Young leaders ‘power trip’

Young rural women and non-binary students in Years 10 to 12 from across Australia will have the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime ‘power trip’ to the nation’s capital.

Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition launched on Monday, June 23, opening the door for young rural leaders to embark on a four-day leadership experience.

Country to Canberra chief executive officer Courtney Bailey said the power trip was about empowering young rural women and non-binary people to see their leadership potential, and the role they play in shaping Australia’s future.

“Young rural leaders aren’t just the backbone of their communities — they’re the changemakers driving innovation, equity, and resilience in regional Australia,” Ms Bailey said.

Country to Canberra is encouraging eligible regional high school, TAFE, and homeschooled students in Years 10 to 12 to enter the leadership competition.

For further details, visit www.countrytocanberra.com.au. Entries close at noon on Friday, August 8.

Banksia sculpture a winner

Campaspe Shire has granted the Gargarro Botanic Garden $30,000 to select, build and install an outdoor sculpture to enhance the beautiful Botanic Garden.

The Foundry Arts Space Echuca Moama was asked to manage the selection via an expression of interest process.

Nine submissions were received, each relating to the theme of ‘the botanic garden and the aspirations held for it and/or to Country, paying homage to the district’s First Nations peoples heritage’.

The panel faced a difficult task in narrowing the field down to one final applicant, but after extended deliberations, they settled on a unanimous winner, Julian Smith with his vision of a banksia flower.

The eight-metre-high banksia form will rotate gently using a stainless-steel shaft with industrial-grade sealed bearings housed within a concealed steel collar.

The Gargarro Botanic Garden Committee will work with Julian and Campaspe Shire to bring this vision to a reality, by late November 2025.

Women’s award 2025

Nominations are now open for the annual 2025 Greater Shepparton Women’s Award, celebrating the remarkable achievements of women in our region.

The award recognises women whose stories, contributions and actions have inspired and encouraged others to reach their goals, through embracing diversity and making a difference on gender equality.

The 2025 Women’s Award will be presented in partnership with the Soroptimists International of Shepparton Inc at an event on Sunday, September 14.

Nominations close at 4pm on Friday, August 1.

Nomination forms and further information about the Greater Shepparton Women’s Award can be found at shepp.city/womensaward

NFF and Tonga talk PALM scheme

The NFF and the Kingdom of Tonga have reaffirmed the importance of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.

The Acting High Commissioner of Tonga, Curtis Leonard Tu'ihalangingie, recently welcomed an NFF delegation to the Tongan High Commission.

NFF president David Jochinke said the PALM scheme was a vital contributor to both the Australian agriculture sector, and to the livelihoods of many Tongan families.

The representatives discussed potential areas for deeper co-operation, and mutually agreed it was vital to listen to both workers and employers when proposing changes to the scheme.

As of March 2025, there were 3480 Tongan workers participating in the PALM scheme in Australia.

Data key for farms

ABARES is conducting its annual farm survey program, the data from which will be used to inform responses to challenges such as drought and trade disruptions.

This year’s program is collecting data from farms across the country to provide the facts around how farms are performing.

ABARES officers will undertake face-to-face interviews with about 1900 pre-selected farmers throughout Australia from June to December.

ABARES executive director Jared Greenville said the surveys were a core part of the evidence base that industries and governments across Australia used in making policy and responding to challenges.

“The interviews cover questions about farm structure and land use, production, costs and other economic factors of the farm business,” Dr Greenville said.

“I’d encourage any farms selected in our surveys, to participate, to help ensure we create the best dataset we can.”

Emergency dashboard launched

Campaspe Shire Council has launched a new emergency dashboard.

The emergency sashboard is a centralised online hub designed to provide real-time, reliable information to residents before, during and after emergency events.

The dashboard brings together critical updates from emergency services, weather warnings, road closures, relief centre locations, and community alerts in one easy-to-navigate platform.

“We know that during emergencies, people want clear, consistent and local information. This dashboard ensures our community can access the latest updates from trusted sources, all in one place,” Mayor Daniel Mackrell said.

“We’re proud to be leading the way in emergency preparedness for our community, as one of the few Victorian local governments to implement this type of tool.”

The emergency dashboard is now live and can be accessed via council’s website at emergency.campaspe.vic.gov.au

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Wednesday, 4th February 2026

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