Finalists vye for women's award

Four women have been named finalists in the West Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women's Award.

Gemma Moore, Jackie Jarvis, Maree Gooch, and Jodie Lane will contest the coveted award, to be announced on Wednesday, March 12, at the University of WA's University Club.

The WA winner will be awarded a $10,000 bursary from RIRDC to fund a project proposal.

This year, for the first time, the runner-up will receive $5000 and all finalists will receive $2000 from the Department of Agriculture and Food.

South West farmer Jodie Lane established an educational facility and demonstration farm called Fair Harvest out of a desire to promote local food growing.

If successful, Ms Lane planned to create a national Eat Local Week, which aimed to engage both growers and consumers using a combination of community-driven events and an interactive website.

Margaret River grape grower Jackie Jarvis, who is also the State manager of education and training service provider MADEC, manages Harvest Trail - a program providing seasonal workers for the horticulture industry.

Ms Jarvis hoped to use the winning bursary to create video postcards showcasing re-settled refugees working in agriculture.

Former ABC producer Gemma Moore, from Geraldton, is a business storyteller who aimed to create a space and opportunity for businesswomen in regional areas through the creation of a website, strong promotion and a willingness to share knowledge.

Maree Gooch, a facilitator and business development consultant, was keen to develop a pilot program offering four workshops to support and extend leadership skills of emerging and existing leaders and change agents.

It would empower rural women to develop themselves at a variety of levels including self confidence and personal efficacy, career paths, communication and presentation.

The 2014 Rural Women's Award is designed to identify and support women who have a desire to create beneficial change in the primary industry and natural resource management sector.

The State winner will represent WA at the national awards in October.