VegNET program expands
Gippsland’s horticulture sector is set to benefit from the growth of the VegNET team, with Bonnie Dawson recently appointed as an extension support officer.
Bonnie will work alongside VegNET Victoria Gippsland coordinator Shayne Hyman who has led a highly successful project in the region for more than three years.
With broad experience in stakeholder engagement and project management across a number of roles in regional areas both in Gippsland and other parts of Australia, she’s looking forward to engaging with producers all over Gippsland.
“I’m excited about this role as it gives me the opportunity to draw on all of my varied experiences - in community engagement, local food systems, agriculture and business.”
“In my work with the Baw Baw Food Security Coalition, I really enjoyed engaging with producers and being able to support their vital and dynamic contributions to our local community and economy – so I am thrilled to now be building that connection to producers again as an extension support officer “she said.
Ms Hyman said Bonnie joining the team will be an integral part of the next stage of growth in the VegNET Victoria Gippsland project.
“Relationship building and bringing producers together in a collaborative culture where they know that we are “all in this together” has been a really important part of the success to date.”
The National Vegetable Extension Network has been in operation for over three years in Gippsland, launched with the aim of extending important research-based knowledge to vegetable growers to help them grow their businesses.
Gippsland growers have embraced the project, seizing opportunities to network, attend events and access training that helps not only their business, but everyone along the value chain.
The project has been extended to the end of March 2020.