I rise to congratulate someone who is really worthy of recognition.
Last week, Carol Mudford from Dubbo in the Parkes Electorate was named as the winner of the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award.
This is such a worthy award that recognises the incredible things rural women are achieving, and no one is more deserving than Carol, who I have met a number of times.
Carol, like so many regional people, has skills in very diverse areas. She is both a registered nurse and an accomplished shearer, and she was moved by the suicides of three shearers to do something to help people in the shearing industry.
She started sHedway, an organisation that tackles suicide prevention and mental health support in shearing sheds across the country.
It is this combination of caring, innovation and commitment that makes a difference, and Carol is making a difference.
Congratulations to Carol, to the runner-up Isabella Thrupp, to all the state finalists and the nominees.
Business Awards
Speaker,
It is the time of year when organisations are recognising their outstanding businesses at business awards.
On Saturday, Regional Development Australia announced the winners of the Far West NSW Excellence in Business Awards.
Congratulations to the overall winner, Broken Hill Distillery, a business that offers distillery tours and produces award-winning gin.
Congratulations also to all of the other winners and nominees.
The Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also been recognised on a state level, winning Outstanding Local Chamber at the recent 2025 NSW State Business Awards.
As a former president of this chamber of commerce, I have watched the great work they do for many years.
I was also fortunate to attend the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce Santos Business Awards recently which also recognised some of the many businesses who strive to achieve great things.