A NEW national award has been launch to celebrate influential contributors to Australias $3 billion wool industry.
The Australian Wool Industry Medal was launched at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Friday by Federation of Australian Wool Organisations chairman Robert Ryan OAM who said the aim was to recognise men and women who had made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the Australian wool industry.
This is a positive initiative for the wool industry as it will bring forward nominations of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, Mr Ryan said.
To be acknowledged by your peers is one of the highest accolades possible.
The Australian wool industry is the worlds largest and is recognized globally as the leader in fibre quality, professional standards, not only in that area but in research. This award will enhance the profile of an industry steeped in history and achievement.
Mr Ryan called community organisations, professional bodies and those across the wool industry to nominate extraordinary people from woolgrowing, shearing, education, science, wool classing and fashion, for consideration for these awards.
The inaugural Australian Wool Industry Medal will be presented to medal recipients at the National Wool Week dinner on 24 August 2017 in Melbourne.
In a statement read at the awards launch, Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce said it was a timely to celebrate the contribution of men and women to Australias wool industry as wool prices hit levels not seen since the late 1980s.
The good times in agriculture have returned, and much of this success is due to those who are tirelessly championing in their industries and regional areas and supporting our national economy, Minister Joyce said.
The hard work by all those across the Australian Wool Industry contributes not only to individual businesses but flows out to our communities and other industries.