Local women feature

Fourth generation farmer, Rhonda Daly and winemaker Jill Lindsay were selected by artist Margie Fitzpatrick to feature alongside 18 other high achieving women from southern regional NSW in the highlight exhibit.

The Southern District display - which took six months to make and 10 days to install - was one of five showcasing regional produce in the show’s popular annual District Exhibits competition.

Being Year of the Farmer, Ms Fitzpatrick chose to recognise Australian women in agriculture, highlighting the efforts and achievements of perhaps some of the most influential women in the region in a range of roles.

Jill described the feeling as surreal while Rhonda said it was a privilege to be asked.

“It’s a privilege to be recognised for my work in agriculture and to be among women like Fiona Simson –NSW farmers Association president, and soil scientist Christine Jones – who is heavily involved in the carbon debate,” Rhonda said.

“It’s a privilege because it shows women are really coming to the fore – we are capable of anything,” she said.

Jill said it’s nice to see women recognised because they work hard behind the scenes in all facets of agriculture.

Both women have a passion for agriculture.

Jill has been a grapegrower and winemaker at Lindsay’s Woodonga Hill winery for 30 years.

Rhonda is a humus compost and biological soil consultant, helping farmers restore life to their soils and is the founder of YLAD Living Soils.

Her goal is to make a difference in agriculture and has organised and participated in workshops, field days, seminars and conferences throughout Australia, New Zealand, USA and Spain.

Ms Fitzpatrick transformed photos of each woman into a one metre by 1.2 metre – some even larger – portrait made out of various seeds, such as millet, canola, rice, linseed, sesame seeds and egg shell grit, for the display in Sydney.

The display surrounded arrangements of fruit and vegetables, fleeces, hay, grain and wine.

“I thought there were only going to be six women featured – when I got there it was huge!” Rhonda said.

Jill said the display came together really lovely.

“I haven’t been to the Easter Show in a long time, so this gave me a good excuse to go,” she laughed.