RRR.Network News.Ed47.autumn 2009

autumn:09
E d i t i o n 47
ISSN 1445-7210
Kirsten Skraha wins 2009
RIRDC Rural Women’s Award
A l s o in t hi s i s su e
Meet the 2009 Reference Group
Farm Day: giving city families a taste of modern farm life
Paddock to boardroom balancing act
from the chair
From the Chair
In si d e t hi s i s su e
Louise House
From the Chair.......................................2
RRR Network 2009 Reference Group....3
RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards 2009 ....4
Runner-up RIRDC Rural
Women’s Awards 2009..........................5
RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards 2009
Finalists ................................................6
Across my Desk.....................................8
Standing for Local Government Council .................................................8
There’s a place for you on
your local council...................................9
Paddock to boardroom
balancing act....................................... 10
E-tail therapy.......................................12
Farm Day: giving city families
a taste of modern farm life................... 14
Country Cousins bed and breakfast
network............................................... 15
Sister branches build
rural-city bonds................................... 16
Leadership evolves from an inspired
read..................................................... 17
The harvest from hell …...................... 18
Botanical artists draw inspiration
from the regions..................................19
A novel solution for rural housing.........20
Conference a catalyst for
Pilbara Women’s Network.................... 21
Never too late to live the dream ..........22
Outdated pumps save babies’ lives
in Bangladesh......................................23
COVER PHOTO: WA recipient of the 2009
RIRDC Rural Women’s Award Kirsten
Skraha of Boyup Brook lives on a mixed
enterprise farm which grows wine grapes
and has its own boutique wine label.
‘Ordinary women doing extraordinary things’
’Ordinary women doing extraordinary things’; that’s the RRR Women’s
Network.
Welcome to the 2009 series of inspirational stories you can take away and
quietly read. I have loved these stories for the past 10 years or so, and I
think the impact of Network News has remained strong despite the advent of
faster and more accessible methods of communication. However, there is no
substitute for the personal interaction that we all struggle to maintain in this
very busy and demanding world in which we live. These are stories by you
and for you.
Being part of the judging panel for the RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards
reinforced my view that there are extremely motivated, talented, innovative
and resilient women throughout rural, remote and regional WA. There are
many out there performing quiet miracles. Congratulations to the winners and,
for all the finalists you will read about, I am sure their stories will continue.
As you read these varied and inspirational stories, jot down a couple of
women you know who would benefit from this award. Keep them in mind to
nominate for the 2010 RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards. The award includes a
bursary to develop leadership, skills and experiences to share. Rural industries
need the insight, knowledge, varied skills and minds of women to be involved
at all levels. It matters not your age or education level, it just matters that you
are motivated!
This edition’s theme on connections between city and rural communities
reflects some of the differences across all aspects of our lives:
communication, education, health, attitudes, expectations and representation.
It is up to us, individually and collectively, to create the links of understanding.
There are many small ways we can add to the understanding of the many
wonderful things out here in RRR WA.
Thank you to our past members and to the previous Chair Ros Hegarty for a
successful 2008. We look forward to an exciting and productive year with the
2009 RRR Reference Group.
The 15 dynamic Reference Group members reflect the diversity of RRR
women in geography, industry and skills. All are keen to celebrate the
achievements, promote opportunities and provide a network for disseminating
information relevant to RRR women. The group has challenged its members
with the saying ‘just because it is, doesn’t mean it must be’. Regional WA has
been the subject of a new focus and we will be endeavouring to voice your
concerns, issues and solutions to our government ministers.
We are always delighted to receive your feedback, comments and especially
the inspirational stories of those ordinary women doing the extraordinary
things. So pick up a pen and start writing today!
Yours in RRR,
Louise
Louise House, Chair
2
Network News Autumn 09
rrr net work
RRR Network 2009 Reference Group
The 2009 Reference Group members met in Perth from all corners of WA to
set the direction and activities for the RRR Network recently. Following an
induction workshop for new members, the whole group had an opportunity to
meet with the Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman.
The Reference Group members
will communicate with Mr Redman
and the Minister for Regional
Development Brendon Grylls
on government policies and
important issues affecting RRR
women and their communities.
Both ministers are enthusiastic to
maintain ongoing dialogue.
The Reference Group members all
attended the RIRDC Rural Women’s
Award event. Louise House, the new
RRR Network Chair, was MC for
the ceremony which was attended
by more than 100 guests from
agricultural industries, government
and rural WA. There was a strong
field of finalists this year; their
stories are featured on the following
four pages.
Professor Daniela Stehlik, Chair of
the Research Centre for Stronger
Communities at Curtin University
of Technology, presented her
reflections of the 2008 national
review on the social impacts of
drought on farm families and rural
communities. The 2008 WA winner
and national runner-up of the RIRDC
Rural Women’s Award, Maggie
Edmonds also gave an entertaining
overview of her busy year as last
year’s recipient of the award.
The Reference Group held a two-day
meeting to develop and set priorities
for 2009. The RRR Network is
in a unique position to provide a
communication conduit across
groups and organisations, because
its membership reaches across the
whole of WA. The group will continue
to improve its communication tools
this year: the RRR Network website,
web-based meeting room, email
newsletter and magazine.
Sarah Knight, the Regional
Program Director for ABC Local
Radio, was a guest speaker at the
meeting. Rural radio provides a
critical communication service to
RRR WA. The Reference Group had
an opportunity to discuss how the
ABC coordinates ‘harvest ban’ alerts
and considered how these could
be improved. The RRR Network is
keen to ensure that interesting and
relevant programs are broadcast to
regional WA.
The RRR Network encourages
all women to contribute articles,
photographs, stories and other
information to provide a crosssectional view of all communities in
WA. Share your stories with us for
the next edition of Network News:
Winter women – recognising the
contribution that mature women
have in their communities.
RRR Network Reference Group members 2009 (clockwise from back left) Trish Barron,
Port Hedland; Kelly Howlett, Port Hedland; Kirrilee Warr, Yuna; Karen Crouch, Kalgoorlie;
Dianne Westlake, Carnarvon; Natalie Manton, Yealering; Jenifer Collins, Northam; Sally
Rayner, Bruce Rock; Amanda Lovitt, Australind; Penny Goldsmith, Kununurra; Kerry Regan
(Executive Officer); Nicol Taylor, Carmel; Kate O’Keeffe, Gnowangerup and Louise House
(Chair), Watheroo. Absent: Kellie Guest, Esperance and Irene Mills, Pithara.
Contact the Executive Officer Kerry Regan on 9368 3182
or [email protected] if you would like to:
•
•
•
•
•
know more about the RRR Network
contact any of the Reference Group members
submit a story or photograph for Network News
post information on our website
circulate information through e-news.
Network News Autumn 09
3
c o v e r s t o ry
B OYU P B ROOK
RIRDC Rural Women’s
Award Winner 2009
Helping viticultural producers in
environmental stewardship By Kirsten Skraha
Kirsten Skraha from Boyup Brook was presented with the 2009 RIRDC
Rural Women’s Award by Child Protection and Community Services Minister
Robyn McSweeney at a gala function in February. Doris Parker was named
the runner-up among a strong field of finalists including Glenice Batchelor,
Anna Butcher, Marie Redman and Di Holly.
Kirsten received a $10 000 bursary and, along with the runner-up, will have
the opportunity to attend a Company Director’s course in Canberra in May.
filled with amazing people has been
inspirational to say the very least.
Kirsten Skraha receives the 2009 WA
RIRDC Rural Women’s Award from Minister
Robyn McSweeney.
With a degree in Natural Resource
Management and working in various
roles in the industry, I have spent
the last four years coordinating
the BestFarms Environmental
Management Systems project run
by the Blackwood Basin Group; a
not-for-profit community landcare
organisation. The project helps
farmers identify, prioritise and
manage environmental issues
on their properties and provides
recognition for environmental
stewardship, which is so important
to the social, economic and
environmental health of our rural
communities.
Kirsten remembers always being
passionate about conservation of
the environment; from trying to
save a spindly eucalyptus tree from
being cut down at her parent’s
house when she was a child until
now, when she has a more holistic
understanding of conservation
and sustainable practices in a
rural setting.
I am actively involved in the
community, particularly in the
region’s viticulture industry. We grow
17 hectares of wine grapes and have
a boutique wine label. As secretary
for the Blackwood Valley Wine
Industry Association for three years,
I helped to initiate environmental
workshops for producers and
develop long-term goals that the
Association is working towards.
I moved to my husband’s mixedenterprise farm in Boyup Brook in
2003 and, despite my steep and
continuing learning curve, I have
developed a strong passion for rural
communities. I grew up in Perth, so
moving to the south west and being
part of such a tight-knit community
With the vast climatic and economic
pressures that producers are facing,
I am motivated more than ever to
help establish better environmental
practices that will lead to better
production efficiencies and quality
produce.
4
Network News Autumn 09
Kirsten sees a need for a more targeted
and realistic approach for long-term
continuous improvement of environmental
management for small producers in the
viticulture industry.
I believe that by adopting better
environmental management, such
as improved water, energy and
input efficiencies, and being able
to document such stewardship
practices, producers would be
better placed to promote and sell
their produce—with the added
benefits to the environment,
production costs and public.
I would like to visit other producers,
particularly within the viticulture
industry, who are implementing
good management practices or
adopting new research outcomes to
see how the changes they’ve made
can be applied more widely.
Communicating these successes
through field days or workshops
will help to encourage and motivate
other producers in the south-west
in working towards sustainable
production. In the long term,
I have a vision for sustainable
environmental management and
sustainable communities.
cover story
Onslow
Runner-up RIRDC Rural
Women’s Award 2009
Encouraging young Aboriginal women into
the pastoral industry By Doris Parker
the welfare of children. I found my role extended from a
nine-to-five job when my family started fostering children
and providing a safe rural haven on the station.
Our hard work and dedication to the station paid off
and we are now in a better position. Our son has taken
over as manager and our daughter is now in charge of
the administration. We feel very proud of what we have
accomplished.
Doris works for the Department of Child Protection in Onslow.
Doris Parker has had a lifetime of experience working
in the vast and tough Pilbara pastoral industry and
supporting its community. Doris would like to engage
the youth of her region in culture and law and voice
the wisdom of Aboriginal women in steering the young,
particularly young women, into believing in themselves
and their future.
I was born and grew up in an out-camp on Maroonah
Station attending the Carnarvon Mission for my schooling
before leaving at the age of 16. All I ever wanted was to
be on a station. When I met my husband in 1966 we
worked on pastoral stations while we raised our family
and ran a taxi business in Onslow.
In 1975 Peedamulla Station, located about 60km southeast of Onslow, was bought for the local Aboriginal
people. My husband and I originally helped out with
mustering, fixing mills and fencing, but took over running
the station in 1981.
My vision for Peedamulla is to be a working cattle
station which provides training for everything pastoral
including works such as fencing, windmill maintenance
and earthmoving. I would like to see the station provide
a nurturing environment with quarters for kids in trouble
and people who need a safe refuge. I would like to mentor
young women and encourage them to play an active role
in the pastoral industry.
I would love to document my life story for my community.
Time is an issue for Aboriginal communities like those
in Onslow—with many of the elders passing on and
concern that the stories are being lost. By writing my
story I aim to commence a path to instil a burning
passion and pride into the youth, particularly young
women, of Onslow.
I am proud of my achievements and would like to show
pathways for the next generation to achieve a positive
future for the Pilbara pastoral industry.
The change from being workers to managing the
business was a big challenge. Not only were we getting
the men to do what we asked but we were also working
together with men on other pastoral stations.
I didn’t know a thing about book work. Initially I had
some help but soon I was solely responsible for paying
the workers, working out tax and bank reconciliations.
We also had a huge debt to pay, so for the first eight
years we just stayed for the love and the lifestyle.
During these years we needed to seek income off the
station and I worked as a customer service officer at the
Department of Child Protection in Onslow. My maternal
instincts and organisational ability were valuable in this
role and I assisted in many difficult situations involving
Maitland Parker, Marji Hughes, Runner-Up Doris Parker and her
husband Trevor Parker at the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award ceremony.
Network News Autumn 09
5
c o v e r s t o ry
ta m m i n
New industries
for resilient
communities—
aquaculture
By Glenice Batchelor
Glenice Batchelor has a vision for
strong, vibrant and resilient rural
communities. She sees a need to
diversify our industries and build
them sustainably to ensure benefits
for all, including the environment.
Glenice would like to use her
existing contacts and networks to
focus on water management and
its opportunities, specifically in
aquaculture.
Recently my work has been
focused on salinity. I firmly believe
that adaptation and possible new
Brookton
industries such as aquaculture to
use saline land and water provide
exciting options.
For many years aquaculture has
been seen as an industry with
potential. Depleted fish stocks,
environmental damage and the need
for managed recreational fisheries
have all been recently highlighted.
In 2001 I was funded to create a
community event which focused
on aquaculture. I believe it is time
to revisit these isues and, with new
knowledge and experience gained
Glenice Batchelor sees new opportunities
for aquaculture in the WA wheatbelt.
locally and nationally, work on a way
to move forward.
I plan to update my knowledge by
undertaking a rural study tour of
projects already operating in the
eastern states and explore new
opportunities for aquaculture in the
wheatbelt.
I want to continue to help develop
a resilient rural community
that is diversified and provides
opportunities to improve skills and
opportunities for future generations
in a sustainable environment.
Educating people back
into agriculture
By Anna Butcher
Anna Butcher operates a broadacre mixed farming operation at Brookton
with her husband Colin. Anna believes there is a need to expose young
people to the opportunities that exist for careers in agriculture and science
to encourage future commitment to agriculture and rural communities.
I am an active partner in managing
and operating the business. My
involvement extends beyond the
farm gate to the local community
and the grains industry. I am
concerned to see an ageing
workforce with fewer young people
returning to the farm enterprise—
who will be our food producers in a
decade’s time?
Anna Butcher wants to promote the
opportunities for young people in science
and agriculture.
6
A major challenge I see for
agriculture is to attract and retain
young people. Current farm
business structures need to change
to support, reward and encourage
youth into the industry to better
cope with the economic, social and
environmental challenges.
Network News Autumn 09
Younger farmers now have the
opportunity for a broader education
early in their career. They are better
equipped to adapt to change and
to adopt new and more sustainable
farming and management practices.
These young professional farmers
will be the innovators, changemakers and risk-takers of tomorrow.
We need to promote careers in
agriculture and science in secondary
schools and universities. I would like
to promote agricultural careers and
improve media awareness to better
equip our future leaders to meet the
challenges facing rural Australia.
cover story
broomehill
Agriculture and
nature-based
tourism
By Di Holly
Di Holly has a personal commitment to encourage and assist rural
communities—particularly women—to explore new and innovative ways to
diversify or value-add to traditional primary and community activities.
Di believes rural tourism, not generally recognised as a primary industry,
offers huge possibilities.
Rural tourism is an industry that has
the potential to enhance or support
existing rural activities, generate extra
income, encourage diversification,
value-add to rural products,
create new small business and job
opportunities on and off-farm.
I am the Chairperson and one of the
founders of Hidden Treasures of the
Great Southern. This promotional
De n m a r k
and development partnership
involves seven rural shires and their
associated 14 communities.
I have witnessed the slow but
positive effect tourism and the
group’s initiatives have had on most
of the communities involved over
the past five years. It is vital for
the group to keep developing its
Di Holly believes that rural communities
that take an innovative approach to primary
industries will be the ones to maintain
healthy and vibrant communities.
capacity and confidence to ensure
long-term viability.
I would like to study the approach
taken to rural development by
communities in Victoria and see if
these models can be used in WA.
I plan to coordinate rural tourism
workshops in the Hidden Treasures
Communities to pass on this
knowledge and motivate people to
consider alternative options.
Tourism is not for everyone, but it is
worth exploring and considering as
a potential industry that could assist
our future rural sustainability.
Great Southern wine
promotion
By Marie Redman
Maria Redman exhibits a determined enthusiasm and dedication to the
promotion of all things in the Great Southern. Whether it is primary
produce, value-added products, wines, natural resources or tourism
experiences, she believes the Great Southern has got the lot and more.
My adventure into the bush allowed
me to become involved in many
community organisations and
businesses.
Most recently I have been involved
with the Great Southern Regional
Marketing Association. This
organisation seeks to foster the
synergy of food, wine, agriculture
and tourism throughout the Great
Southern Region.
Marie Redman runs a business that provides
exposure and marketing for 75 wine
producers in the Great Southern region.
I am originally a city girl, but
fell in love and married a young
agricultural science student with a
passion to live in rural WA.
There is an opportunity for women
to become more involved in the
wine industry, particularly in the role
of judging. While there are many
women keen to become judges, it
is hard for them to get their ‘foot in
the door’.
Network News Autumn 09
I would like to establish a Great
Southern-based wine show which
not only showcases the potential of
the region but also provides women
with the opportunity to develop their
judging skills and foster the training
of women in the role of wine judging
over the next decade.
I hope to investigate how other wine
shows are run, develop my skills to
coordinate such a large wine show,
and obtain training in running notfor-profit organisations.
I see women as being innovative
and influential leaders and believe
the opportunities in the Great
Southern are endless.
7
across my desk
RRR Network News
Network News is published quarterly by the
RRR Network to share stories and photographs
from and about women living in rural, remote
and regional Western Australia.
The RRR Network was established in 1996
to bring together women in rural, remote and
regional Western Australia to recognise, promote
and expand on the contribution they make
to their communities. The Network is a joint
project of the State Government’s Department of
Agriculture and Food and Department of Local
Government and Regional Development.
Circulation for this edition is 8500. The
magazine is distributed free to regional
subscribers throughout Western Australia and
organisations in Australia and overseas.
Editorial material in RRR Network News is
copyright and may not be reproduced without
permission from the Editor. Views expressed in
Network News are not necessarily those of the
RRR Network.
DISCLAIMER: Inclusion of an advertisement
or sponsor’s symbol in the RRR Network
publications does not imply endorsement of
the product or sponsor by the RRR Network
and the Department of Agriculture and Food
and the Department of Local Government and
Regional Development.
RRR EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kerry Regan
EDITOR
Kerry Regan
RRR NETWORK OFFICE
RRR Network News
Tel (08) 9368 3182
Fax (08) 9367 4265
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 0429 370 960
Internet – www.rrr.wa.gov.au
REGIONAL EDITORIAL COMMITEE
Amanda Lovitt, Kate O’Keeffe and Nicol Taylor
RURAL, REMOTE AND REGIONAL WOMEN’S
NETWORK REFERENCE GROUP
Louise House – Watheroo (Chair), Trish Barron –
Port Hedland, Jenifer Collins – Northam, Karen
Crouch – Kalgoorlie, Kellie Guest – Esperance,
Penny Goldsmith – Kununurra, Kelly Howlett
– Port Hedland, Amanda Lovitt – Australind,
Natalie Manton – Yealering, Irene Mills AM –
Pithara, Kate O’Keeffe – Gnowangerup, Sally
Rayner – Bruce Rock, Nicol Taylor – Carmel,
Kirrilee Warr – Yuna and Dianne Westlake –
Carnarvon
Across my desk
Kerry Regan
Welcome to the first edition of Network News for 2009. This edition has a
theme of rural-city connections. Links between branches of the CWA, initiatives
like Farm Day, balancing rural life with professional roles and following a life ‘off
the beaten track’ across Australia are just some of the topics covered in stories
in this issue.
A new year sees a fresh group of faces join the Reference Group. You will find
an article about our 2009 Reference Group members on page three of this
edition. I would also like to farewell our retiring members who contributed so
much during their terms with the RRR Network Reference Group: Michelle
Beer – Perth, Kay Gerard – Kalgoorlie, Kathie Meldrum – Wongan Hills,
Eliza Thomas – Mullewa, Julie Walker – Port Hedland and Ros Hegarty –
Kununurra, who has retired from the role of Chair.
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural
Women’s Award is also featured in this edition of Network News. There were
six strong finalists in this year’s award. Congratulations to the winner, Kirsten
Skraha from Boyup Brook, and the runner-up, Doris Parker from Onslow.
The RIRDC Rural Women’s Award supports women with a vision for the future
sustainability of agriculture, including forestry, fisheries, natural resource
management and related industries.
The first edition of RRR Network e-news was distributed by email in January.
The e-news will develop throughout 2009 and provide information on regional
news, grants and awards, board and committee opportunities and events.
If you have not seen RRR Network e-news and would like to subscribe please
go to our website www.rrr.wa.gov.au or contact me.
I look forward to another productive year with RRR Network and encourage
you to submit stories and contact us with information of interest to RRR
women and communities.
Kerry Regan
RRR Network, Executive Officer
GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fiona Colbeck
Standing for Local
Government Council
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
Bruce Thorpe
Nominations to stand as a candidate for the October 2009 elections will
open on Thursday 3 September 2009.
DESIGN
Linkletters
PRINTING
Quality Press
NEXT EDITION
Theme: Winter women- recognising the
contribution that mature women have had in
their communities.
Deadline for copy for the winter edition of RRR
Network News is 15 April 2009. The next edition
is due in June.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
See subscription form on the back page or
contact the RRR Network office.
To find out about eligibility requirements, details about the candidate’s profile
document and other essential information about standing for council visit
the Department of Local Government and Regional Development’s website
www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/LocalGovt/Elections/Default.asp, or contact the Chief
Executive Officer of your local government.
Useful publications, such as Standing for Council and Frequently Asked
Questions about Local Government Elections may be obtained from your
Chief Executive Officer and can also be ordered from the Department.
For further information contact Vicky Nazer on telephone 9217 1448 or
email [email protected].
ISSN 1445-7210
8
Network News Autumn 09
l o c a l g o v e r nm e n t
t h r ee s p r i n g s
There’s a place for you
on your local council
By Annie Treloar
I lived my life just wanting to hide
from the world until one day, while
wallowing in self-pity, I realised I
was 42 years old and bankrupt—
not dead!
Annie Treloar is the President of the
Three Springs Council.
If you are a community-minded
person, your skills could really
make a difference as a local
government councillor. Annie
Treloar, President of the Three
Springs Shire Council, describes
her road into local government.
I learnt from an early age to take
responsibility for myself. I was born
in England, one of eight children,
and six survivors. My father
passed away when I was 11 from
pneumonia, leaving my mother with
six children from 6 weeks old to
12 years old.
I married at 17 and gave birth at 18.
I had three boys in all. We came to
Australia for a new start in 1971.
My husband and I needed a new
start; he had a drinking problem
and was prone to violent outbursts.
Ultimately we did not manage to
escape our problems simply by
moving country and eventually went
our separate ways.
The local deli was for sale and we
decided we would have another go
at running our own business. Within
the first year of taking on the deli
however, my husband was diagnosed
with cancer and passed away. I kept
on with the business, which I really
enjoyed, and also with the underlying
need to prove I could do it.
In 1995 a fire started in the
coolroom and burnt the deli to the
ground. I rebuilt the deli with the
insurance money and then sold it
when I remarried in 1998. My new
husband John and I moved to Three
Springs where he worked casual
jobs until buying his own business.
It was here that I was approached to
become a councillor. I thought, ‘why
me?’ I was the worst armchair critic
you could ever meet! I did realise
that I needed something to involve
me in the community, which I had
only previously done though my
businesses. So I nominated for the
position—and got in unopposed.
Becoming a councillor is something
I think every armchair critic should
do. It makes you understand the
complexity of communities and the
decisions you have to make on their
behalf. I was only a councillor for
eight months before I was
nominated for President. I have
been in the position now for 15
months and have never done
anything more rewarding or fulfilling.
The reason I have told you so much
about my life is to reinforce the fact
that I had no formal training for this
position. The only skills I had were
learnt in the lessons of life. We all
have these!
The Western Australian Local
Government Association or WALGA
provides training and support for
new councillors. This training is
fantastic. I continue to realise skills
I never thought I would have!
If you have come to a point in
your life where you are looking for
a challenge, I urge you to think
about becoming a councillor.
Making decisions on behalf of a
community is a big challenge, but
so very rewarding.
I met my second husband in 1984
and moved to Southern Cross
in WA the following year where
we started a drilling and blasting
business. All went well for several
years until 1992 when we found
ourselves bankrupt.
I was devastated to realise I had let
things get away from me like that.
As part of Australia Day Celebrations in Three Springs, Annie presented Bernadette Dalgetty
with a certificate for achieving Junior Citizen of the Year for Community Participation.
Network News Autumn 09
9
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
k e l l e r be r r i n
Paddock to boardroom
balancing act
By Angela Riley
Imagine my trauma thinking that
I, an accountant, was supposed
to shear sheep for the week! I was
quite relieved to learn that I only
had to follow Emma and Choofa, the
two kelpie sheepdogs, and push the
sheep around. That first trip must
have gone well; as the farmer later
said, ‘the dogs both approve so you
can come back’.
Angela couldn’t turn down Andrew Riley’s offer of two kelpies, a header and a road named
after her.
More than six years on, who would
have thought that a misdirected
joke would have resulted in my
voyage to the other side of the
globe? At the time of the now
‘infamous’ email from a friend,
I was quite happily enjoying a
somewhat magical existence
in Hong Kong. Life in between
frequent trips to China for my
American employer was filled with
sailing, fancy-dress parties, travel
and time with a myriad of friends
from all corners of the globe.
I was enjoying my position as
Director of Finance in charge of a
major corporate restructure in Asia,
and was finally using the skills
obtained while working as a public
accountant and acquiring my MBA
in the United States.
10
In response to a very cheeky joke
from a girlfriend, I sent off a glib
electronic reply—what I received
back would radically change my
life! All of a sudden I had a thirdgeneration farmer entertaining
me with witty, long distance email
conversation. Yes, I had hit that
reply button too quickly and had
misdirected my response to a
complete stranger. Before I knew
it, I had a ‘cocky’ in Explorer socks
and Blundstone boots showing up
for dates in Hong Kong.
It was inevitable that I eventually
made the trip south to Kodj Kodjin,
located about 45 km north of
Kellerberrin in the central wheatbelt.
As any farmer knows, there is
always plenty of work to be done.
Flying overnight and arriving in Perth
at 7 am was followed by a mad dash
to the farm for a week of shearing.
Network News Autumn 09
I have always jumped at professional
opportunities which have resulted
in me working and living in New
York, Chicago, Denver and Hong
Kong. The thought of moving to Kodj
Kodjin somehow seemed perfectly
sensible and who could turn down
the farmer’s offer of two kelpies, my
own header and a road named after
me? I pulled up stakes, married
Andrew Riley and spent the next
three years fully immersed in the
farm; learning about Merino sheep,
cropping and the management of an
agricultural business.
Looking back, I am quite sure that
my background as a city kid from
St. Paul, Minnesota, was less than
optimal for the creation of a primary
producer! My only ties to agriculture
were a dairy farming aunt and
uncle in North Dakota and a first
prize trophy for growing the biggest
zucchini at the nature centre.
My life could not have been more
radically different than the one I
had left in the northern hemisphere.
I am certain that I could not have
made this transition without the
endless support of Andrew’s
family and friends. Our neighbours
probably scratch their heads at the
three large satellite dishes on the
roof, which provides immediate
access to family and friends around
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
Angela clearing Christmas snow on her visit
back to Minnesota.
a truly enriching experience. My
work with MG has also allowed me
to draw upon my agricultural and
corporate experience. This has been
particularly true as the organisation
has evaluated various agribusiness
opportunities provided to MG
Corporation in the expansion areas
of the Ord agricultural scheme.
It has been invaluable to have a
frame of reference when discussing
issues such as GM cotton, sugar
cane production and forestry.
Angela embraced the change from an international career in accounting to rural life in the
wheatbelt of WA.
the world and has been a necessity
to my wellbeing. Besides Skype and
the internet, I can even watch the
United States evening news and
‘Oprah’—a particularly American
pastime. While I enjoyed many
aspects of rural life, I was beginning
to miss facets of working in my field
and definitely missed working with
a diverse variety of people on a dayto-day basis.
I am now in my third year of
board work with two very different
organisations; WA’s regional power
corporation Horizon Power and
MG Corporation, the Aboriginal
Corporation in the Kimberley region
that is the beneficiary of the state’s
Native Title settlement for the Ord
River area. While not intended, both
of these positions have tied in well
with my farming experience.
A farm accident (@#*!ing post
hole digger…) and a spinal fusion
gave me the encouragement to
step back from certain roles on the
farm. As fortune generally steps
in when necessary, this provided
me with the flexibility to return to
my professional career on a parttime basis. I quickly realised that
working as a professional director
would provide me both the level of
work that I wanted and the ability to
remain engaged with the farm. It’s
also provided a plausible excuse to
get out of my least favourite farm
jobs such as yarding the rams.
Horizon Power provides electricity
services to regional areas of WA.
It has helped greatly to understand
the specific challenges of regional
electricity service provision; the
necessity of facing harsh climatic
conditions, thinly populated
areas and great expanses of land.
Combining my farming experience
with my financial and accounting
background has also enabled
me to effectively Chair Horizon
Power’s Audit and Risk Management
Committee.
Working with the MG people as their
sole Independent Director has been
Network News Autumn 09
In line with WA’s ‘fly in-fly out’
culture, I have embraced a ‘drive
in-drive out’ lifestyle, commuting
three-and-a-half hours between
Kodj Kodjin and Perth on a regular
basis. From Perth, I routinely travel
throughout regional WA. In addition
to my directorships, I have also
started to facilitate governance
programs for the Australian Institute
of Company Directors. Facilitating
these professional courses has
added a new dimension to my
career and, while it is a bit daunting
to present in front of individuals who
are often more experienced and
skilled than myself, I am enjoying
this new challenge. It has also been
a fantastic platform for meeting
people in a wide variety of industries
and professions.
As I approach the age of 47, I am
depending on the second half of life
to be even more interesting than the
first. Sitting with friends in a café
in Minnesota this holiday season,
surrounded by glistening snow and
fairy lights, a dear friend exclaimed
that, ‘out of all the people in the
world I know, you have the most
interesting and unusual life!’. That
is a reputation that I look forward
to living up to.
11
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
G n o wa n ge r u p
Women in rural, remote and regional
areas face many challenges when
it comes to shopping with only
infrequent and hurried visits to the
city. Reference Group Member Kate
O’Keeffe shares her experience with
internet shopping.
Over the past few years, through
necessity, I began to experiment
with a little e-tail therapy, or internet
shopping, to lighten the load on
‘the list of must-do’s’ that we take
with us to Perth on each trip. I have
discovered some wonderful internet
sites and tricks which ensure that
my purchases are genuine, the
payment method is secure and that
I won’t be disappointed when the
item arrives.
Using my internet shopping skills I
was able to Christmas shop at home
in 2008, on my couch with my
laptop in front of me, while enjoying
a glass of wine. The internet offered
an opportunity to alter my rushed
Christmas shopping patterns.
E-tail therapy
By Kate O’Keeffe
time into sourcing the exact gift for
each family member than I had
in previous years battling it out in
crowded shopping centres.
By browsing ‘safe’ sites and finding
exactly what I was looking for I
felt genuinely happy with each
purchase. Perhaps contributing
to this is that decisions were
I was certainly not alone in this
mindset, with The West Australian
newspaper reporting that almost
30 per cent of all West Australian
Christmas shopping would be done
online in 2008. My 75-year-old
father-in-law joined in the trend,
purchasing some DVDs for gifts on
the internet, proving that this form of
e-tail can be for everyone!
I can honestly say that by browsing
on the internet over a few evenings
I was able to put more thought and
Purchasing products through the internet
can provide a convenient and less stressful
alternative to conventional shopping.
12
Network News Autumn 09
made in a time-rich, stress-free
environment. What’s more, in many
cases I was able to put a tick in the
‘giftwrap please’ box and type out a
thoughtful card to go with the gift,
so that when my parcels arrived
they were beautifully presented and
ready to be placed under the tree.
How wonderful is that!
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
Internet shopping can be daunting and sometimes a little tricky,
which can lead to disappointment and stress. Below are a few hints
that I have learnt that are important to consider before reviewing your
internet shopping trolley and clicking on ‘pay now’:
1. Always look to see if the site you are viewing has a contact
phone number, or email address. Contact the seller by phone
if possible.
2. Create a PayPal Account so that you do not have to put
your credit card details over many internet sites.
3. Use a credit card with a limited balance (say $1000) just in
case a site is fraudulent or has the possibility to be corrupted.
‘
…I was able to put more
thought and time into
sourcing the exact gift for
each family member than
I had in previous years
battling it out in crowded
shopping centres.
In the past twelve months I have
purchased costumes for school
plays, toys for the local toy library,
sports equipment, pool chemicals
and equipment, camping gear,
farm resources, computer and
home office supplies, and maybe
the odd fashion item! If I had tried
to source some of these items
while in Perth I would have been
travelling all around the city! And
who wants to battle traffic while
listening to grumbling children in the
backseat—not this country girl.
4. Some of my favourite sites do not have a point of sale on their
website, but contain images and distributors throughout Australia.
Shop over the phone while on their website and make your
purchase over the phone. When you are next in the city call in
and introduce yourself—it will make the next transaction you do
far more friendly and familiar.
5. Be very aware of your time frame. Purchases made in e-stores
can take a few days to process and then need posting.
6. Be sure to read the return and refund policy of the site.
They are often the same as in-store shopping, but it is a good
idea to be sure as you will have to foot the cost of postage
both ways, and this could be an expensive exercise if you are
exchanging a bulky or heavy item.
7. Take the time to shop around, just as you would in a shopping
centre. Many sites offer the same product. Just before you
purchase spend two minutes checking for a comparison on
eBay. You can search specifically for the exact item you are
about to purchase and it can often be found for a fraction of
the price.
8. Build up a bank of your favourite ‘safe’ sites. They will be a
bonus to you when time is tight!
Australian companies have
invested millions of dollars into the
development of their websites and
webstores. It could be argued that
those companies which do not have
a sophisticated e-store are missing
out on a niche in the market.
So if you dislike shopping, or
have simply been waiting for
the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at
internet shopping, let this be your
gentle push of encouragement.
Network News Autumn 09
13
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
W o n ga n H i l l s
Farm Day: giving city
families a taste of modern
farm life
By Libby Stickland
the ‘haunted’ house (of course it’s
not really haunted); riding in the
tractor and driving in the beach
buggy. We even drove to the old
town dam to explain how we used to
get water ‘in the old days’ and how
our dogs get cool in the summer
swimming in the dam.
The city girls go for a ride in the beach buggy.
Farm Day is a national initiative encouraging farm families to host a city
family for a day of real hands-on experiences on a farm. The program
hopes to achieve a greater understanding of the day-to-day life of the
farming family. Libby Stickland’s family was one of the many in WA that
participated in the program last year.
Our Farm Day began by greeting
our visiting family from Rockingham
mid-morning at the farm house in
Wongan Hills. We had arranged for
the family to stay the night since
Rockingham is such a long drive.
Sleeping arrangements were cosy
and everyone had to bunk down
where they could fit a mattress.
Thank goodness for old farmhouses
with large bedrooms.
We were in the middle of seeding
our crop, so it was a really good
time to see a wheatbelt farm in
action. Our operation is quite small
but to the visiting family everything
was of massive proportions.
The weekend provided a chance
for us to give our city family a taste
of farm life. We managed to fit in
feeding cattle, sheep and an orphan
calf; cleaning out troughs; exploring
We ventured to the local pub for
dinner on Saturday. Everyone has
to experience what a country pub
meal is like. That was definitely
a winner as city ‘pubs’ are not
usually somewhere you can take
the family for a Saturday night meal.
Everyone woke up Sunday morning
to a cooked breakfast. This was
wonderful for us too. We only have a
hot breakfast on special occasions.
The whole weekend was extremely
enjoyable. It was a real pleasure
to be able to share our passion
for farming in the wheatbelt with a
family from the city. The genuine
interest that the city family showed
in our livelihood was heartening and
it was encouraging to know that
we can do our bit to show that it
is not all doom and gloom in rural
Australia.
We are all looking forward to
welcoming another family for Farm
Day in May this year.
Farm Day provides an opportunity for city families to see how modern
farms operate, and how they contribute to our daily lives.
The host farm and their guests are personally matched based on criteria
such as the distance they are willing to travel, ages of children and
special interests. There is minimal paperwork and contact with families is
done through emails and phone calls.
Learning how to shut the gates designed
for clever cows.
14
Farm families and city families can register to take part in Farm Day
through the Farm Day website www.farmday.com.au or on 1300 36 70 36.
Network News Autumn 09
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
wellington mills
Country Cousins bed
and breakfast network
By Cheryl Rourke
Rural women have found an innovative way to boost the family income
and to connect with people travelling to their regions from the city, other
regions of WA, interstate and even from overseas. A network of bed and
breakfast and farmstay accommodation, called Country Cousins, provides
‘off the beaten track’ holiday accommodation across WA.
There are now 27 women who are
hostesses in the Country Cousins
network. They are wonderful
ambassadors for their region; most
have lived in the region for their
adult lives.
Kim Wesley, pictured in the countryside of
Wellington Mills, is a Country Cousin in the
Ferguson Valley.
The network of Country Cousins was
formed in 2002 to promote country
experiences for those who wanted a
holiday experience away from town
centres. As a network, individual
operators can introduce their guests
to the joys of interesting country
stays on properties which offer more
than just a bed and breakfast stay.
They provide useful information
about the attractions the region
boasts and give clear instructions for
travel and for other experiences to
be had further along the road with
another like-minded cousin.
Guests can try their hand at
shearing on a wheat and sheep
farm, spotlighting, and daily activities
on a north-west cattle station.
Or they can discover amazing rock
formations, follow the enchanted
trail of world renowned wildflower
blossoming or sample the delicious
produce at a winery or olive grove.
They eat the best fresh local
produce and enjoy the wonderful
home cooking of their multitalented
hosts. All in all, it is a truly unique
Australian experience on the land
away from large city centres.
The network also runs annual
conferences hosted by its members.
This allows the Country Cousins
operators to see other regions of WA
and to interact with other members
who share their homes and lives
with tourists from all around the
world. In this way, the cousins
become true ambassadors who are
equipped to share the delights of
country WA with their guests.
The network of Country Cousins
operators is a successful one and
many of the hosts and hostesses
have, over time, become friends.
We are proud of our network and its
achievements.
To learn more about the Country
Cousins WA Farmstay Bed and
Breakfast network and how you
can be involved go to
www.countrycousins.com.au.
To promote the range of country
experiences which could be
explored in WA, a website and a
brochure were developed. Word
of mouth recommendation has
also been kind to the network as
travellers tell of the enterprises
which are varied and relate their
experiences of first-hand farming life
on properties all over WA.
The one common experience that
is offered by Country Cousins
members is country hospitality
and a wonderful country breakfast
served in the hosts own home.
The motto for the group is ‘Country
Hospitality, Country Style’.
Country Cousins guests enjoy a wonderful country breakfast served in the host’s home.
Network News Autumn 09
15
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
bunbury & Perth
Sister branches build
rural-city bonds
By Amanda Lovitt
The Country Women’s Association, or CWA, is synonymous with salt
of the earth women living and contributing to communities in rural
Australia. However, there are also city members and the Thornlie branch
keeps in friendly contact with their sister branch at Bunbury.
The Thornlie and Bunbury
branches of CWA are known as
sister branches and are part of a
group within the organisation who
are bridging the gap between city
and country.
It all started many years ago when
a member moved from Thornlie
in Perth to the Bunbury area. She
thought that the women in each of
the branches had a lot in common
and would enjoy each other’s
company. So, for the past decade
or so the groups have travelled to
see each other, hosting wonderful
events, giving gifts and opening up
the lines of communication between
two very different places.
In December last year, Thornlie
travelled to Bunbury to have
Christmas lunch. The meal was
cooked by the Bunbury members
who also had gifts for each of the
‘
… the groups have
travelled to see
each other, hosting
wonderful events,
giving gifts and
opening up the lines
of communication
Perth women and then entertained
them with comedy acts. The Bunbury
girls are renowned in the area for
their singing group ‘Chicks With
Attitude’ and for their comedy acts,
often starring Dulcie Hartzer who is a
past Citizen of the Year of Bunbury.
Margaret Pettit is the President of
Bunbury branch; a very elegant lady
with wonderful hospitality and public
speaking skills who makes a great
hostess for the Christmas lunch.
Colleen Anderson is President of
Thornlie branch who returns the
favour for a Christmas in July each
year and is keen to continue this
new tradition of bringing the two
branches together.
The Thornlie branch is a very
talented group of craftswomen who
create some excellent and unique
pieces like the wall-hanging made
as a gift to their friends at Bunbury.
They also hold regular craft stalls in
their area of Perth.
The Thornlie branch of CWA specialises in
craft and made a banner as a gift for the
Bunbury branch.
16
Network News Autumn 09
Bunbury and Thornlie branch Presidents
Margaret Pettit (standing) and Colleen
Anderson enjoyed the Christmas lunch in
Bunbury last December.
In addition to their two festive
gatherings each year, they meet half
way in Pinjarra for a social day and
lunch in the Heritage Rose Garden.
Many members of both branches
attend the CWA State Conference
each year.
The two branches have shared
many experiences during their
meetings and discussions over the
years. The interaction provides
the women, and their extended
networks, with greater insight into
the issues affecting each other in
their different communities.
The bonds created between these
sister branches are helping in many
ways to link groups of women from
diverse areas and interests.
w o m e n in l ea d e r ship
shackleton
Leadership evolves from
an inspired read
By Pat Hughes
Pat Hughes explains how an idle moment turned into an adventure with
exciting opportunities at a state and national level in a new role as the
Vice-President of WA Women in Agriculture and the WA representative on
the board of Australian Women in Agriculture.
I was sitting in a doctor’s surgery
when I first heard of Australian
Women in Agriculture. I picked up
its publication ‘The Buzz’ magazine
in the waiting room. I have lived
on farms for most of my life; dairy,
grain and sheep in Australia and
dairy and piggeries in Sweden, so
I have an interest and empathy for
agricultural women.
My involvement in WA Women in
Agriculture was well-timed and
coincided with the organisation
of the annual Australian Women
in Agriculture conference held in
Perth during 2006. This was such
a successful event which hosted
a variety of workshops from belly
dancing and laughter therapy to
being an effective board member.
That was in late 2004. By 2007
I had joined both the Australian and
WA Women in Agriculture, taken
on the role of Vice-President for
WA Women in Agriculture and was
co-opted onto the Australian Women
in Agriculture national board as the
WA board representative.
Along with high profile guest
speakers, such as Janet Holmes
a Court, and tours of agricultural
businesses and research
institutions; there was something
for everyone. Like most things in
life, you reap what you sow and the
tremendous amount of hard work
put in by the team really paid off.
My second national conference,
held in Canberra in 2007, was a
highlight. Senator Judith Troeth gave
a thought-provoking presentation
emphasising the need for greater
representation of women on
agricultural and community boards.
WA Women in Agriculture Pat Hughes,
Vice-President; Christine Thompson,
Treasurer and past RRR Network Executive
Officer; Suzanne Wood, President and
Jeanette De Landgrafft, Secretary.
The national conferences provide an
excellent opportunity to see other
agricultural areas across Australia
and network with some committed
and ‘big picture’ rural women.
It’s interesting that a casual browse
through a magazine could catapult
me into such an exciting journey.
I really enjoy working at a state and
national level with women who strive
to build and strengthen networks
to improve communication and
opportunities for agricultural women.
Members of Australian Women in Agriculture have access to a national
email forum to share information, concerns and celebrations, a website
with information on events around Australia and up-to-date information on
agricultural related topics, and subscription to ‘The Buzz’ magazine.
Australian Women in Agriculture President
Elaine Paton caught up with Maggie
Edmonds, the 2008 WA RIRDC Rural
Women’s Award winner, in a recent visit to
WA to profile the new AWiA website and
catch up with past and present members.
At a state level, WA Women in Agriculture provides an opportunity to network
with local agricultural women and get involved with WA projects, workshops,
presentations by guest speakers and special events, such as the RIRDC
Rural Women’s Awards.
For further information on Australian Women in Agriculture go to
www.awia.org.au or WA Women in Agriculture email [email protected].
Network News Autumn 09
17
w r i t in g
G r eat s o u t h e r n
The harvest from hell…
By Kate Fureh
This year will always be one to remember
We started out sane and went mad by December
The year started so well—we had cash in the bank
But things went downhill our hopes quickly sank
Costs went through the roof but our crop had potential
To make money this year good yields were essential
But on one frosty night our hopes were dashed
And to top it all off the stock market crashed
Eliza
Photograph by
Harvest storm.
Thomas.
Grain prices plummeted—they said they wouldn’t!
We rang our marketers for help—they said they couldn’t!
So we focused on harvest but things went awry
When rainclouds started to fill the sky
It drizzled in the mornings—it rained at night
We had the heater on in the header—this just wasn’t right
The moisture meter became like our right arm
We’d test on the hour all over the farm
Bogged chaser
bin.
We take tests from the header, the silos, the truck
But the moisture won’t change—just our bloody luck!
We take tests to the bin praying our meter’s not right
But it tests even higher like we thought it just might
The men start to mope—they hang round at home
Complaining about the wife’s use of the phone
Wayne
arvest for
rupted h
is
d
a
s
a
It w
n.
of Borde
Stubber
But a list of home duties placed where they will see
Has them racing to the shed where they’ll stay till tea
A day in one paddock quickly turns to seven
Hughie’s plumbing must be faulty up there in heaven
The weatherman’s forecasting more and more rain
The bank balance is starting to feel the strain
The barley’s gone mouldy the wheat’s sure to sprout
There’s more rain in the gauge, who cares what amount
December rain in Gnowa
ngerup
provided a good excuse
for William
O’Keeffe to have a day
off school.
18
Christmas is cancelled we’re on spending restrictions
This constant rain is causing relationship frictions
But it’s been like this before and one thing that is true
Our mood may be dark but our beer will be too!!
Network News Autumn 09
w r i t in g
A L B A NY
Botanical artists draw
inspiration from
the regions
By Ellen Hickman
Artist and botanical consultant, Ellen Hickman, is the youngest member
of the Botanical Artists Group of Western Australia, more colloquially
known as the BAGs, and one of seven artists featured in the publication
Brush with Gondwana. Ellen lives in and draws her inspiration from the
Great Southern Region.
The unique flora of
WA is one of its greatest assets. The
BAGs group showcase this asset in
our frequent exhibitions where all of
the artworks are WA floral subjects.
We bring the flora of the regional
areas into the public domain.
Ellen Hickman in her Albany studio.
I draw because it feeds my soul.
I am a scientist and an artist and
botanical drawing is the perfect
meeting of these two disciplines.
Albany is a great base for both
these aspects of my life. Sometimes
a particular plant takes my fancy
and I must draw it. Other times it
is a commission so the choice is
the client’s.
I have lived in the Great Southern
Region since 1995. I moved from
Perth to start a job as a botanist
looking after the threatened flora
of the South Coast Region. I did
this for four years before going to
Melbourne to study a Diploma of
Illustration. I returned to Albany in
2001 and now work as a botanical
consultant and an artist.
I do lots of field trips in the southwest. The field trips are mostly
botanical consulting jobs rather
than art related but I get lots
of inspiration for my artwork.
Unfortunately most of my botanical
consulting work is in spring when
the plants are flowering which leaves
little time for drawing.
There is something about a
botanical artwork that you don’t get
from a photograph of a plant. The
artist is able to emphasise aspects
of the plant and remove background
interference without compromising
botanical accuracy. And in some
cases I have found things that the
taxonomists haven’t seen or have
overlooked. When you draw what
you see you can’t overlook anything.
Network News Autumn 09
The majority of the members are
based in regional WA—Katie Syme,
Penny Leech and Margaret Pieroni
are all in Denmark, Pat Dundas is
in Pemberton, and I am in Albany.
Although Philippa Nikulinsky is
based in Perth she travels the state
extensively drawing and painting.
And Rica Erickson—well you could
write a book on her relevance to
country WA.
All the other members of the BAGs
group inspire me, particularly Rica
who was still painting into her 90s,
and Philippa, who has made such
a successful career from her art.
A lot of people ask us, the BAGs,
how they can get into botanical
art. Are there any courses? Do we
run courses?
Part of the inspiration to produce
a book about our group was to
give others an insight into how
we became botanical artists. By
reading the chapters on each artist
in the book people will see that we
all came into botanical art in very
different ways. My advice would be
that if you want to do botanical art
just start drawing plants.
19
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
n i ta d o w n s
A novel solution for
rural housing
By Kirsty Forshaw
We arrived at Nita Downs in a caravan, carrying a few jerry cans of water
and tins of food. With no phone or even a toilet, we set up a temporary
home with a pipe sticking out of the ground as a makeshift shower. At
this stage I was pregnant and had a two-year-old toddler. What on earth
were we thinking?
source in such an isolated location,
not to mention expensive. We had
help from my father and brother-inlaw, who is a builder. We also had
help from two of our staff who have
plumbing and building skills.
Kirsty and Damian Forshaw, pictured with
their children Lochee and Digby, used
sea containers to build their home on
Nita Downs Station.
After years of managing stations we
were keen to have a go at owning
our own so we bought a bare station
and began building up Nita Downs,
about 200km south of Broome on
the fringe of the Great Sandy Desert.
We started to work on ideas to build
a decent home for our family with
limited funds, because the priority
for any spare money was for cattle
and improvements to the station; I
am sure we were not alone there!
The sea containers were shipped
from Perth, some loaded with
building materials. The containers
are insulated with foam on the
outside and clad in Colorbond,
so the house actually looks fairly
similar to the style of homes popular
in Broome.
The house turned out to be
pretty big because we spread the
containers out under the large
roof. With the second-hand trusses
dictating the size, we had plenty of
room. The house is 312sqm with
five bedrooms, an office, bathroom
and a school room.
It was my Dad, who often comes
up with ‘interesting’ ideas, that
suggested sea containers. It took
a little while, but we eventually
warmed to the idea. Maybe we
became more open-minded like
my father, but I think it was actually
more out of desperation!
We had to carefully consider the
layout of our house, being between
the ocean and the desert. The
design uses the spaces between
containers to create breezeways
and an open-plan living and kitchen
area. Its orientation will stop the
harsh, hot desert easterly winds
in the dry season while using the
wet season’s cool westerly sea and
the ventilation design in the hot
summer months.
Using the sea containers meant
we could build the house ourselves
rather than try to get a building
company to do it. As you can
imagine, builders are very hard to
Minimising the use of airconditioning is essential because
we have converted from a diesel
generator to solar power.
We are proud to have 24-hour,
20
Network News Autumn 09
Digby and Lochee are happy with their
new room.
clean, quiet power using a resource
that is abundant in this part of
WA—sunlight!
With all the benefits of using the
sea containers the main one would
be their strength, particularly
since we are in a tropical cyclone
area. With the help of an engineer,
the containers are well and truly
anchored into the ground and it
would take a lot to move them.
So, after three-and-a-half years of
living in caravans, we have finally
moved into our new home and are
enjoying the space and coolness,
not to mention the toilet and shower!
I have even rediscovered housework
… so that is
what a mop
can do!
The second-hand trusses dictated the size
of the house with the containers spread out
under the large roof.
net works
P ORT H E DL A ND
Conference a catalyst for
Pilbara Women’s Network
By Trish Barron
The establishment of a Pilbara
Women’s Network was one of
the highlights of the Pilbara
Development Commission’s second
Women’s Conference and Expo.
The network will produce a regular
online magazine of events and
articles relevant to women in the
Pilbara.
TAFE hospitality lecturer Dianna Dawson,
TAFE apprentice chefs, chef Mark ‘The
Black Olive’ Olive and Yolanda Maruo.
Over 100 women from across the
Pilbara made the most of the Pilbara
Development Commission’s Pilbara
Women’s Conference and Expo held
over three days in Port Hedland in
October 2008. The fantastic lineup of guest speakers and variety of
workshops made sure that everyone
who attended got something out
of the conference’s Lifestyle,
Leadership and Learning program.
The conference kicked off with a
welcome event featuring a taste of
products from the Gingin region
of WA including wine, olives and
cheese. Gingin olive farmer and
winner of the WA RIRDC Rural
Women’s Award 2008, Ms Maggie
Edmonds, was the guest speaker at
the networking event.
There was an outstanding group
of keynote speakers including Dr
Fiona Wood, Dr Carmen Lawrence,
Dr Colleen Hayward, Ms Sue Ismiel
and Indigenous chef Mark Olive
(The Black Olive) entertaining
approximately 100 delegates.
The conference dinner, ‘A Taste
of the Black Olive’, was catered
by Mark who is well known from
his cooking show on the Lifestyle
channel. Mark lent his vast culinary
experience to local apprentice
chefs and hospitality students from
TAFE and Pilbara restaurants who
assisted him in creating a range of
sensational Indigenous taste plates
for guests to enjoy.
The program culminated in the
Women’s Expo which featured
a range of stalls, exhibitions and
workshops on a variety of topics
including landscape design,
lifestyle and wellbeing, parenting
and early childhood development,
wine tasting and women in small
business. The finale, a parade of
the latest fashions for summer from
Perth starring local ‘models’, was a
great hit.
Dr Fiona Wood enthralled the audience
with her stories of her life as a medical
intern in England.
The Pilbara Development
Commission will also hold a series
of Women’s Forums over the next
12 months as a lead-up to the next
conference in 2010.
The conference was a great
networking opportunity for the
delegates as well as providing
access to high calibre presenters
not readily available in the region.
The decision to establish the Pilbara
Women’s Network was a positive
outcome from the conference.
Jo Saleta, Clare Dimer and daughter Jada,
Emma Brownlow and Tammie Waddell
enjoying the conference dinner.
For further information about the Pilbara Women’s Network or the
Women’s Forums planned for 2009 contact Ms Kathryn Moelands on
08 9173 8415 or email [email protected]
Network News Autumn 09
21
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
Joy Hartley ‘living the dream’
Wat h e r o o
Joy’s husband had never wanted
to travel and told her she was silly
to even think about it. So for many
years the dream stayed tucked away
in the dim recesses of possibility.
After their divorce, Joy dug out this
dream. Joy says, ‘I thought it was
time to walk the talk, after all I was
a life coach. So I dusted off the
dream and, three years later it finally
materialised.’
Joy described herself as being a
home person lacking in confidence.
She had been a homecare nurse
running a business employing
20 staff that provided short-term
care in the home for the elderly.
She met Des, with whom she now
travels, who also wanted to come to
Australia—from an armchair.
Joy issued an ultimatum to Des. If
he wasn’t going, she was off on her
own. Within two weeks Joy had her
house rented, business reassigned
to other agencies, her gear packed,
had found a flat and the two of
them headed off for Maroochydore,
Queensland. Joy and Des have now
been criss-crossing Australia for
four years.
‘I have picked grapes and been
chased by bees in Cessnock,
cleaned mining dongas in Port
Hedland and tripped over in Karajini
National Park, giving myself a black
22
Never too late to live
the dream
By Louise House
Why would a successful businesswoman and grandmother with a close-knit
family in New Zealand suddenly decide at the age of 50 to leave it all to
travel the highways and byways of Australia? It seems all it takes is a never
abandoned childhood dream, a crinkly aged map saved through all the
house moves, and that itch that would never go away.
That was the beginning for Joy Hartley: nurse, businesswoman, mother and
grandmother. She is now one of the many travellers of all ages who provide
casual, seasonal labour to many rural and remote businesses throughout
Australia while living their dreams.
eye that lasted weeks! I’ve picked
strawberries in the Glass House
Mountains, cherries and citrus in
Gayndah, and driven a module
builder for harvesting cotton in
Gunnedah,’ said Joy. ‘I have packed
oranges with South African migrants
in Gingin, driven tractors for sowing
crops in Watheroo and packed meat
in a freezing works.
‘Snorkelling with the turtles and
fish at Exmouth and feeding the
dolphins at Tin Can Bay were
amazing experiences.
‘We once woke up in our van after
parking at night only to find we were
in the middle of a market! Stalls had
been set up all around us and the
people looking and pointing at us
must have thought we were nuts!’
Network News Autumn 09
‘
Joy celebrated her birthday in
Port Hedland.
I thought it was time to
walk the talk, after all
I was a life coach …
r u r a l - c i t y l in k s
You find yourself amazed with who
you meet. I used to have only a small
group of friends that I mixed with.
Now I have met life-long friends that
I would never have met had I not
come to Australia.’
Joy cleaned dongas at Port Hedland.
Like most travellers, Joy and Des
listen to Macca on Sunday’s ABC
radio to connect with friends and
find out what’s happening in rural
Australia. The internet allows them
to access job websites and talk with
other travellers in caravan parks
and on the road provides up-to-date
information of where the work is,
along with tips and advice.
‘I have met all sorts of weird and
wonderful people and learnt to
accept people for who they are.
The downside of travelling is
missing her family, especially her
grandchildren, her much-loved
home in New Zealand and being far
away when illness and death of her
ex-husband and parents occurred.
But this has been balanced by the
great people, fascinating places and
experiences Joy has had over the
past four years.
‘I’ve learnt that you can do anything
you put your mind to, particularly if
you have the passion. I was once
scared to even ask for a job. I used
to look at the map and wonder ‘what
would that place be like?’. Now I
have been there. I would never have
achieved any of this if it was not for
the passion inside me. I love every
minute of my life. My heart sings.
‘I want to leave my children the
legacy of achieving goals and
following your heart and passion, no
matter how long it takes. It is worth
the wait. Hopefully I can inspire
other women to follow their goals,
dreams and passions.’
Every day as Joy and Des got dressed in the
glamorous hair nets, white coats and big
boots needed for packing meat they laughed
and laughed at the sight of themselves.
Outdated pumps save
babies’ lives in Bangladesh
The Lutheran Aid to Medicine in Bangladesh (or LAMB) project is looking
for an older style of manual vacuum pump used to deliver babies that may
be sitting around in storage cupboards of WA hospitals. The pump saves
the lives of hundreds of babies at LAMB each year and often prevents
mothers from having forceps delivery or caesarean section. This type of
pump is exactly what works best at LAMB because it is not an expensive
electric machine that is difficult to maintain. Can you help?
Programs like LAMB are improving people’s health and education in these
poverty-stricken countries.
The generosity of Western Australians has allowed the LAMB project to
purchase obstetric related equipment. This equipment saves lives and money
and is used until it (literally) falls apart at the seams!
Robyn Edwards, a midwife originally from Manjimup in WA, has been working
in rural Bangladesh since November 2005 and was featured in the summer
2007 edition of the Network News.
Robyn’s full article and request can be found on our website—
www.rrr.wa.gov/magazine_articles.asp
Robyn Edwards pictured with the manual
vacuum pump used to deliver babies in
Bangladesh.
For more information about the LAMB project go to www.lambproject.org
or contact [email protected].
Network News Autumn 09
23
Send us your photo!
My view
The Davis River at Skull Springs east of Nullagine.
Silver cajuput trees shade the numerous
watercourses that crisscross the river bed.
It is a quiet and idyllic place to camp.
Photo sent in by Jill Harrison of Bunbury.
Network News would love to print your
colour photographs of WA.
Please send high resolution photographs
to [email protected] or prints to –
RRR Network News
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Locked Bag 4
Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983
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