Wheatbelt organisations announced as finalists in State awards
October 04, 2019 at 3:59 PM
Five committed and proactive Wheatbelt organisations have been named as finalists in the 2019 Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
The Awards are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural Western Australia.
Representatives from each of the organisations have been invited to the awards gala presentation dinner at the Hyatt Regency Perth on 18 October 2019 where winners from each category will be announced. Good luck to our Wheatbelt finalists listed below:
Category: Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Making a Difference Award
The Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network (WSFN) project encompasses 80 connecting routes with over 4,400 kilometres of roads across 42 local government areas within the Wheatbelt. The WSFN is committed to improving secondary road networks for the agriculture and transport industry in the Wheatbelt.
Category: Prime Super Business Achievement Award and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Economic Development Award
AGRIFresh of Badgingarra commits to promoting locally produced fresh fruits. AGRIFresh is a vertically integrated primary producer with a commitment to grow, pack and export premium quality fresh fruits, like mangoes and citrus, for domestic and international customers. They started with only two employees in 2006 and now have over 95 employees in the orchards, pack houses, regional office and head office. They adopt the “buy local” attitude, sourcing labour, material, fertiliser and equipment locally. AGRIFresh started exporting its Citrus brand, ZESTIE, in 2015. Recent revenue reached $4.5M and AGRIFresh was named the Export Council of Australia’s 2018 WA Exporter of the Year.
Category: RAC Volunteering Award
Beacon Progress Association (BPA) of Beacon has made a big impact on the quality of life in the Beacon community and beyond. Entirely run by volunteers, BPA works with community groups to facilitate communication, develop strategic economic plans and initiate projects for the future of Beacon. The Association has hosted many successful events including the 2018 Adam Harvey Country Music Festival. The BPA has built community facilities such as the Beacon Community Resource Centre, playgrounds and tourist facilities. They hold the Annual Community Crop initiative, assisting the town to be financially viable and they also host an annual community town clean-up called the ‘BIG BUSY BEE’.
Category: Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Making a Difference Award
The Wheatbelt Medical Student Immersion Program began in 2005 with a three year hiatus due to funding issues. Now, nine Shires are active participants in a rural and remote area health education program for medical students from the University of Notre Dame. Medical students in first and second year are billeted with families, where they learn firsthand about country life and the social determinants of health.
The families and workplaces that billet students are not paid and some families have participated from day one. Many of the doctors working in the Kimberley are graduates of this program which they credit as the spark that ignited their passion for rural and remote area health.
Category: Woolworths Community Group of the Year Award
The Moore Catchment Council Inc. of Moora hopes to increase environmental awareness. Moore Catchment Council is a small landcare group composed of local community volunteers who wanted to show off the natural assets of the Midwest as well as the threats it faces. The Moore Catchment Council holds The Last Stand, a community environmental awareness raising event, highlighting the Wheatbelt wildflower country. Over 400 people attended the 5-day event at Moora Performing Arts Centre. The event includes an exhibit of artwork, poetry and craft, interactive displays, guided bush walk and a symposium. The Last Stand won the Shire of Moora Australia Day 2019 “Event of the Year” Award.
View the full list of finalists here…
