Every year I look back and think to myself, it’s been busy and its Christmas already. Is it just me? Somehow I don’t think so.
I would like to thank all the RGA staff for their hard work over the last twelve months. There have been a few changes brought about by an increase to the population of Australia. Congratulations to Rachel Kelly and Antony Vagg for the addition to their family in September. Rachel is planning to return after a six month maternity leave break. Leah Wythes opted to not return after her maternity leave following the birth of her second baby. Leah and Charlie have now settled in Hay, and we wish them all the best.
The RGA Team serving member interests are as follows:
• Graeme Kruger – Executive Director
• Claire Miller – Acting Policy Manager Water (to end of February 2020)
• Neil Bull – Environment Manager
• Carmel Cristofaro – Office Manager
• Belinda Lambert – Communications Manager
• Ainsley Massina – Leadership Coordinator
• Charleton Glenn – Policy Manager – Productivity and Industry Affairs (part time)
• Erika Heffer – Landcare Coordinator
Rice Extension Team:
• Troy Mauger – Coordinator
• Harriet Brickhill – Murrumbidgee Officer
• Charleton Glenn – Murray Officer (part time)
My thanks also go to Rob Massina and the RGA leadership made up of the Board and Central Executive. I remain inspired and in awe of the commitment and dedication shown to the organisation and industry. From my perspective, it is easy to follow good leadership. This year also saw the change in guard of the Presidency of the RGA, with Rob Massina taking over the reins from Jeremy Morton. I have already expressed my thanks and appreciation to Jeremy at his farewell function, I think it appropriate to also do so here. Thank you for your steady hand and respectful manner in which you lead the organisation during your tenure.
I did find it bit confronting reading my Christmas message from 2018 which was -“The industry and consequently our members are facing a number of challenges this year with the drought and disappointing water allocations in both the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys. The result of this is not much rice sown this crop year.” Sadly things are not better.
This reminded me of an inspirational book that I read a while ago written by Lance Secretan called ‘One’. For more information see http://www.secretan.com/keynotes/one/. The author shares Conscious Leadership through the transformative CASTLE® Principles for you to experience; How to regain personal Courage, How to live and lead Authentically, The importance of Serving, The power of Truthfulness, Why we must live in Love, How to radically improve our Effectiveness. An underlying principle of the book is the connectedness of all things. More than ever WE all (individuals, organisations, industry, communities and leaders) need to gain a better appreciation of ‘oneness’ if we are to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. I can highly recommend it and do have a spare copy if anyone would like to read it. Please contact me if you are interested.
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all the members and staff of the RGA a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Graeme Kruger