A rural forum to examine ‘cracks in the system’ of rural industriers has been organised by the Gwydir Learning Region and the Gwydir Shire Council, in support of local rural industry.
The forum will be held at the Warialda Golf and Bowling Club on Friday, April 16, with a variety of guest speakers.
The aim of the forum is to provide local primary producers with the information needed to make informed decisions about how to make the most out of their farming and grazing businesses.
The program begins with registration at 8.30 am, with an official welcome by Gwydir Council Mayor, John Coulton.
Terry McCosker, founding director and shareholder of RCS Pty. Ltd, will begin the information session. His specialist areas include pasture management, ruminant nutrition and business management. His topic is The Challenges of Farming.
Jennifer Marohasy, sceptical of the consensus position on anthropogenic global warming, will talk on the issue of Water – Every drop counts.
Soil carbon will be in the spotlight with speakers Michael and Louisa Kiely from Wellington, convenors of the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming.
NSW Rural Woman of the Year in 2009, Kim Currie, is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Brand Orange project, and will discuss Making Change Happen.
The Brand Orange project is a wine, food and tourism initiative promoting and developing the Orange region.
Other speakers include Leigh Belbeck, from Bindaree Beef at Inverell, Don McRae of WHK Accountants, and Allan Chapman, Northern Region Manager (Fertiliser), Landmark.
The formal part of the day will conclude with an open forum from 4.15 to 5.15 pm.
A dinner will conclude the evening. Guest speaker will be Mark Coulton MP, Federal Member for Parkes, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Emerging Trade Markets.
Cost of the forum is $20 for the day session and $35 for the dinner on Friday night. Bookings for the forum can be made at either the Bingara or Warialda offices of Gwydir Shire.
