Great Southern Continues to Move Forward
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ISSUE 14, February 2008 Great Southern continues to move forward GSDC takes supportive role across many areas The Great Southern Development Commission and Cultural Heritage, and also supported the food specialist, who brought both erudition (GSDC) is continuing to address its core Western Australian State Coastal Conference and entertainment to a discussion on world activity of supporting economic development in Denmark. Both of these conferences food trends. Another visitor, Martin Walsh, across a broad front. addressed NRM related issues. Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Seoul, provided valuable insight into trading One of the major projects being developed NRM and ecological sustainability also with North East Asia. in the region, Plantation Energy’s biomass informed the Forum Advocating Cultural pelletising plant, moves closer to completion and Ecotourism (FACET) conference held The Great Southern Region Marketing and is due for commissioning early this year. in Albany. The FACET conference received Association (GSRMA) attracted a lot of This plant will bring employment and export support from the GSDC and we took the attention in Perth with two major functions benefits to the region. opportunity to outline our role in supporting and did the same in the region when the heritage and Indigenous tourism in the Great organisation presented its annual Taste Great Natural Resource Management (NRM), a Southern. Southern series of events. foundation stone for the GSDC, has seen a range of activities. The inaugural Jack Family The GSDC’s support of philanthropy through Taste Great Southern is part of the Perth Trust/GSDC scholarship holders in Restoration the Western Australian Community Foundation International Arts Festival (PIAF) Great Ecology at the University of Western Australia (WACF) continues to reap benefits. Two Southern program. Strong support from the Albany Centre have completed their first year more proponents, Fellowship House and GSDC and the regional public brought even of study and reflections from some of these the Denmark Community Future Fund, have more of what’s on in Perth - and some specific students are in this Bulletin. established donation accounts with support Great Southern attractions - to the area for the from the State Government and WACF. pleasure of both locals and tourists. GSDC joined with a number of government agencies to present the Stirling Range The region was fortunate to receive a visit from Symposium: Natural Resource Management Professor David Hughes, a world renowned North East Asian trade possibilities outlined inside this issue: Senior Austrade representative brings his expertise to the region South Korea is Australia’s - Great Southern moves forward ........1 and Western Australia’s - third North East Asian trade possibilities largest export market. Mr Walsh outlined .......................................1 characterised South Korea’s market as ‘sophisticated’ and Restoration Ecology scholarships ....2 one which imported a variety of PIAF celebrates long term goods and services, including commitment ..................................3 timber, health care equipment, meat, racehorses and beauty Sense of place in Stirling Range .....4 products. Woodanilling heritage tourism .........4 He said the key to marketing Great Southern produce goes into Asian markets was to Deborah Oberon outlines her export experiences to town ..........................................5 research the viability of your products in the Great Southern business leaders had the market. “There’s a lot you can do to define Value adding to timber industry ......5 opportunity to meet Mr Martin Walsh, Austrade’s your place in the market without getting on the GSRMA & FACET share tourism Senior Trade Commissioner based in Seoul, plane,” he said. outlook ..........................................6 during his visit to the region in December. The forum was also addressed by Frankland Local philanthropic organisations Mr Walsh discussed potential markets for a range Estate general manager Hunter Smith, who has move to self reliance ......................7 established a wine export market in South Korea. of products in South Korea and other North East Maynard Rye looks to retirement ....7 Asian countries at a forum in Albany. He noted that a desire to find a single large volume market in the area may lead to Global food expert gives local insight ...........................................8 Continued on page 2 Restoration Ecology Scholarship provides opportunity in the region Inaugural GSDC/Jack Family Trust scholarship holders reflect on ecology and tertiary education Winners of the Jack Family Trust/Great Southern Development Commission Scholarships in Restoration Ecology have completed their first year of full time study and report demanding but exciting times, with the expectation of more to come during Scholarship holders (L-R) Fiona Gerard, Rosanna Margetts, Daniel Debunnetat, Kylie Sadgrove 2008. and Ashleigh McMillan The scholarship holders are studying so she has some complementary skills to Daniel Debunnetat comes from a small towards a Bachelor of Science (Restoration support her study. farming community near Esperance. The only Ecology) degree which is only offered at male scholarship holder and a country boy the UWA Albany Centre and has been She’s taken time off from paid work at heart, his hobbies include roo shooting, designed with specific reference to the during the year and has put plenty of football and boxing. He also finds time to South Coast’s unique and fragile ecology. time into studying. “Maths and chemistry play soccer for Polonia and cricket for Many challenged me,“ she said, “but I needed Peaks. Restoration ecology involves the renewal to do them.” of degraded, damaged, or destroyed Daniel hopes to leave his mark on the ecosystems through active human Kylie is looking forward to joining the environment by using the skills and intervention. Employment prospects for workforce and is currently attracted to competencies that he will learn through graduates cover a wide range of areas minesite rehabilitation. She enjoys the completion of the Restoration Ecology including erosion control, reforestation, small classes and the supportive nature of degree. removal of non-native species and weeds, her class mates. the rehabilitation of waterways and mine Bruce Manning, CEO of the GSDC said, sites, the reintroduction of plants and Albany resident Ashleigh McMillan fits “We are particularly pleased to be involved animals and habitat improvement. study into a busy life which also involves with the development of this course in 2 part time work and representing Albany in Albany. The GSDC has a firm commitment The scholarships provide over $11,000 for volleyball. She loves the outdoor life and to developing sustainable practices in each student over the three year degree spends what little recreational time she NRM for the betterment of the region and course and can be used to cover upfront has these days on a long list of outdoor these scholarships signify that.” HECS fees or taken as a cash payment. pursuits including camping, snorkelling, Scholarship holders come from varying fishing, bushwalking, canoeing, cycling, Contact: Bruce Manning 9842 4888 backgrounds, but they share a love for the and 4X4 driving! outdoor life and a desire to be involved Continued from page 1 in the professional management of the A stint as a volunteer in a remote village in disappointment. His experience was environment. Nepal last year may inspire her to look for that amalgamation of a number of small a job in restoration ecology at an overseas contracts can lead to “quite big business”. Fiona Gerard is a mature age student location when she has completed her who has always been interested in the degree. Elemental Skin Care director Deborah environment. She grew up near Point Oberon is currently negotiating to export Peron so has seen first hand how heavy Rosanna Margetts comes from Denmark her range of organic skin care products industry doesn’t necessarily get on with and studied tourism at the Great Southern into the region. She urged business the environment. Fiona’s love of the College of TAFE before enrolling at owners to “do their homework” and outdoors was enhanced by spending 21 UWA. She’s always had an interest in praised the role of Austrade, “It’s a years of her life in New Zealand where Environmental Science. “A career advisor fantastic resource to have these people she enjoyed tramping and climbing in the at school once told me that I needed to on the ground to meet with the people mountainous terrain. study chemistry” she said, “ I wish I’d you are negotiating with,” she said. listened to him! I’m doing it now, and Fiona works as a registered nurse and is while it’s really quite interesting, I could Mr Walsh’s visit was managed by pleased that the scholarship allows her the use the background.” Austrade’s local TradeStart Export Advisor chance to reduce her paid work hours in Kate McKenzie. The Great Southern favour of study. Rosanna is enjoying the fieldwork Development Commission (GSDC) component of the course and finds the delivers the TradeStart program in the Kylie Sadgrove moved to Albany from students like-minded and interested. The Great Southern region in partnership with Perth especially to do the Restoration scholarship allows her to concentrate on Austrade. full time studies. Ecology degree. Kylie already holds a Contact: Kate McKenzie: 9842 4888. Certificate IV in horticulture from TAFE,