‘Really exciting’: Corrigin Farm Improvement Group expands staff from one to four after successful two years

A number of new friendly faces have joined the team at one of the Wheatbelt’s community farming organisations, after a string of successful projects fostered its expansion. It has been a tumultuous 12 months for the Corrigin community, which in February was devastated by the Corrigin-Shackleton bushfire, which tore through more than 40,000ha, destroying sheds and fences, as well as killing thousands of sheep. During that time, the Corrigin Farm Improvement Group — helmed by executive officer Veronika Crouch and a committee of local farmers — has remained steadfast, supporting those impacted by the horrific “firestorm”. Thanks to the passionate group’s hard work securing several successful projects in the past two years, the doors have swung open for more passionate people to jump on board. For the past eight years, Ms Crouch has been the only staff member, but this year, she is flanked by three new faces in Cindy Stevens, Caitlyn Burling and Heather Talbot. It is an exciting and welcome development for the passionate executive officer, who initially stepped into the role almost a decade ago, on a 12-month contract. “Over the past couple of years I’ve had in the back of my mind that I’d really love some help in the office, and not to be a one man band with my committee for too long,” Ms Crouch said. “It was just waiting for those opportunities to arise and the group to be in a financially viable state to be able to start putting on additional staff. “We’ve had a pretty good run in the last couple of years, with successful projects, which has allowed us to get to where we were fortunate enough to be in a growth stage and start employing.” While excited to be able to take some time off, Ms Crouch said being able to bounce ideas off each other and everyone to play on their individual strengths would allow both her and the organisation to thrive. “It’s been really, really good,” she said. “They’re playing on their strengths, they’ve got skills and strengths in other areas to mine which is great. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” The trio are employed on a part-time basis, with Ms Crouch remaining the only full-time employee. Kulin-born mother of four Ms Burling is working as the group’s communications officer, bringing more than a decade of rural journalism and communications experience to the team. “With four small children to corral on a daily basis, Caitlyn’s organisation, communication, peacekeeping and negotiation skills are top notch, believed to even rival the UN,” Ms Crouch said. “She has been known to love a chat and a good story, so the communications sector has always been a good fit for her.” Local farmer Ms Stevens is on board one day a week as the group’s natural resource management officer, a role which came about following February’s bushfire. “Cindy will be overseeing the NRM needs of the grower community and leading the bushfire recovery of the local landscape,” Ms Crouch said. “We believe her reservoir of NRM knowledge will be invaluable to our group and the wider community.” Ms Stevens has worked with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in landcare and farming systems roles in various Great Southern towns over the years, as well as teaching science in Corrigin. “She has an avid interest in livestock (mainly sheep), resilient farming systems and multipurpose tree planting, all of which she currently manages on their Corrigin farm,” Ms Crouch said. Ms Talbot has started up in a project officer role, helping manage the many trials and activities CFIG has on its plate to assist local agricultural businesses by providing information on production and environmental and economic sustainability. Ms Crouch said working with CFIG — which services the shires of Corrigin, Kulin, Kondinin, Bruce Rock, Narembeen and Quairading — had been extremely rewarding and she was looking forward to what lay ahead in the next 12 months. “It’s stressful, but it’s rewarding — so it balances out over time,” she said. “Having grown up on a farm, around farmers, you’ve got that comradeship and that mateship with them and you want to see them prosper. “You also want to see the industry do well, and good things come back in to your region. So I see this as a way that I can try and help the local bloke get ahead.”