Dairy leader takes out inaugural award

A young advocate for the dairy industry has taken out the inaugural WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award at the WA Young Achiever Awards.

Harvey’s Jessica Andony, 23, was one of eight category winners to accept an award at the event at Pan Pacific in Perth.

Ms Andony has become a leader within the close-knit WA dairy industry since graduating with honours from Murdoch University in 2014 — both in her professional role as the research and youth co-ordinator as Western Dairy and in a volunteer capacity.

As the WA co-ordinator for the Young Dairy Network — a Dairy Australia project that works throughout the regions with farmers support networks of young farmers — Ms Andony is kept busy organising regular educational and social events, and recently completed a trip to New Zealand with a group of YDN individuals to experience international dairy operations.

She has also played critical roles in promoting and managing awards and industry events such as the WA Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Awards and the Legendairy showcase at the Perth Royal Show.

However, it was Ms Andony’s professional, technical and emotional support to the 19 WA dairy farms impacted by the Yarloop fires last year that was considered by her peers as the most remarkable contribution, especially given her own family’s farm was among those impacted.

Her work in the fire response in the weeks and months after made a real difference to the recovery for the farms with which she worked, as she showed experience and empathy far beyond her years.

She has also played critical roles in promoting and managing awards and industry events such as the WA Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Awards and the Legendairy showcase at the Perth Royal Show.

Ms Andony has also volunteered as a group co-ordinator for the WA Youth Handlers Cattle camp, and has been a consistently high achiever or award winner in various cattle judging events.

The category winners each received a $1,000 Bartercard account, $1,000 cash and a magnificent trophy.

More in next week’s Countryman.

Award winners

Jessica Andony, 23 of Harvey – WAFarmers and Rural Bank Agriculture Award

Jennifer Edwards, 27, of Geraldton – Catholic Education Western Australia Young Leadership Award

Alister Yiap, 29, of Nollamara – The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award

Pavitra Aran, 26 of South Perth – School Drug Education and Road Aware Health and Wellbeing Award

Ryan Beckmand, 22 of Baldivis – WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award

James McCarthy-Price, 28, of South Perth – Scott Print Environment and Sustainability Award

Curtis Luck, 20, of Woodlands – Surge Fitness Sports Award

Dylan Collard, 24, of East Victoria Park – Awards Australia Community Service and Volunteering Award