MEDIA RELEASE
21 August 2009
New Advisory
The Advisory Board of Agriculture has a fresh new look, following its AGM in Victor Harbor on August 18.
The board is the governing body of the Agricultural Bureau and provides advice on agricultural matters to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Neville Ferme, from Wandearah East in the Upper North was elected as the board’s new chair and Richard Murdoch from Warooka on Yorke Peninsula as deputy.
New faces to the board included Fleurieu/Murray Plains representative, Amy Williams from Parawa, Geoff Page from Meadows, representing the Adelaide Hills, and Roslyn Willson from Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island.
Outgoing board members were Allen Meissner (Adelaide Hills), Shirley Pledge (Kangaroo Island) and Vic Walter (Fleurieu / Murray Plains) who all represented their regions for four years, and Trevor Wilksch, who retires after 10 consecutive years as the Barossa Valley representative.
Heather Baldock from Kimba (Eastern Eyre Peninsula) was re-elected treasurer and outgoing chair, Mark Dennis from Koppio (Lower Eyre Peninsula) was re-elected to the executive.
New to the executive team were Janette Ridgway from Wolseley (Upper South East), and incoming Fleurieu/Murray Plains representative, Amy Williams.
New ABA chair Neville Ferme said he was proud to be leading the new team with its diverse and wide-ranging skills and passion for agriculture.
“Each member brings with them professional, regional skills and knowledge, which will be essential in representing our fellow farmers in providing sound and timely advice to government,” he said.
“I am also very pleased to welcome our four new board members who will bring a fresh and youthful approach to the board’s strategic direction.
“I look forward to us thinking outside the square in seeking new ways of supporting our state’s farmers to take up new innovative farming methods and information sharing.
“The biggest challenge for our industry and the ABA in coming years will be encouraging and attracting young people into agriculture. Sexing up the ‘farming’ image is definitely something we need to address.”
Outgoing chair Mark Dennis thanked his fellow board members for their support over the past three years and said while it has been enjoyable, at times it was also heartbreaking with the ongoing devastation of drought.
“It’s been difficult, but at the same time rewarding because we worked through some huge challenges thrown at us by drought, bushfire and thousands of other issues that challenge us as farmers. I am very proud of what we have achieved,” Mr Dennis said.
