Holm-grown talent Rebecca Duffy named Tasmanian Rural Woman of the Year
A WINEMAKER has taken out this year’s top Tasmanian rural women’s award.
Food and Wine
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A WINEMAKER has taken out this year’s top Tasmanian rural women’s award.
Rebecca Duffy, who manages Holm Oak vineyardin the Tamar Valley, believes the state is well-positioned to become one of the world’s greatest touring destinations for agricultural and wine tourism.
She will be spreading the word on a tour of wineries throughout Australia, the United States and South Africa with the help of the $10,000 bursary prize.
Mrs Duffy was named Tasmanian Rural Woman of the Year at an event last night in Hobart.
“There are massive opportunities with our island destination ... to create one of the best world-class experiences,” Mrs Duffy said.
“I was surprised to win the rural women’s award considering the calibre of finalists.”
Other finalists this year included: cherry marketing guru Lucy Gregg, of Reid Fruits; rare-breed pig farmer and gourmet food producer Fiona Stocker, from Langdale Farm; and medicinal cannabinoids researcher and Verdantec chief executive Davina Gregory-Dunsmuir.
In the past nine years, Mrs Duffy has driven growth at Holm Oak from a vineyard producing 1500 cases of wine a year to 12,000 cases annually.
This year, Holm Oak harvested 200 tonnes of grapes.
A new winery has also been built, a bottling line installed and the original, modest cellar door has been expanded into a tourism destination.
Mrs Duffy said she would explore ways to build on the brand.
“With this award I can study cellar-door experiences across the world with the aim of creating a new, exciting and dynamic experience that offers more than just tasting,” Mrs Duffy said.
Announcing the award winner, Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said this year there had been an excellent and diverse field.
“This is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of Tasmania’s rural women,” Mr Rockliff said.
Sally Murfet, who works with the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association on the Agriskills project aiming to match skills and training needs in the workforce, won Tasmanian Women in Agriculture’s encouragement award.
Ms Murfet receives a $1000 bursary and will visit education and workforce development specialists in Queensland and New Zealand to see how they are attracting the next generation to work or study in the industry.
TFGA chief executive Peter Skillern paid tribute to the award winners.
“Innovators like Rebecca are the future of agriculture in the state. The work she has done at Holm Oak vineyard, and within the Tasmanian wine industry, is to be commended,’’ he said.
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s Tasmanian rural women’s awards are the pre-eminent awards for women working in primary industries across the state.
Last year’s Rural Woman of the Year title went to Tamar Valley hazelnut grower Carol Bracken.
MORE: TOP GONG GOES TO HAZELNUT GROWER
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