleased to be joined at the cutting of the ribbon for the sign for the Ag Town of the Year by Mayor Des Noll, Mayor of Wattle Range Councill; Kelly-Anne Saffin, the Cross Border Commissioner; and indeed the Hon. Ben Hood from this place.

I must admit that Penola does hold a special place in my heart, as I lived in the town as a child. On my way to the ag town celebrations, I was able to stop at my old house, which is now called Naomi's Villa, on Riddoch Street. A plaque out the front shows that it was built around 1904—I know I am old, but I was not one of the first residents—by local stonemason William Blight.

The home has a long history of ownership by various members of the Penola community over the last 100 years, becoming a bed and breakfast in 1992 and reverting to a private residence in 2002. The house is named after Naomi Temple, the daughter of a previous owner Francis Redfern Temple, who conducted Penola's first hairdressing business in the front room of the house in the 1950s and 1960s. It was very pleasant to be able to have that little detour and to see that house.

I think the Ag Town of the Year celebrations were particularly important this year, given how many people are directly affected by the devastating drought at the moment. I commend Penola on its efforts in supporting and promoting agriculture and I look forward to hearing about how the town continues to evolve and respond to opportunities and challenges so that agricultural activities continue to thrive. Congratulations again to Penola for being named South Australia's Agricultural Town of the Year for 2024.