By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
THIS year’s Parklea Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show’s Rural Ambassador Awards went to two very passionate and experienced young women.
Laboratory technician for Ridley stockfeeds Jess Murphy from Drouin was awarded senior ambassador and VCE student Giorgi Boucher from Marist-Sion College Warragul snatched up the junior ambassador award.
Ms Murphy had some previous experience as an ambassador, winning the sought-after award multiple times as a junior at Bunyip.
“I’ve got a little bit of an inkling for it,” she said.
Ms Murphy is a committee member for the Bunyip and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society and has participated in local shows, presenting cattle and exhibiting photography for more than 10 years.
“I am really looking forward to the show, I’m very lucky and excited,” she said.
This is the first time Ms Murphy has applied for the senior ambassador award and said the Pakenham agriculture show was the first of its kind she was a part of as a youngster.
“I have that connection with the Pakenham show and as it is changing and evolving, being involved in it and continuing the development of it is important to me, I help out where I can,” she said.
Entrants for the ambassador award had to complete an entry form, outlining their reason for applying along with a resume and were chosen on enthusiasm and knowledge of rural life and agricultural shows.
“It’s a good opportunity to link up young adults with our rural community and the show and be able to teach kids that might not have the opportunity about what’s out there,” Ms Murphy said.
“I recently asked a high school student what he wanted to do when he leaves school, and he said become a mechanic and travel. I asked if he had thought about being a mechanic on harvesting equipment as it offers the chance to travel all around Australia. He hadn’t,” she said.
With much experience and her own beef cattle stud in Labertouche, Ms Murphy said many students weren’t educated about the job opportunities available in the rural sector.
“Working in agriculture doesn’t just mean playing on a farm and working with cows and mud, there are so many more careers in agriculture that all link back to the rural sector, but students don’t have the knowledge.”
“You can work in an office if you want and still be in the rural and agricultural sector,” she said.
President of the Parklea Pakenham and District Agriculture and Horticulture Show Geoff Young said the ambassador role promoted the quality of young people in our area on a local scale as well as Australia- wide.
“Once they have competed locally, they have the opportunity to compete in their region and then for Victoria,” Mr Young said.
Junior ambassador Giorgi Boucher has been showing beef cattle at local and royal shows for six years and hopes to study agribusiness at the University of New England after high school.
“I hope to get into agronomy after university and start my own business, I did work experience with an agronomist and learnt about the benefits for farmers,” Ms Boucher said.
“Career-wise being an ambassador will open up a lot of doors and introduce me to a lot of people. I would definitely apply again and encourage others to as well,” she said.
Jess and Giorgi will be interacting with exhibitors and presenting prizes at the show on Saturday 21 March.
