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ELDERS Young Achiever of the Year Award

(scroll down for previous recipients)
 

2007 Dr Paul Grundy, Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Biloela Qld. Dr Grundy has worked for over seven years as an entomologist based in Biloela in central Queensland. His roles at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Cotton Catchment Communities CRC have included a strong research/extension capacity focusing on the field application of IPM tools that has included predator releases, biopesticides, attractants and other Novel insecticides for the management of Heliothis and silver leaf whitefly. In recent seasons, Dr Grundy’s efforts and expertise have been central in the management of silver leaf whitefly outbreak situations on the Darling Downs and St George. He has made himself available as an expert resource for growers and consultants experiencing a very difficult pest for the first time. During the last 3 years he has taken on additional work in the Burdekin agricultural area of north Queensland over and above his current research project activities with the aim of developing feasibility benchmarks for cotton production in that region, as well as an understanding of appropriate cotton IPM practices. This work has since become his primary research focus as part of a team of people whose aim is to develop innovative solutions for sustainable cotton production in Northern Australia. Dr Grundy is also a member of the industry Transgenic and Insecticide Management Strategy committee (TIMS), and shares his knowledge and experience in both the northern cotton production system and the interaction of insecticide use and pest activity as well as transgenic cotton management.

2006 Sarah Hood, Director Sustainable Irrigation Systems, St George, Queensland Sarah Hood is the Director of Sustainable Irrigation Systems, a consultancy she established to service growers in St George and Dirranbandi and more recently Mungindi and Tallwood. Sarah has been a key player in the development of practical strategies for the measurement and improvement of the Australian cotton industry’s irrigation performance. She has also championed a more informed and improved water image of Australian irrigated cotton. In 1999 Sarah became the Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative Development Extension Officer based in St George and Dirranbandi. Her tenure saw her benchmark the current water use efficiency of the Queensland cotton industry and develop practical strategies for improved irrigation. Led by Dr Phil Goyne and Geoff McIntyre along with extension officers in each Queensland cotton valley, Sarah was part of a successful extension program team which won a Queensland Department of Primary Industries award in 2003. Having completed the four year RWUEI project in 2003, Sarah set up Sustainable Irrigation Systems (SIS). Sarah’s core business is irrigation evaluations using “Irrimate” irrigation evaluation equipment and software. In the 2005/06 cotton season Sarah along with employee Sarah Knights conducted 125 Irrimate Irrigation Evaluations which was almost double those conducted across the rest of the industry. In 2004/05 Sarah was employed by the NCEA Evaporation Mitigation Project to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of a range of evaporation mitigation tools. She conducted the field work that allowed for the validation and development of the Seepage Meter, currently being marketed through the Irrimate network, which has revolutionised the way evaporation and seepage from dams and channels is measured. Sarah has recently collaborated with Emma Carrigan (DPI&F) to work on a research project looking at the irrigation performance and economics of siphon-less irrigation systems. This project was developed in direct response to industry demands for more automatic, less labour intensive ways of achieving higher water use efficiency. In June 2006 Sarah became the first consultant in the south west region to prepare a Land and Water Management Plan on behalf of an irrigator and have it certified by the Queensland Government since the recent amendments of the Water Act 2000. Sarah takes great pride in highlighting the efforts of cotton farmers who are working towards maximising the productivity of every drop of water, minimising off target applications and impacts, and enhancing the communities which are supported by their industry.

2005 - Sandy Young, Australian Cotton Centre, Narrabri, NSW When Sandy Young began work at Narrabri’s Australian Cotton Centre (ACC) the centre was facing difficulties. Sandy became Operations Manager two years ago and has successfully implemented accountable management practices that have proven a turning point for the ACC. These practices clearly demonstrated what could be achieved by the centre and also accomplished consecutive operating profits within the business. Visitation has increased to between 30 and 50 visitors per day in high seasons with a growth of 40% compared to two years ago. Visitors are also spending more time in the centre. Where previously people were spending on average 30 minutes, with more informed staff and personal assistance, groups have more than doubled their length of stay. This has also resulted in increased sales, 48% over the past 12 months. Sandy met with Principals and/or Deputy’s of Regional Schools to promote ACC’s Education Kit, School Excursion register and the ACC itself. Over the last 12 months, more than 30 schools have visited the centre to broaden their knowledge of agriculture and the cotton industry. This increase has led to the introduction of special children’s programs, designed especially for school holidays and special occasions, and these programs have constantly attracted full sessions. Sandy is a keen on networking, having taken part in various industry activities, leading to increased support from industry and a bank of industry associate volunteers to assist with bus or school groups. This has also seen an increase in the number of functions held in the centre (by industry and community personnel). She has also secured and sourced additional funding from within the industry to develop a proposed “Water Exhibit”, an educational initiative addressing the industry’s high priority environmental issue.

2004 - Chaseley Ross, Policy Advisor Cotton Australia, Brisbane During her five years with Cotton Australia, Chaseley Ross has established herself as a leading lobbyist and spokesperson for the cotton industry. She has played an integral part in the successful implementation of the Best Management Practices (BMP) Program in Queensland and has used skills developed in the field to improve communication flows from the peak body to growers, government and stakeholders. Chaseley has taken part in national and international cotton industry, agribusiness and agricultural forums. Chaseley is widely acknowledged as one of the industry’s “young leaders” and regularly goes above the “call of duty” for cotton growers, achieving a number of victories for the industry. These include: • Securing significant government funding for the cotton industry’s Best Management Practices and Water Use Efficiency programs • Enhanced Cotton Australia’s profile among cotton growers, Government and stake holders • Successfully negotiated with Queensland Transport to improve transport options for growers • Established strong networks among Queensland’s cotton National Action Plan groups, State and Federal Government agencies and cotton industry. • Queensland Primary Industries Week 2004 – Environment Award for the Cotton Industry’s BMP program.