O’Connor entrepreneur Rural Woman of the Year, Crook

Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 01-June-2011

Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has congratulated a Wheatbelt resident on being named the Rural Woman of the Year.

Caroline Robinson, 28, hailing from the Wheatbelt town of Woolocutty in O’Connor was announced as the Rural Woman of the Year in Parliament House in Canberra last week.

The Rural Woman of the Year award recognises women who have made an exceptional contribution to rural Australia.

Ms Robinson is the driving force behind the Wheatbelt Business Network (WBN) – a service designed to promote local produce and regional tourism, and to provide networking, training and education opportunities for Wheatbelt residents. Mr Crook congratulated Ms Robinson on her success.

“Ms Robinson is a very deserving winner who has done some excellent work supporting and promoting our regional communities,” Mr Crook said.

“The Wheatbelt Business Network has certainly proved its worth over the last twelve months, providing essential support to regional businesses and communities through a very tough dry season.”

Mr Crook met further with Ms Robinson following the awards ceremony, and said he was very impressed by her plans to further develop the WBN.

“Already the WBN has the support of five local governments, and I expect this will only grow over the next year as word spreads around this success.”

Ms Robinson plans to further develop the WBN to develop a Buy Local marketing campaign for the Wheatbelt, along with a comprehensive marketing campaign for the entire Wheatbelt.

“Ms Robinson is a wonderful ambassador for rural women across Australia and I wish her all the best in her efforts to promote regional Australia” Mr Crook said.

Outside of promoting the WBN, Ms Robinson is a wheat and sheep farmer, and also runs a ballet class, teaching around 130 students across three local government areas.

To learn more about the WBN visit www.wheatbeltbusinessnetwork.com.au.

See this article on the member's website