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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-08-30 Daily Xml
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AgriFutures Rural Women's Award

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that the 2023 AgriFutures Australia South Australian Rural Women's Awards were held on Tuesday 9 May;

2. Congratulates Ali Paulett of Clare Valley on winning this year's award;

3. Acknowledges the other finalists, Lyndsey Jackson of Moonta, Emily Riggs of Burra, Bridget Johns of Alford and Kerri Cliff of Kimba; and

4. Acknowledges the outstanding contribution of women agricultural leaders in South Australia and their important contribution to their communities and industries.

(Continued from 17 May 2023.)

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (21:39): I rise to support the motion. The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award was established in 2000 to raise the profile of talented women involved in primary industries and rural Australia. Over the past 22 years the award has provided more than 250 women with opportunities to achieve positive change in rural and regional Australia through diverse, innovative projects.

The Hon. Clare Scriven, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, had the pleasure of attending the 2023 SA AgriFutures Rural Women's Award event held in Adelaide on 9 May. Here she had the chance to catch up with this year's finalists, who continue to show how valuable the AgriFutures program is across a range of industries, projects and regions.

At the event she was able to congratulate this year's winner, Ali Paulett, the managing director of her Clare Valley family business Paulett Wines. The initiative for which Ali was recognised is truly innovative, educative and practical. The Indigenous Australian Native Sensory Bush Food Garden was the first of its kind when opened in 2010.

The garden was planted with the dual purpose of creating a unique garden and sensory walking path and supplying their restaurant with fresh native produce. It is a sensory experience for visitors, where they can smell, taste and touch the produce. The garden is also used by school groups for educational purposes, and is visited by walkers at the end of the Wine and Wilderness Trail.

As part of winning the award Ali received a $15,000 grant from Westpac to further progress her bush garden project. Ali's plans include improving the educational signage in the garden, enhancing the website content, and expanding the garden. Ultimately, the garden aims to become a showcase for educators, visitors and anyone who wishes to connect with the land, its history and the local First Nations Ngadjuri people.

Ali will now represent South Australia at the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award gala dinner and national award announcement in Canberra on 12 September. We wish Ali well, and hope she can add the national title to her achievements. I would also like to acknowledge the other award finalists, which included:

Bridget Johns for her course The Clear Clutter Find Time, which assists rural women reduce their mental load;

Kerri Cliff for her work in Eyre Business, which seeks to upskill regional people to take advantage of opportunities to provide remote business and administrative support services;

Emily Riggs for her fashion brand Iris & Wool, which promotes the superiority and sustainability of wool as a fashion fabric; and

Lyndsey Jackson for her work on an innovative mapping platform, Open Agmaps.

All award finalists will receive professional development opportunities and access to alumni networks.

Our regions contribute approximately $29 billion to the state's annual economy. They are the state's major economic driver, with increasing global demand for agriculture, food and wine, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and energy production. Applications for the 2024 award open on 13 September 2023. All rural and regional businesses and organisations should think about the outstanding women in their networks and encourage them to apply for this award. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (21:43): I would like to thank the Hon. Irene Pnevmatikos for her contribution to this motion. I am conscious that I have said words to this effect several times before in this place, but I will say them again. The recognition of and investment in our regions are vital. Investing in South Australia's agricultural innovation and research, and equally in the human potential of our regional leaders, is an important part of maintaining and growing our stable economic backbone. If we plan on meeting the challenges of our state's future in a sustainable manner, we must continue to improve.

For 21 years the AgriFutures Australia South Australian Rural Women's Awards has gained in profile and in influence. The national finals are fast approaching, being held on 12 September in Canberra. I wish the South Australian representative and winner of the South Australian Rural Women's Award for 2023, Ali Paulett, all the very best. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate again the other South Australian finalists: Lyndsey Jackson of Moonta, Emily Riggs of Burra, Bridget Johns of Alford and Kerri Cliff of Kimba. Their businesses and innovations are to be applauded, and I am sure we will hear more in the future from each one of these hardworking women.

As we celebrate Ali Paulett and her 2023 AgriFutures Australia South Australian Rural Women's Award and wish her luck in Canberra in a fortnight's time, I do hope that the chamber passes this motion in support of next year's nominees and generations of rural businesswomen to come. I commend the motion to the house.

Motion carried.

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