30 October 2026. Louise Martin, AgForce South West Queensland Regional Director.
It's been a busy few weeks across South West Queensland, with one of the highlights seeing AgForce at the Channel Country Ladies Day in Quilpie from 16-18 October.
More than 300 people came together for what was a fantastic weekend, and the recent rain certainly added to the positive atmosphere.
There were plenty of conversations at the AgForce stand, including about proposed changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and what they could mean in practice for producers and their businesses.
Those conversations continued through our recent EPBC Roadshows across the South West, where we've seen strong engagement from producers keen to better understand the reforms, ask questions and share their experiences.
It's something I'm particularly proud of in our region. South West Queensland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to engaging on the issues that affect us. Whether it's EPBC, biosecurity or the many other challenges facing agriculture, our producers turn up, contribute and make their voices heard.
The rain has also been wonderful news for many across the South West, providing an early break and giving parts of the region a really positive start heading into summer. Unfortunately, as is so often the case out here, it hasn't fallen everywhere, and there are still producers waiting for their turn. Here's hoping there's more to come for those areas that have missed out.
There's also some good news for next year, with AgForce South West receiving funding from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) to support rural first aid training. We'll have more to share as plans develop, so watch this space.
Finally, I want to say a very big and heartfelt thank you to our Regional Manager, Kerrie Cribb, who is leaving AgForce after four years.
From the moment I became involved, Kerrie made me feel incredibly welcome and supported, and I know so many of our committee members and producers across the region would say the same.
Kerrie has been a fantastic advocate for South West Queensland and a wonderful support to our members, our committees and our regional community. Her commitment to the region has been greatly appreciated, and on behalf of all of us, I wish her every success and happiness in whatever comes next.
Thank you, Kerrie. You'll certainly be missed.
