Media Release
Central West family businesses set to gain from experts’ visit to Parkes
‘Family Matters’ – is a FREE Workshop on succession planning for family businesses to be held in PARKES 9am-4pm, Thursday 28 November, 2019
Registration Essential! Register your family online: www.nalag.org.au/familymatters
DON’T MISS OUT!
Family businesses in and around the Central West region will have the opportunity to receive valuable tools and advice on succession planning from a team of industry experts at a FREE, one-day workshop to be held in Parkes on Thursday 28 November 2019.
Following the success of a similar event held in Narromine earlier this year, the National Association for Loss and Grief’s (NALAG) ‘Our Shout’ program coordinator, Ms Brenda Baker, is hoping to improve the experiences of succession for a greater number of family businesses. “The workshop in Narromine was attended by over 120 people and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive,” she said.
NALAG’s ‘Our Shout’ program promotes positive strategies to improve well-being and resilience in rural NSW communities. “Communication in family-run business is crucial not only for financial success but also the emotional and mental well-being of all family members that are involved in the partnership. Family members that are able to express their needs and concerns in a way that is productive and supportive of other family members often leads to healthy and long term sustainable family partnerships that are able to weather the hardships of not only drought but of the many other challenges that face rural and regional communities,” said Brenda Baker.
The workshop’s expert panel will include Family Succession Advisor, James Hamilton and Succession Law Specialist, Claire Booth. Ms Booth says drought conditions should not deter families from succession planning, “The impact on the drought for some farming families has meant people are stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for things to improve before starting or finishing succession planning. However, what we’re hearing from the banking sector is if a family has been thinking about a succession plan now is actually a good time to sit down and discuss the options.
“Farmers rarely want a hand out, but a hand up – they want to be in charge of their future, and what happens to their land, especially when it comes to handing over assets or management to the next generation,” said Claire Booth.
Regional Development Australia Central West’s (RDA CW) CEO Mr Sam Harma added: “This workshop will ensure attendees from across the Central West are empowered with powerful new communication skills, take home checklists on how to approach the succession plan as well as insights from the banking sector as to how best approach the bank when things are tough, cash flow is low, equity levels are stretched and the impact of drought affects even the most informed plan. Family businesses are the back-bone of our communities and we’re positive that the new skills and tools learnt at this workshop will have positive outcomes across the region.”
The ‘Family Matters: Succession Planning Workshop’ will be held at Parkes Services Club from 9am-4pm on Thursday 28 November 2019 and is supported by: Regional Development Australia Central West, Parkes Shire Council, Rural Financial Counselling Service and the Department of Primary Industries’ Rural Resilience Program.
The workshop is FREE but registration essential. Registration is NOW OPEN and will fill fast.
To register or for more event information, visit: www.nalag.org.au/familymatters or contact NALAG NSW on t. 02 6882 9222.
*A downloadable FLYER detailing the event is available here or directly from the above website.
*It would be appreciated if you think this free workshop might be of interest to members of your community if you can distribute or post these flyers up on any relevant notice boards to help spread the word to assist families in our region.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brenda Baker | NALAG: www.nalag.org.au/familymatters | m. 0428 676 528 | e. brenda@nalag.org.au
Sam Harma | RDA Central West: www.rdacentralwest.org.au | t. 02 6369 1600 | e. admin@rdacentralwest.org.au
From Monday 18 November please contact Sam Harma directly via: m. 0448 288 698 | e. director@rdacentralwest.org.au
‘Central West Is Best’ Photography Competition – WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
RDA Central West received a number of excellent entries from all over the region for its inaugural ‘Central West Is Best’ 2019 photography competition. The winners were announced this week.
Competition was tough with the final shots selected thought to best showcase this year’s theme: ‘Agriculture and Tourism: Let’s Showcase Our Region’.
RDA Central West CEO Sam Harma, said the competition had achieved its aim of highlighting the region’s agriculture and tourism offerings each of which make the Central West so special.
“Our region is so diverse from Condobolin to Cowra and Oberon to Orange each community has a special reason to stop, shop, and stay.
“The winning shots encapsulate the wonderful mix of agriculture and tourism offerings that make the Central West such a distinctive region of the nation,” Mr Harma said.
The inaugural STEM Awards 2019 for regional NSW – showcase Central West schools’ winning approach to learning
Students across the Central West region have been given a significant opportunity to showcase their excellence in STEM-based learning gained during 2019. Schools have been invited to submit either existing projects they have worked on during the year, or if they feel inspired, they can submit totally new projects for consideration in the inaugural SISP STEM Awards. (more…)
Backing Cowra Small Business this October
Cowra’s Kendal Street. Image Credit: Cowra GuardianRegional Development Australia Central West is calling on local communities and visitors alike to shop local this October during NSW Small Business Month.
October is a month dedicated to shining a light on the fantastic small businesses which make the Central West such a great place to live, work and invest.
Mayor of Cowra Council, Bill West says the best way to support local business this October is to shop local and back local business owners with skin in the game.
“We are so lucky to have such a variety of unique shopping offerings in Cowra there is always a great bargain or buy on offer.
“Another vital way to support local traders is through the successful ‘Cowra Cash Card’ an easy way to get something special for friends and family and supporting local business in the process,” said Joran Core, President of the Cowra Business Chamber.
Orange female school students show off their girl power, morphing into tech superheroes!
More than 100 female students from three local Orange schools have been involved in exciting and engaging STEM Entrepreneurship workshops thanks to the support of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West and the STEM Industry School Partnerships Program (SISP).
Get SNAPPING! ‘Central West Is Best’ Photo Comp
‘Central West Is Best’ Photo Comp 2019 submissions have now closed. Winners will be announced shortly.
Call-out for the Central West to get snappy this spring!
Are you a budding, professional or social media photographer who loves to take shots of people, places and farm life that portray the heart and soul of the Central West region? Well, Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA CW) would like to hear from you!
RDA Central West is launching their inaugural ‘Central West Is Best’ photography competition. With $1,000 in prizes on offer, now is the time to focus that lens.
The theme for the photo comp is ‘Agriculture and Tourism: Let’s Showcase Our Region’.
RDA Central West CEO Sam Harma, said the competition was an opportunity to highlight the region’s agriculture and tourism offerings which make the Central West so special.
“Our region is so diverse from Condobolin to Cowra and Oberon to Orange each community has a special reason to stop, shop, or stay.
“When you think about the Central West you also think about our world class farmers. The drought is making things tough, but we can still shine a spotlight on our produce, our people and our passion for the land. Tourism and agriculture remain key pillars of our local economy, driving jobs and opportunities,” Mr Harma said.
This mix is also a core ingredient of the Central West’s tourism appeal. The attraction of agricultural tourism in our distinctive region means visitors can enjoy such diverse activities such as wine appreciation and picking seasonal fruit to attending one of our many regional farmers’ markets or packing a picnic for the races with locally grown produce.
“What better way to support these sectors than to showcase them in this way. There will be both Junior (under 18yo) and Open sections of the competition. So all school-age children are encouraged to get snapping too,” said Mr Harma.
Applications must be submitted via email to: admin@rdacentralwest.org.au by 5pm on Monday, 30 September 2019. Winners will be announced early October via social media. Hashtag any of your images shared on social media with #centralwestisbestphotocomp and #rdacentralwest
Please include a sentence or two about your image and why you think the ‘Central West Is Best’. Complete details and conditions regarding the competition can be found here.
FOLLOW US: Facebook: @RegionalDevelopmentAustralia and Instagram: @rdacentralwest for updates and to see if your image is featured or if it’s WON! Contact RDA Central West’s office with any queries: admin@rdacentralwest.org.au or t. (02) 6369 1600.
READ TERMS & CONDITIONS here. Make sure you read this document in full before submitting your entries, via email.
DOWNLOAD competition flyer/poster here.
Media contact: Sam Harma, CEO, RDA CW, e. director@rdacentralwest.org.au m. 0448 288 698.
STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) Program wins Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Excellence
Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA CW) has welcomed the STEM Industry School Partnerships Program being recognised with a state wide award through the 2019 NSW Minister’s and Secretary’s Awards for Excellence.
Scott Sleap, Mark Scott, Cheryl Best, Matt Scott
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Follow us! Join our Central West community to keep up to date
Facebook: @RegionalDevelopmentAustraliaCentralWest
Instagram: @rdacentralwest
Twitter: @RDAcentralwest
Hashtags: For RDA CW in general: #RDAcentralwest / or for Agribusiness Today Forum: #agribusinesstodayforum
NSW Farmer of the Year and the NSW Young Farmer of the Year
2019 Nominations are NOW OPEN!
These awards are designed to recognise excellence in the state’s agricultural sector. Who do you know in the Central West who works as a farmer or in any other primary industry enterprise who deserves a nomination? Both younger and older!
NSW Farmer of the Year Award is open to all farmers 36 years + in NSW and the NSW Young Farmer Award is open to NSW farmers aged between 18 and 35 yo. The winner of each category will receive $4k prize money while runners up receive $2k.
The awards are a joint initiative between NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and NSW Farmers’, with support from Safe Work NSW and The Land.
NOW OPEN, don’t miss out on getting your nominations in before the CLOSING date: 23 September, 2019. For more info visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/events/nsw-foty
First ever NSW Youth Summit on ‘Living with Drought’ Apply NOW!
Are you a young person (14-24yo) living in the Central West and impacted by the drought?
UNICEF Australia, with support from the NSW Government, is hosting the first ever NSW Youth Summit on ‘Living with Drought’. What a great opportunity to speak up on behalf of your friends, family and community and have YOUR say.
The Summit will be held in Lake Macquarie on 9-11 October, 2019
BUT applications CLOSE on Friday 30 August. Make sure you don’t miss out!
Visit: https://www.unicef.org.au/droughtsummit for more info or to apply.
Image credit: Forbes City Council/Forbes Advocate taken of Sally Downie, a young Forbes resident who is encouraging other Central West youth working in agriculture to apply.
Read more at: https://www.forbesadvocate.com.au/story/6302996/youth-urged-to-speak-on-drought/
Supporting the Central West’s growing region of entrepreneurs and innovators
Sam Harma from RDA Central West (R) and Gerarda Mader from Upstairs in Bathurst (L) discuss the newly launched Entrepreneurial Ecosystem map.Regional Development Australia Central West (RDACW) has launched the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem map to provide a visual road map for up-and-coming local businesses to help better understand, integrate and collaborate in the start-up/entrepreneurial professional landscape.
The map is about identifying and bringing together the organisations across the Central West that support aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses; from networking and start-up events, education, co-working spaces, advisory services, ideas incubators and accelerators through to commercialisation and investment opportunities.
To download a copy of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem map, visit: https://rdacentralwest.org.au/initiatives/entrepreneurial-ecosystem/
If you have a hub or business in the Central West that you think should be included on the map, contact Rebecca Taylor e. rebecca@rdacentralwest.org.au or t. 02 6369 1600.
Agribusiness Today Forum 2019 – Beefed up and ready to go in Cowra, 8-9th August. Register here!
Cowra is set to host a major forum for local beef, mutton and lamb producers and industry representatives with the annual Agribusiness Today Forum to be held on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th August at the Cowra Services Club.
The theme for the 2019 forum focuses on how to maximise red meat yields and business opportunities. The forum is expected to attract well over 100 delegates to town.
The two-day event will be addressed by a number of high calibre speakers including representatives from Meat and Livestock Australia, JBS and NAB. Delegates also have the opportunity to attend one of three field trips.
Registrations have NOW been EXTENDED! Book here: www.agribusinesstodayforum.com
