Events

The Road Ahead for Queensland Farmers, Rural Press Club Luncheon, United Services Club, Brisbane Friday Feb 12, 2010 12noon
Queensland's 25th Governor, Ms Penelope Wensley AO has a strong and very personal connection to Rural Queensland. As the Patron of AgForce Queensland’s “Every Family Needs a Farmer”, Her Excellency is promoting a better understanding of the critical role farmer’s play in our domestic food chain.  More information & bookings.

News

Belgium award winner at February 12 lunch
Congratulations to the three finalists selected for the Rural Press Club Excellence in Rural Journalism Award.
The winner, to be announced at  the first function for the year on February 12, will be off to the IFAJ World Congress in Belgium in April.
The finalists (in alphabetical order) are:  Pip Courtney, ABC Landline, James Nason, Queensland Country Life and Adam Stephen, ABC Country Hour, Cairns.
All three will also represent Queensland in national Star Prize Awards for print and broadcast journalism.
John Deere has sponsored the national print award for some years and Rabobank is the foundation sponsor of the broadcast award which has categories for both radio and television.
Australian winners will go on to contest the World Star Prize Awards in Belgium.

Alltech Award launched in Brisbane Entries are now open for the 2010 Alltech Young Leaders in Rural Journalism Award. This national award offers travel and registration to attend the IFAJ World Congress in Belgium next April.Alltech’s Emily Naylor launched the award at the Rural Press Club November lunch which featured a presentation by the 2009 recipient, ABC Country Hour Toowoomba-based reporter Arlie Douglas, on her experience at the Texas, USA Congress. The award is open to all financial members working in the rural media under the age of 32, with a single national judging. Entries close on January 15.  Full details here. (PDF) Pictured right at the Alltech Award launch in Brisbane were Emily Boyd, Alltech, the 2009 winner Arlie Douglas and Gordon Collie.

Rain is predicted, but is it too much?
Guests attending the Rural Press Club Christmas Luncheon enjoyed an informative lecture on hydrology and how this relates to the peanut industry by the outgoing CEO and Managing Director of the Peanut Company of Australia, Bob Hansen.  Full Article

$34 Billion Future
Primary Industries week began with a promise this year that by 2020, the value of agriculture in Queensland will triple to $34 billion according to the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Hon. Tim Mulherin. Mr Mulherin announced the ambitious prediction during his address at the Rural Press Club recently. Full Article

Belgium trip for top Qld rural journalist
The search is on again for Queensland’s outstanding rural journalist with a trip to Belgium next year on offer.
The Rural Press Club will sponsor the winner to attend the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists World Congress at the Thermae Palace in Ostend from April 17 to 21.
The Excellence in Rural Journalism Award in 2010 is open to financial members for a single piece of work, either print, electronic or on-line that was published or broadcast in the 2009 calendar year.
Because the conference is so early in the year, the deadline for entries will be Friday, January 8. View entry details here.  Check out the Belgium Congress at www.ifaj.org

Texan winner Pip shares her experience
The Club’s inaugural Excellence in Rural Journalism Award winner Pip Courtney is still recovering from her trip. The intrepid ABC Landline reporter was in Tasmania when she learned the good news and cracked a bottle of top local bubbly to celebrate.
Read Pip’s story about her USA and Texas visit

She also wrote a regular blog while travelling ABC SaddleUp

Jane Milburn becomes a life member

Eight years of hard work and dedication to the Rural Press Club has been recognised with Life Membership for Jane Milburn. The honour was bestowed at the 2009 annual meeting.
Jane was a driving force in revitalising our club with her many initiatives including the launch of this website.
  Read Jane’s nomination by Gordon Collie

Read the President's Latest Report

Country membership for just $20
The Rural Press Club has introduced a half-price membership category for people residing more than 100km from Brisbane.
This is expected to appeal to people with a rural interest who might be occasional visitors to the city and interested in attending one of the club’s monthly functions.
The new category offers the same priority email notices as regular and corporate members so popular events can be booked before they sell out.
It will also allow country journalists to compete for the growing list of awards on offer including trips to the USA for Queensland Excellence in Rural Journalism and the National Alltech Young Journalist Award.  Apply to become a country member online

Our 2009/2010 corporate members are: ABC-TV Landline , AgForce, Agricultural Management Company Pty Ltd, Anderssen Lawyers, Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, AustSafe Super, Avocados Australia, BANKWEST, CANEGROWERS, Commonwealth Bank, CSIRO Livestock Industries, Devine Agribusiness, Growcom, MacDonnells Law, McCullough Robertson, McGrathNicol, MLA, nab, QPIF, QRAA, Queensland Farmers' Federation, Rimfire Resources Pty Ltd, Rural Press Ltd, Sugar Research and Development Corporation, Suncorp Agribusiness, Thynne & Macartney, Williams & Partners .