Background

I grew up in Ireland, where I always enjoyed the outdoors and being around animals. From a young age I developed a love for travel, which led me to spend a year exploring New Zealand after finishing school. I then returned to the UK to pursue a degree in Agriculture with Business Management at Newcastle University in Northeast England. After completing a harvest in England, I ended up in Western Australia, where I experienced a harvest that was vastly different from the one only a few months before. Driving large machinery in wide open spaces, without the need to reverse into tight grain sheds, was a great experience. I spent a few months travelling the south coast of Western Australia before I secured a sowing job in Dalwallinu, about three hours north east of Perth, and when COVID-19 hit, this is where I was lucky enough to be. This was also where I met my partner – he’s from Mulwala, which is how I ended up in this beautiful part of the world.

Drawcard to Riverine Plains

After working on farms for three years, mainly driving tractors, I applied for a job with Riverine Plains following a recommendation from a friend. To be honest, I had never heard of a farming systems group before and was curious to know more about their work.

My role at Riverine Plains

I have just ticked over two years with Riverine Plains as the Member Engagement Officer. During this time, the organisation has grown massively, which has been great for local research and extension. My role here includes chatting to farmers regularly to uncover pressing topical issues and seasonal challenges, as well as linking farmers with relevant information. I do a lot of data capture behind the scenes, which is vital for reporting on our current projects and for securing funding for new projects. I’ve also recently taken over the social media channels, so make sure you follow and like!

Highlights

October 2022 was a tough time for farmers in the Riverine Plains. Many farmers were seeing crops they had cared for all year, and poured thousands of dollars into, end up covered in water. Getting farmers together during this tough time, listening to them talk and learn from each other was something that really stood out for me. I was really impressed with their resilience, and how they were able to respond and adapt to such a disappointing end to the year.

Another recent highlight was being able to organise Riverine Plains’ first working dog training school. When working with livestock you cannot underestimate the importance of a good dog to improve efficiency and reduce stress for both the stock and farmer, and it was fantastic to see such an improvement in the dogs and their handlers in just two short days.

My influence in Ag in the Riverine Plains region

It has been a fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub as the NE Node Adoption Officer. Going forward, my aim is to continue to increase engagement with farmers across the region and increase participation in our projects and programs. Farming systems groups, like Riverine Plains, design projects specific to the constraints and characteristics of their local farm businesses, which can help farmers realise the value of their research levies and Commonwealth investment into agricultural innovation.