By JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA Ranges’ WinHort group was recognised for its work in encouraging women in horticulture and agriculture at the council’s Australia Day Awards yesterday.
WinHort, which is an informal group of businesswomen from horticultural industries and agribusinesses in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, received a Certificate of Recognition at the ceremony at Burrinja on Monday 25 January.
Group co-ordinator Ilse Mathews said she was thrilled to receive the award.
“It affirms that the skills we develop in ourselves are valued by the wider community,” she said.
The group, which is made up of about eight women, organise activities to recognise the contribution of women in rural businesses and provides professional development tailored to their specific interests.
It was formed in 2001 as an initiative of then-Horticulture Australia Ltd to improve the numbers of women on industry boards.
With representatives of industries such as nurseries, berry farms, flower-growers, orchards, organics, vegetables and wines, the group has strong ties to many of the Yarra Ranges key exports.
Yarra Ranges mayor Maria McCarthy said that all of the award and certificate recipients were well-deserving of their accolades.
“I just want to congratulate them all – I’m very proud of all of them,” she said.
Each year, WinHort organises a dinner to celebrate International Women’s Day, with inspiring women from agricultural or rural backgrounds speaking to guests.
This year’s event will be held on Wednesday 25 February at Tokar Estate from 7pm, featuring guest speaker Bernadette Russo from Summer Snow Fruit Juice in Officer.
For more information on the International Women’s Day dinner, contact Ilse Mathews on 0418 301 614.
For more stories and photos from the Australia Day Awards and other events, visit mail.starcommunity.com.au.
