The Australian grains industry recognised the role women play in the paddock and beyond during a gala awards dinner held as part of the 2016 Australian Summer Grains Conference on the Gold Coast this week.
But the highlight for many was the gala awards, where the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) presented the prestigious 2016 GRDC Summer Grains Women in Farming award to New South Wales grain grower Leslie Hathway.
Leslie and her husband Mark Hathway run a 3200ha enterprise on Wyuna, at Mullaley, between Coonabarabran and Gunnedah. It is a mixed operation with summer grains, winter crops and cattle.
The mother-of-four is renowned for her commitment to the grains industry, her community involvement and her passionate quest for knowledge to improve on-farm practices.
The Hathway’s agronomist and consultant Jim Hunt described Leslie as ‘driven and persistent’ and a strategic planner in agricultural business, playing close attention to detail and with an innate ability to identify production issues.
The award recognised Leslie’s straightforward approach to farming, where her focus is on “having a safe working environment where learning is prioritised, being a good neighbor and a business operator with integrity and being profitable for the long term”.
The GRDC also honoured the significant contribution of women to the grains industry, presenting the 2016 GRDC Summer Grains Women in Agriculture award to industry identity Maree Crawford.
Fittingly, Maree is also the chair of the Australian Summer Grains conference and has been an articulate advocate for women in agribusiness, speaking out this week about the need to engage, support and mentor young women considering careers in the grains sector.
She is currently Elders technical services manager for the northern region, covering New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Maree is committed to providing growers with solutions to increase productivity and profitability.
She has also been instrumental in orchestrating practice change in the grains industry by encouraging the adoption of new technology on-farm.
“It feeds the world and it is such a great honour to join a raft of amazing women who go out there every day and make a difference,” Maree said.
She intends to be a mentor for women in the grains sector and create an environment where “ability is indifferent to gender”.
