The Northern Rivers Times
36 RURAL NEWS
January 11, 2024!!!
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW announces its finalists for the 2024 RAS Rural Achiever Award Inspiring and ambitious youth leaders are being recognised for their contributions today as the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) announces the eight deserving finalists in the 2024 RAS Rural Achiever Award. Beginning in 1989, the state-wide program celebrates the achievements of young people, aged 20-29 years, who are excelling in their chosen endeavours and helping to shape the future of rural and regional NSW. Yvette McKenzie, RAS Lead Councillor for the program, says being selected as a Rural Achiever finalist provides an incredible opportunity for future agricultural leaders to further develop their skills and grow their personal and professional network. “The RAS Rural Achiever Award is designed to reward young rural advocates for their hard work, passion and contributions to rural NSW, while also providing a platform
for professional development and enhanced leadership skills”, Yvette McKenzie said. “This year’s finalists have already demonstrated excellence within their local communities and proven themselves as exceptional rural ambassadors. We have no doubt that the Rural Achiever program will help to transform them into powerful voices for rural and regional Australia, while hopefully inspiring an even younger generation to follow in their footsteps.” The future leaders being recognised in 2024 are: Grace Pearce, Queens Pinch: A qualified Artificial Insemination Technician, Grace owns and operates ACE Genetics. Grace is extremely passionate about her local community is an active member of the Mullamuddy Bush Fire Brigade and Vice President of the Gulgong and District Campdraft. Grace Collins,
Armidale: Grace currently works across two school farms, supervising and assisting during agricultural shows and excursions as well as showing cattle on weekends throughout NSW. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Agriculture and aims to complete a Master of Teaching, as she sees the need for accurate and transparent education about farming practices to be taught in schools. Joel Maguire, Parkes: Holding both a Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Business with a major in Marketing, Joel has recently established Byng livestock as Co Principle, striving to provide reliable, consistent and profitable genetics to commercial producers, whilst also holding an animal health advisory role for AgriWest Rural. Shanelle Prescud, Ashtonfield: As a current Marketing and Communication Officer for a Charity and NDIS provider, Shanelle uses her numerous qualifications
to empower people with additional needs by supporting inclusion, while also striving to maintain the relevance of NSW agricultural shows and societies. Sally Lea Downier, Trundle: Holding a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Sally operates a sheep and cropping farm alongside her husband, while also Assisting primary producers and landholders across Western NSW affected by flooding, as a Recovery Officer for the Regional Recovery Support Service. In 2018 Sally founded “The Top Paddock”, a mental health service which delivers programs to rural communities. Rebecca George, Nyngan: After completing a Bachelor of Criminology in 2018 Rebecca moved home to the family farm where she unexpectedly developed a passion for agriculture. Rebecca is now involved with the family business and works closely with her local show societies to ensure rural communities
stay alive and connected. Kathleen Webster, Mattama: Holding a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours, Kate is improving the skills of workers in the meat industry as a project manager for MINTRAC while also championing youth programs for the Wagga Wagga Show Society and raising her family . Kate strives to encourage young women with children to continue chasing their goals and continue their own professional development. Emma Goodsell, Young: As the current President of the Young Pastoral and Agricultural Association, Emma is able to share her passion for rural communities with thousands of people though the Young show. When Emma is not using her certificate 3 in Engineering Trade – Metal Fabrication overseeing the operations within her family’s transport company, she is working hard to empower women in Agriculture through
various forums. The 2024 finalists have demonstrated innovation and initiative across a range of areas, from their professional careers to advocacy in education, mental health, the agricultural show community, and the wider agricultural industry. As part of the finalist program, RAS Rural Achiever finalists will receive an 8-day, behind the scenes experience at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show, as well as a share in $17,000 prize money, a complimentary 1-year RAS Membership, and an official Rural Achiever uniform provided by R.M. Williams and Akubra. One of the eight Rural Achiever finalists will be announced as the 2024 RAS Rural Achiever at next year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show and will go on to represent NSW at the National Rural Ambassador Competition in 2025.
Rural Australians twice as likely to die from preventable causes National Rural Health Alliance The further an Australian lives from an urban centre, the lower their life expectancy. They are also twice as likely to die from preventable illness. The latest research shows that rural men are 2.5 times and women 2.8 times more likely to die from potentially avoidable causes than those in urban areas. This statistic, along with demographic information, health risk factors, health outcomes, burden of disease, mortality and morbidity and health service funding and access, are some of the data provided in the National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance’s) Rural Health in Australia Snapshot 2023. The
snapshot also provides data on health workforce distribution in rural, regional, and remote Australia. “The statistics show that the further you are from an urban setting, the more likely you may die of disease
due to various factors, including the tyranny of distance and workforce shortages,” said the Alliance Chief Executive Susi Tegen. “Fit for purpose funding is critical to ensure that the necessary policy and infrastructure is in
place,” she added. The Snapshot shows that small rural towns of less than 5000 people, have access to almost 60 per cent fewer health professionals than major cities per capita, indicating continuing workforce and access
challenges in rural areas. Major cities have more choice and more General Practitioners and other health practitioners providing primary care compared to large regional centres, small rural towns, remote areas and very remote areas. Many rural people have no access to primary healthcare services within an hour’s drive from their home. They use Medicare up to 50 per cent less than those in cities, indicating that people rather not go through the difficult process of a long journey and long waiting time to access health care. As a result, the burden of disease in remote areas is 1.4 times that of major cities. “There is clear evidence that per-person spending on healthcare
is not equitable, and that this inequity is contributing to poorer health outcomes in rural areas,” said Ms Tegen. “The biggest deficits are in accessing primary health care which then leads to higher rates of costly and potentially preventable hospitalisations and increased hospital expenditure. This is a sad reflection on the rest of Australia, when not every citizen has the same access to a basic healthcare need. ” “We welcome the Government’s reforms and look forward to a rural health system reform that reflects population health need and place-based and led planning and service delivery, to address this discrepancy of health care access.” she said.
