The Country Women's Association (CWA) of New South Wales has always been a positive and powerful voice for rural people, and they hope to have even more influence with the appointment of a new Policy Manager.
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Adair Garemyn is already a key player in the state’s agri-policy sector and has been appointed to the position.
With the NSW election looming on Saturday, March 23, and the federal election following soon after, the organisation is intent on ensuring all parties know just where its members stand on key issues.
Danica Leys, CEO of the CWA of NSW, said the creation of a Policy Manager’s position confirms the organisation’s reputation as "a powerful and fearless advocacy organisation".
“We see this appointment as the logical next step for the CWA of NSW as we continue to lobby hard on issues our members see as important to their rural and regional communities," she said.
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"This organisation was founded on the basis of ensuring country areas received their fair share of resources and attention from government at all levels and that remains as important now as it was then.
“As the NSW election approaches we’ve been highlighting the issues that matter to country NSW and this is Adair’s first priority as she starts in this new role.
"She knows this policy space so well and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will assist us in furthering our policy objectives and pushing for change where we feel it’s needed most.”
Ms Garemyn had worked with NSW Farmers for six years in the ag/environmental policy side of the organisation and she said the focus on country NSW in her professional life was no coincidence.
“I grew up on a farm so I’ve always had an interest in rural and regional Australia,” Ms Garemyn said.
“The CWA of NSW is an organisation that shares this passion, where there’s a real and genuine need for policy and advocacy work with no other agenda beyond empowering and strengthening rural and regional communities.”
The drought is still taking a terrible toll on farmers across NSW so the need for assistance schemes remains high.
- Danica Leys, CEO of the CWA of NSW
Ms Garemyn said health and drought would be her immediate priorities, particularly with the elections just around the corner.
The CWA of NSW has processed more than 5,500 applications for its Disaster Relief Fund since July last year, with more than $9 million distributed to farm families under the relief scheme.
“The drought is still taking a terrible toll on farmers across NSW so the need for assistance schemes remains high and we encourage people who need some help to apply for one of our grants,” Ms Leys said.
For application information and criteria related to the drought relief grants go to www.cwaofnsw.org.au/droughtaid
People can also donate to the CWA of NSW Disaster Relief Fund, with donations tax deductible and able to be made via the CWA website at https://cwaofnsw.org.au/donate
