Grower groups welcome extra $4.4m support

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Camera IconCurtin University agriculture and food discipline lead Sarita Bennett, Southern Dirt TECHSPO coordinator Jessica Bantz, Southern Dirt chief executive Tracey Hodgkins, DPIRD livestock development officer – Northam Katherine Davies. Credit: Cally Dupe

The room was loud and smiles were wide when more than 70 people gathered at Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s South Perth headquarters for a State Government announcement which was music to many people’s ears.

WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced a $4.38 million, four-year investment in Grower Group Alliance to help GGA support WA’s 44 grower groups, who welcomed the announcement.

DPIRD staff and resources will be assigned to the GGA in a bid to boost knowledge-sharing and efficiencies between growers and scientists.

Camera IconDepartment of Water and Environmental Regulation strategy senior manager Cath Lyons, DPIRD WATARI manager Kerrine Blenkinsop and CBH senior corporate affairs adviser Rebecca Lawson. Credit: Cally Dupe
Camera IconGrower Group Alliance board member Erin Gorter, UWA agriculture and environment professor Philip Vercoe, and DPIRD development officer Tanya Kilminster. Credit: Cally Dupe
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Drinks, canapes and ideas flowed at the DPIRD event, which featured speeches from Ms MacTiernan, DPIRD director-general Ralph Addis, DPIRD research, development and innovation managing director Mark Sweetingham, and GGA chief executive Annabelle Bushell.

Camera IconSEPWA president Dan Sanderson, Nationals WA spokesman Colin de Grussa, and GIWA chief executive officer Larissa Taylor. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman, Cally Dupe

Grower group representatives at the event included West Midlands Group, South East Premium Wheat Growers Association, Southern Dirt, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Yuna Farm Improvement Group, Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group, Mingenew Irwin Group, the Gillami Centre, North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources Group and WA Hemp Growers Cooperative.

Camera IconWest Midlands Group executive officer Nathan Craig and Grower Group Alliance board member Jon Holmes. Credit: Cally Dupe
Camera IconGRDC acting senior regional manager Peter Bird and WAFarmers president Rhys Turton. Credit: Cally Dupe
Camera IconStirlings to Coast chairman Ken Drummond and WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan. Credit: Cally Dupe
Camera IconCorrigin Farm Improvement Group executive officer Veronika Crouch and DPIRD regional agronomy manger Vanessa Stewart. Credit: Cally Dupe/Countryman, Cally Dupe

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