Sub sections:
March 1998
Newsletter
Newsletter of the Institute of Australian Geographers Inc. Rural Study Group
| Vol. 4, No. 1 March 1998 |
| Editorial |
| From the Convenor |
| Rural Study Group Draft Constitution |
| Members' News |
| Upcoming Conferences |
| Rural Study Group Web Page |
| New Books |
Editorial
Welcome to the first edition of the Rural Studies Group Newsletter for 1998. Much as I dislike issuing forecasts of foreboding, fear and loathing, 1998 does look to be shaping up as an 'interesting' year (in the Confucian sense). In Australia, we will be making our pilgrimage to the polling booths later this year in a federal election in which rural issues will play a prominent part. The current debate over the Federal Government's response to the High Court's Wik judgement threatens to divide Australian society, and aspects of rural society like few other issues have hitherto. Such is the importance of this debate that a special joint paper session between the Rural and Cultural Geography Study Groups has been organised for the IAG Conference in Fremantle later this year. The Government's proposed privatisation of the two-thirds of Telstra remaining in public ownership should it win a second term also raise a number of important issues for rural communities - these will form part of the 'contested terrain' of the election campaign.
The restructuring of the tertiary education sector continues unabated both sides of the Tasman, as Mike Roche testifies on page 5. Given the political and economic climate, and the demographic structure of the university sector in Australia and New Zealand, then, it is timely for members to consider rural research life outside of academia. To this end, Ian Bowie offers some advice to those considering consultancy as the way to a busy, satisfying and thrifty semi-retirement. Also inside is the revised draft of the Group's constitution. Unless anyone has further suggestions, this will be the version of the constitution that members will vote to adopt at the business meeting of the Group in Fremantle. Please have another look at it. Apart from this, there is plenty of members' news, upcoming conferences and the like. happy reading, and looking forward to hearing from you a little later in 1998.
Neil Argent
From the Convenor
Nineteen ninety eight is shaping up to be a busy and eventful for one for our Rural Studies Group. News of members' research activities continues to demonstrate the range of critical questions we are posing in a period of rapidly changing rural spaces, industries and communities. It will be good to hear reports of these inquiries in the upcoming Conference of the Institute of Australian Geographers in Fremantle, June 29 - July 3.
During the Conference we hope to run a number of rural sessions and I ask that all intending participants contact me with details of their papers
as soon as possible. We are also hoping to stage a joint session with the Cultural Studies Group on "Pre/Post-colonial Landscapes: 'Rural' up for grabs in the Native Title debate". The success of this session depends on the input from Rural Studies Group members, so if you know of academic members, or students who may be able to add different dimensions to this topic, please encourage them to participate.
The Rural Studies Group will hold an important Group Meeting during the Conference at which we need to finalise the Group's constitution. As documented in previous newsletters, we have drafted a constitution and sought members responses and ideas regarding its structure. We thank all members who took the time to support this work and make important contributions to the wording. The final revised/proposed draft of the constitution is reproduced in this edition of the Newsletter and we ask that you read it carefully in preparation for the Group Meeting in Perth.
Two promotional activities for the group have also been developed slowly this year. First, the home page is being designed by Neil Argent and we urge everyone who has not yet done so, to complete a brief biographical statement and send it to Neil as soon as possible (further details on p. 11). Also, if members are interested in promoting graphics from recent research on the home page, the Perth meeting would be an excellent time to pass on materials to Neil.
The second promotional activity involves the development of the Rural Studies Group directory which will briefly outline members contact detailsand research expertise. I am in the process of designing this document at the moment, and with the assistance of Deirdre Shaw, I will be finalising members' input shortly. I would like to have a draft of the directory ready for discussion at the Study Group Meeting in Perth. At this time it will be particularly important to gain members' input regarding the academic and non-academic contacts to which we might send the directory in a strategic 'community education' exercise. It is hoped that such a document will enhance the profile of rural geographers and lead to further research and writing opportunities for both ourselves and our students.
Wishing you all the best in the lead up to our Meeting in Perth
Ruth Liepins
ruth.liepins@otago.ac.nz
A Formal Constitution for the
IAG Rural Study Group
In the last Newsletter, we produced a draft Study Group constitution for members to consider. Below is a revised draft constitution which takes into account members' comments over the past few months. In the absence of any further comments, this will be version of the constitution that will be voted on in the upcoming business meeting of the Group at the IAG Conference, June29 - July 3, 1998 in Fremantle. Please do not hesitate to contact either of us (or both if you wish) at our e-mail or snail mail addresses above if you do have any further suggestions or comments.
Institute of Australian Geographers Inc. Rural Study Group Draft Constitution
Preamble
The Rural Study Group was formed at the Inaugural Joint Conference of the Institute of Australian Geographers and the New Zealand Geographical Society in 1991. Reflecting these origins, the Group aims, inter alia, to facilitate collaborative rural research between Australian and New Zealand members of the Group and to provide a forum for Australian and New Zealand geographers to communicate their teaching and research interests to each other.
1.The Group shall be called the Rural Study Group hereinafter referred to as the Group.
2.The Group shall be a Study Group of the Institute of Australian Geographers Inc, hereinafter referred to as the Institute.
3.The aim of the Group is to further research and education in rural geography and rural studies.
4.Membership of the Group shall be open to all members of the Institute and such other persons as the committee of the Group shall consider eligible, subject to any general rules of the Institute.
5.With the exception of members who are not members of the Institute all members may be nominated for any office of the Group.
6. The management of the Group's affairs shall reside with a Management Committee which shall normally consist of four Group members: the Group's Convenor, Honorary Treasurer, Newsletter Editor and one Group general member. Terms for all Management Committee positions will be for two years, with the possibility of renewal. Elections will take place, as required, at the Group's General Meetings.
7. The Group's Convenor and Honorary Treasurer shall prepare and submit, respectively, a brief report on the Group's activities, and a report of the Group's financial transactions, to each general business meeting of the Institute.
8. The funds of the Group shall be managed at the discretion of the Committee in pursuit of the aims of the Group ( para. 3 above). Proper books of account shall be kept by the Group Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have discretionary power, in consultation with the Convenor, over all Group items of expenditure of $100 or less. Planned items of expenditure of greater than $100 shall require the consent of the majority of the Management Committee.
9. The Group Convenor shall have both a deliberative and casting vote on all Management Committee voting matters.
10. Should the Group wish to engage in publication involving the name of the Institute prior consultation shall be held with the Honorary Editor of Australian Geographical Studies.
11. The group may cease to be the Rural Study Group of the Institute either by a decision at the General Meeting of the Institute, or by a decision of the Council of the Institute.
12. The Group may at any time be dissolved at a General Meeting of the Institute or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Institute by two-thirds of those present.
13. In the event of the Group being dissolved, all debts and liabilities shall be discharged by the members of the Group. No individual member of the Group shall benefit financially. Any balance remaining in the account will be made over to the Institute.
Members' News
From the Australian National University, Canberra:
Mike Bourke and Bryant Allen of the Department of Human Geography at ANU have been very involved in drought/frost related issues in Papua New Guinea.
In September-October last year, they organized a five week assessment of the impact of the drought and frosts on subsistence food supply, village water supplies and health. Thirteen teams travelled to most parts of rural PNG.
Together with their student Michael Lowe, who is currently doing fieldwork on New Britain, they compiled the information for the PNG Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs. In November-December, they repeated the exercise, this time putting 18 teams into the field. Bourke and Allen led teams each, otherwise most of the teams were lead by Papua New Guinean agronomists and economists. The Papua New Guineans did a wonderful job under often difficult field conditions. Most had worked with the ANU researchers in the field as part of the project "Mapping Agricultural Systems of PNG" between 1990 and 1995. The information gathered during these rapid assessments has formed the basis for food aid distribution provided by the PNG government and AusAID. Mike also did some work for the World Bank in PNG on drought relief. A number of meetings are planned to assess the drought relief efforts and related issues.
R. M. Bourke, Department of Human Geography, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Phone: (02) 6249 4345 Fax: (02) 6249 4896
From the University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W.:
Tony Sorensen attended the Australian and New Zealand Regional Science Association conference in Wellington, New Zealand, in December 1997. He presented the Association's Presidential Address on the subject of "Interfacing Regional Development Theory and Practice" and delivered a paper co-authored with Roger Epps.
Tony was re-elected President for 1997-98 and will continue as editor of 'Regional Policy and Practice' - a journal on the practice of regional development. Tony also presented the ANZRSA's Postgraduate Thesis Award to Andrew Bolam (formerly of Flinders University) for his thesis entitled: "The Changing Role of Country Australia in National Manufacturing Development". Tony also received an ARC Small Grant to study "Advocating Regional Development: the ends, means and achievements of selected community based regional development advocacy organisations'.
Jim Walmsley, Fran Rolley and Herb Weinand have won three contracts from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs for Updates of the Atlas of the Australian People for the States of New South Wales and Victoria, and for the ACT. The Atlases will look at both rural and metropolitan areas. The work should be complete by August.
From Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand:
Mike Roche reports on a now all too familiar craze sweeping through universities.
A university wide restructuring exercise has seen the consolidation of nearly a dozen Faculties into four Colleges. All Departments have also been abolished in this new structure - Geography now exists as a School comprised of staff from the old departments of Geography and Social Anthropology along with the Institute of Development Studies. Needless to say with these changes taking place, research endeavours have been pushed somewhat into the background.
On the research front, Mike says:
"Late last year - along with several other members of the group - I attended the Agri Food V conference in Akaroa. I presented a paper jointly prepared with Megan McKenna and Richard Le Heron which looked at some aspects of the global apple industry in the 1990s ( those of you who know me will realise immediately that I was talking about fruit and not computers). We have some work on Integrated Fruit Programmes and sustainability out submitted to various journals.
Megan and I have also secured a modest grant from the University's research fund to pursue the area of risk in horticulture in NZ with specific focus on the major apple growing areas. At some stage I hope to write up something on sprays and chemical use generally in NZ orchards c.1900 to 1960s. In addition, my work on the historical geography of the frozen meat industry continues....slowly. Another essay for the Dictionary of NZ Biography is in the pipeline (on David Henry, one of the supremos of the corporate forest sector in the 1940s and 1950s).
Megan McKenna reports on the publication of one of the above-mentioned McKenna, Roche and Le Heron joint publications:
"Sustaining the fruits of labour: a comparative localities analysis of the integrated fruit production programme in New Zealand's apple industry" Journal of Rural Studies(in press, 1998).
Further to Mike's announcement in the last Newsletter of the publication of the Historical Atlas of New Zealand, I note that the Atlas was one of the fastest selling non-fiction books in New Zealand. More interesting than liver cleansing diets...
In response to the news of David Chisholm's and Leigh Miller's retirement, Ian Bowie has offered some thoughtful advice on the importance of, and pitfalls in, the pursuit of an (over)active retirement.
"I see that David Chisholm and Leigh Miller have been given early release for good behaviour. Probably the best thing that's happened in their lives...
Since my own sentence at CSU was commuted for my early release in 1995 I've experienced nearly three years in the consultancy 'game which have been at both the most interesting and the most exhausting in my professional life. For anyone contemplating consultancy as a way of easing into retirement the following observations may be relevant:
(a) there's plenty of work out there and one doesn't need to spend lots of effort finding jobs. Networks and experience outside academe do help of course but it is surprising how quickly the word gets around that so-and-so 'may be free'
(b) however, although there are opportunities for teaching and straight research, much of the work is likely to be outside one's direct experience in universities. One doesn't have to prostitute oneself but might well find oneself doing things such as (in my case) heritage consulting, presenting short courses and even editing Department of Urban Affairs' regional plans.
(c) also, the work doesn't come in regular amounts and this doesn't contribute to regular working hours. At times one is wondering how to maintain some sort of balance between commitments; at other times one's diary may be empty.
Somehow one has to learn to say 'no' while at the same time keeping options open
(d) many of the jobs which a rural consultant might take one are likely to pay poorly. Although I've been charging around $60/hour my taxable income doesn't reflect this even if one is sole practice because of home office overheads, time over-runs, travel costs, etc, which turn out to be rather substantial. Also there are the opportunity costs involved in, e.g. travel (if you don't charge for travel time), getting in business consultants to help one out of (e.g. PC) messes and in keeping up with the bookwork (timesheets, invoices, expenses.
(e) remember that one needs to net at least $10,000 (taxable income) for the taxman to take one seriously as a business and not a hobby. The trouble with running a consultancy as a 'hobby' is that while your income may not be taxable, your business and professional expenses (eg IAG membership and conferences) can no longer be claimed as deductions!.
Hence, one needs to be clear about why one wants to be in consultancy and about how serious one is going to be about it. Consultancy may guarantee that your brain doesn't rust out but it might induce me(n)tal fatigue;
it is a way of making an income which may allow one to deduct hardware/ library/travel expenses and to subsidise that real research which one may want to continue.
But, for me, the freedom and the chance to do jobs which can be so different to ours in academe, really make it worth while.
Some more pointers:
* a new consultant needs to think about the pros and cons of working from a home office as opposed to a rented office. A home office is tax deductible if it is one's official place of work (and one doesn't need a registered business name for it) but will it be convenient for access to the photocopiers, binders, voice mail, on-line net access, hardware and software we've tended to take for granted in universities? Of course, the home office and equipment depreciation are fully tax deductible but a rented office and/or access to the facilities of a business centre can be viable alternatives.
* if one is working from a home office, it is important to be able to keep professional work and home life separate. One must be able at least metaphorically to shut the door on work; otherwise work can take over a consultant's life. Having different rings for home and business phones might be considered and so might a separate phone/fax connection (using the two spare wires in the telephone conduit)
* if one is going to work on a part-time basis (ie in semi-retirement) then working times need to be structured and stuck to. Otherwise finishing off jobs becomes (or remains) a raison d'etre and structures life! Play and the other intentions for retirement get pushed into the background. It's interesting to observe that consultants are for the most part too involved in 'doing' to sit down and 'think' (or put pen to paper with their thoughts which may be relevant to professional practice)!. Another thought which has occurred is the importance for a solo consultant in having someone (or preferably a network) to (a) provide back-up and (b) to provide special expertise. On the matter of backup, it is essential to make sure that work will continue to flow in and to be completed.
Without backup it may be impossible to take holidays, be off sick, or maintain a flow of Expressions of Interest. Without continuity you may get forgotten and work may dry up! And without access to special
expertise the solo consultant risks venturing into territory in which he/she is not really competent. Amongst other things this can invalidate one's professional liability insurance cover.
Congratulations to David Chisholm for having Life Membership of the National Tertiary Education Union conferred upon him - recognition for 25 years of active membership.
From Frank Vanclay, Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga:
The Australian and Oceanic Network for Rural Social Research and Community Development (AON) has been established to facilitate the membership of Australian and Oceanic researchers in the International Rural Sociological Association (IRSA).
IRSA is an umbrella organisation comprising membership of regional rural sociological associations. The purpose of IRSA is to foster the development of the science of rural sociology; to further the application of results of sociological inquiry to the improvement of the quality of life of rural people and places; and to provide a mechanism whereby the rural sociologists can generate dialogue and useful exchange. The main activity of IRSA is to hold a World Congress of Rural Sociology every 4 years. The 1996 World Congress was in Romania, and the 2000 World Congress will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are substantial discounts to IRSA members for the registration fees for World Congresses.
IRSA (potentially) has other activities, for more information, please see
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/irsa/
Because Australia has not had a rural sociological association, it was rather difficult for Australians and Oceanic researchers to be involved. At the same time, it is felt that there is no need for there to be another association. The solution is to establish AON as an entity which does nothing expect provide for our membership in IRSA. AON will be 'managed' by the Centre for Rural Social Research (CRSR) at Charles Sturt University. In the interim, the CRSR will pay for the membership of AON in IRSA (some $2 per person per year), but may seek to recoup this through a special section in the subscription of the CRSR journal Rural Society.
Since we will have to maintain a list of members I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE REGARDED AS A MEMBER OF AON TO EMAIL ME TO STATE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE REGISTER OF MEMBERS. It will be these members who will be able to get discount registrations at IRSA World Congresses, and who will be able to stand for election to be the AON representative on the IRSA Council, and for other positions of IRSA.
In the future, perhaps AON may wish to host a World Congress somewhere in Australia. The current AON representatives to IRSA Council are Geoff Lawrence and Frank Vanclay. Our terms expire in the year 2000, and we will be ineligible to stand again. CRSR will manage the election process in due course.
If you need any more information, please contact me, AND PLEASE EMAIL ME TO STATE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF MEMBERS OF AON.
Dr Frank Vanclay, Associate Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University Locked Bag 678, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678, AUSTRALIA ph (w) +61-2-6933.2680; ph (h) +61-2-6921.3397 fax: +61-2-6933.2792 email: fvanclay@csu.edu.au
From Chris Cocklin (Monash University, Melbourne):
The 1996 Agri-Food Research Network proceedings have been published and are available for purchase. Edited by David Burch, Geoff Lawrence, Roy Rickson and Jasper Goss, the proceedings are titled, "Australasian Food and Farming in a Globalised Economy: Recent Developments and Future Prospects", Monash Publications in Geography and Environmental Science No. 50. The publication contains 12 chapters under 5 main themes:
1)State management processes and rural agency;
2)Organics in theory and practice;
3)Social responses to biotechnology regimes;
4)Changes in Third World agriculture;
5)Cultured agriculture - integrating rural and cultural studies.
Copies are available at a cost of $25 + $5 postage and handling, from the Publications Secretary, Dept. of Geog. and Environmental Science,
Monash Univ., Clayton, Vic. 3168.
Upcoming Conferences
IAG CONFERENCE 1998
The 1998 conference of the IAG will be held at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle. The provisional conference theme is GEODIVERSITY. The conference will begin on the evening of Monday 29th June and conclude on Friday afternoon, July 3rd. The program will include the usual variety of presentations, a comprehensive set of field excursions and a large amount of socializing. If you are not on the mailing list, contact: bevp@SPECTRUM.curtin.edu.au Members contemplating presenting papers should contact by March 20, with a title and abstract (no more than 250 words)
Ruth Liepins, c/o Dept. of Geography, The University of Otago, P.0. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand ruth.liepins@otago.ac.nz
Just to remind you all of the proposed joint paper session between the Cultural and Rural Study Groups at the upcoming IAG Conference titled:
"Pre/Post-colonial Landscapes: 'Rural' up for grabs in the Native Title debate"
The Native Title debate has led to strong reaction from rural landowners and their representatives. Faced with legal recognition of the existence of indigenous landscapes on land used for agricultural production farmers and their organisations have responded with a range of resources and strategies to reassert their vision of their land and of the nation. Frequently they have drawn upon historical and cultural resources that tap into, for example, ideals of rural settlement, land use and family life, and a sense of growing peripheralisation of rural Australia. The urban response, while sensitive to issues of justice for indigenous people, has itself relied upon long-standing mythologies of rural Australia and Outback. In the positions of both sides the division of countryside and city is evident.
It is proposed to run a joint session of the Rural and Cultural Geography Study Groups to address these issues and others that contributors see as relevant. These sorts of issues offer some fertile ground for pursuing the interests of both groups. Topics may include critiques of the strategies used, discussions of media coverage and representations, practical and cultural dimensions of co-existing title, case studies of particular locales or regions (does place matter in how Native Title is handled?), or discussions of national identity and post-colonialism as they relate to rural Australia and Native Title. While the focus is on the 'rural' (and what that is in the context of Native Title might be up for discussion), it is hoped that contributors will be attentive to wider theoretical issues in cultural and rural geography. In addition, perspectives on native title issues from other countries would be most welcome.
If you are interested in contributing to such a session or have any suggestions please contact:
Ruth Liepins, Department of Geography, The University of Otago P.O. Box 56, DUNEDIN, New Zealand Email: ruth.liepins@otago.ac.nz
OR
Nicholas Gill, School of Geography and Oceanography, University of NSW, Australian Defence Force Academy Canberra ACT 2600
Rural Geography Symposium 1999 Canadian-American-Anglo-Irish-Antipodean
Dates: June 24 to June 30, 1999
Location(s): Halifax (St. Mary's
University)-Truro (Nova Scotia Agricultural College)-Sackville (Mount Allison
University)-Prince Edward Island-Halifax
Theme: The New
Countryside: Critical Questions for the Future of Rural Regions and Communities
Sub-Themes Include: Maintenance of Rural Communities (an alternative to
sustainability); The Future of Traditional Rural Economies (including
agriculture, forestry, fishing, restructuring); Post-Agrarian Rural Economic
Development (focus on tourism or rurally-based industries, or development
processes); Changing Rural Social Structures and Landscapes (emphasis on
gender, aging, newcomer populations, etc.); The Evolving Rural-Urban Fringe
(particular focus on new forms within this 'new countryside'); Countryside
and the Wider Political Economy (emphasising the impacts of and relationships
between business, industry, and government in shaping the new countryside).
Participation: Participation in this symposium is limited. Presentations will be strictly limited to twenty (20) minutes and 45 copies of the paper must be brought to the symposium or sent in advance. Organizers in the UK, the USA, Ireland and Australia/New Zealand are asked to solicit/recruit appropriate presenters and let the Canadian organizers know names, affiliations, and presentation titles (with abstracts) no later than: September 1, 1998.
Cost: The estimated cost, per person, for participants is $650 (Canadian). Prepaid registration is required by: March 1, 1999. These estimated fees include: 1) accommodations at Halifax (Saint Mary's) (4) and Truro (NSAC) (3); 2) some food & beverages (we hope most food); 3) travel: a) to & from Halifax airport; b) field trips, etc. (large coach, air conditioned, with driver, pa system, etc.); and 4)handouts, maps, walking tour guides, etc.
Rural Geography Symposium 1999 Canadian-American-Anglo-Irish-Antipodean Draft Schedule of Events Wednesday/Thursday (June 23, 24) Morning/afternoon: Arrival, Room Allocation, Settling In Evening Reception hosted by Saint Mary's University.
Friday (June 25) Morning Paper Sessions (8 papers) Afternoon Paper Sessions (8 papers) Evening: Lobster/Steak Dinner?
Saturday (June 26) Morning/Afternoon Field Trip (Organizer: Hugh Millward) Evening: Free Time
Sunday (June 27) Morning Paper Sessions (8 papers) Afternoon: Travel to Truro, Tour of NSAC, Brief talks on rural and agricultural research at NSAC Evening: Taste of Nova Scotia, Dinner/Reception hosted by NSAC.
Monday (June 28) Morning Paper Sessions (8 papers) Afternoon Paper Sessions (8 papers) Evening Paper Session (5 papers)
Tuesday (June 29) Morning Travel to Mount Allison University, Brief talks from people at the Rural and Small Towns Program Afternoon: Field Trip Prince Edward Island Evening: Travel to Truro
Wednesday (June 30) Morning: Field trip en route to Halifax Afternoon:Free time Evening: Closing Banquet at Saint Mary's University
Thursday (July 1) Morning/Afternoon Departures.
Australia and New Zealand have been allocated three places between them for this conference. Any members interested in finding out more should contact Chris Cocklin, Professor, Dept. of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia Tel. +61-3-9905-2910 Fax +61-3-9905 2948 e-mail: <Chris.Cocklin@arts.monash.edu.au>
A meeting of the IGU Commission on Land Degradation and Desertification will be held in Perth (probably UWA) during the mid-semester break in September 1999. The format will be 3-4 days papers and an equivalent period in the field. Papers on any topic relevant to the title of the Commission will be welcome; in the field, there will be an emphasis on the processes responsible for secondary dryland salinity problems, and solutions. Every effort will be made to keep costs down, and student residences will be available for accommodation. Estimates of cost still have to be prepared.
Further information will be obtainable from Arthur: Dr Arthur Conacher, Associate Professor, Dept of Geography University of Western Australia tel: (08) 9380 2705 fax: (08) 9380 1054 email: ajconach@gis.uwa.edu.au
The 1998 Positive Rural Futures Conference will be held at the Workers Heritage Centre, Barcaldine, Queensland from 22-24 May. I think that the Qld. Office of Rural Communities is behind this, but if you want more details, contact Sue Fairley e-mail: FAIRLEYS@classic.msn.com Sorry, I don't have a surface mail address.
An International Conference on Rural Economic Development titled:
"Making Rural Development Work - Discussing the Challenges and Growth of our Rural Economies" will be held in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada in 1998. Unfortunately, the flyer from which this information comes doesn't give the conference date! However, you can get more details on what sounds an interesting forum at: http://www.ruralforum.mb.ca or contact the Rural Forum Office at Rural Forum 98, Box 22106, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7A
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Rural Study Group Web Page
As mentioned by Ruth in her column above, I have been attempting to get a web page up and running for the Group. However, I have received biographical information from only three members. Would all members interested in having their names appear on this page please send me their details (title, name, position, employer and address(es), e-mail, research interests and expertise) as soon as possible so that I can get this going? I won't set a deadline because I will add details as they come in. Any other suggestions that you might have about the design of the web page would, of course, be wRural Study Group Web Page
As mentioned by Ruth in her column above, I have been attempting to get a web page up and running for the Group. However, I have received biographical information from only three members. Would all members interested in having their names appear on this page please send me their details (title, name, position, employer and address(es), e-mail, research interests and expertise) as soon as possible so that I can get this going? I won't set a deadline because I will add details as they come in. Any other suggestions that you might have about the design of the web page would, of course, be welcomed.
Neil Argent Dept. Geography and Planning, The University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W., 2351 nargent@metz.une.edu.au
Missed Opportunities-harnessing the potential of women in Australian agriculture
This national research project, conducted through 1997, was jointly funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE) and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). The final report was launched by Senator Judith Troeth on behalf of Minister Anderson at the 1998 Outlook conference in Canberra.
The project arose from recognition that rural women are active players in the sector, however this is not reflected by their participation in decision making which impacts on themselves, their families and their communities.
The project had a two pronged (social and economic) approach. The social component identifies the nature of women's contribution and the barriers to women's greater participation in innovation, leadership and decision making within the sector. It developed strategies for change in achieving greater participation of women. These strategies are aimed at government,agribusiness, industry and R&D organisations. As the researchers conclude, "this project has sought to find ways of building a changed culture. Such a changed culture will be one which is not only good for women, but also good for the sector and its longer term profitability and international competitiveness".
The economic component puts a value on women's contribution to the sector, including paid and unpaid work. For example, it is estimated (conservatively) that women contribute about $1.1 billion annually by way of off farm work, at least $0.5 billion annually in essential voluntary (community) work and that they contribute about $8 billion a year to the rural economy through unpaid household work.
Copies of the full report, published in two volumes can be obtained from RIRDC (PO Box 4776, Kingston ACT 2604, Fax (02) 6272 5877 ) at a cost of $30 + $8 handling and postage. Alternatively the short report (Executive Summary) is available free of charge, copies are available either from RIRDC or the Rural Women's Unit
e-mail:
nargent@metz.une.edu.au
Geography and Planning, The University of New
England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia