AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award: Victorian finalists revealed

The Victorian finalists for the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award have been announced. See who’s in the running for the state title.

THE Victorian finalists for this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award have been revealed.

Four women are vying for the title which will see them receive a $10,000 bursary towards the project they have devised to help their regional communities.

The award aims to help Australian women build on their skills that will help boost their industries and local communities, from providing nutrition and cooking education to using working dog classes to connect a community.

Kerryn Wildenburg, of Kyneton, has been selected for her idea to create a permaculture ‘Food Forest’ that will teach vulnerable people to grow and cook nutritious food.

Jackie Elliot, of Byaduk, is also in the running for her proposal to tackle rural isolation by providing communities with the resources to run their own International Rural Women’s Day events.

Katrina van Eyk, of Pyramid Hill, has been chosen for a project that will expand on an eight-week learn-to-swim program in regional towns to use neglected country pools and increase physical and mental health.

Dunkeld’s Kelly Barnes has plans to establish a working dog training school to increase practical skills as well as resilience and connectedness within the community.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes congratulated the four finalists.

“We are proud to support the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, and to acknowledge and support the essential role women play in rural and regional industries, businesses and communities,” she said.

The state award will be announced on March 24, ahead of the national award ceremony which will be held on September 15.