Mansfield sheep and cattle producer Kim Stoney is in the running for the state’s 2015 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award.
With a busy sheep and cattle farm and four young children, Kim has seen the learning benefits her children receive from growing up on a farm.
Kim developed ‘The Farmhouse’ Child Care Centre to encourage a learning environment for children based on the natural environment around them.
Kim’s project will deliver ‘The Toolbox’ to 200 early childhood services across Victoria so they may also experience nature-based learning.
The Rural Women’s Award is a prestigious award that identifies and supports emerging women leaders. The finalists were selected by an independent panel based on the strengths of their
projects – work that would benefit from winning the award – and their commitment to the sustainability of primary industries.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford will announce the winner at a ceremony at Parliament House on Thursday, March 19.
The Victorian winner will receive a $10,000 financial bursary to implement their project and have the opportunity to participate in the Australian Institute of Company Directors' company
director course.
The other 2015 Victoria Rural Women’s Award finalists are:
- Katie Finlay, a third-generation orchardist from Harcourt, who has diversified her business by writing and selling a range of information products for home fruit growers;
- La Vergne Lehmann from Dimboola, who works with rural communities to develop projects like community gardens;
- Dr Melissa Ferrier is a clinical psychologist with a special interest in neuroscience and rural mental health; and
- Amanda Garner from Birregurra, who runs an expanding catering business and has a passion for local food produce.
The award acknowledges women’s leadership capacity to effect change and build resilience in primary industries and rural communities.
