In This Issue:

• Welcome From The Chair
• $15K Sharemarket Prize For Innovation Awards Night
• Northern Inland Supply Chain Study
• Why Come on Inland?
• An Opportunity For Tamworth
• Local Woman Runner Up in Rural Women's Awards
• What's On In The Northern Inland
• New Grants and Funding Opportunities

Welcome From The Chair

Dear Northern Inlanders,

With nearly 50 entrants in this year’s Northern Inland Innovation Awards, I encourage you to book your tickets to the Awards night on Friday November 8th in Tamworth. Seats are filling up fast.

Innovation is but one success factor for local businesses, but how do we really grow our existing businesses? One way is to look at what inputs, products and services are brought into the region and figure out a way to replace these with locally sourced products and services. A pilot program will soon commence in Walcha and you can read more about this below.

We’re also looking forward to launching our Northern Inland Digital Economy Strategy in the coming weeks, with a focus on how we can get more of our small and medium size businesses online and into new markets.

There are plenty of opportunities to grow the Northern Inland, we’d love to hear yours.

Mal Peters, Chair

$15K Sharemarket Prize For Innovation Awards Night

Northern Inland NSW is among the nation’s leaders in innovation. To see for yourself, get in quick and avoid missing out on tickets for the 6th annual Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Innovation Awards. Featuring a showcase of some of the region’s most inspiring businesses, organisations and projects, plus special guest speakers, a three-course dinner and a few surprises, it promises to be a memorable night of significance for the region.

A major prize has been generously donated by The Sharemarket College. The overall winner will receive the $15,000 “AAA Platinum Trading and Investing in the Share Market Course”. Flexible, accredited training by a unique Registered Training Organisation will equip the participant with the know-how of a trading professional. Included in the Course is a range of share trading modules and access to an intelligent software program, as well as ongoing support, market updates, mentoring and both online and face-to-face teaching.

Bookings for the gala presentation night at Tamworth’s Wests Leagues Club on Friday, 8 November can also be made through www.niia.com.au. Information about the Awards and YouTube clips about past winners can be found on the website.

Finalists will be showcased to the audience via big-screen video displays. Renowned business innovation and development coach, Greg Alder will be the guest speaker. Attendees will also hear from sponsors, who support the growth of this region: AgriFood Skills Australia; AusIndustry; Enterprise Connect; The Sharemarket College; UNE Partnerships and Telstra Country Wide. The 2012 Innovation of the Year recipient, EdAlive educational software, of Armidale, will explain what the award has meant to them.

The Categories are: Agriculture / Horticulture and associated services; Tourism / Leisure and Services; Professional and Retail services; Manufacturing and Engineering; and Research and Education. The 2013 Innovation/Innovator of the Year Award will be presented to the leading innovator across all categories.

RDANI Executive Officer Nathan Axelsson was one of four judges to assess the entries. Also on the judging panel were: UNE academic, Neil Argent of the RDANI Committee, sustainability, training and project management consultant, Lauren Zell (State Training Services) and telecommunications consultant, Alun Davies. “We had 49 entries from across the Northern Inland NSW region, with every major centre and many smaller towns represented. The quality and diversity was inspiring,” he said.

“This awards program is an opportunity for our progressive businesses to showcase themselves and a chance for the public to see some of the truly positive stories out there in our region. Times are tough, so it is timely to celebrate achievements and encourage innovation, particularly in our smaller regional communities. Many people would be amazed by what is being achieved ‘in their own backyard’.”

For further information contact Gary Fry on 0427 008572 or go to the Award’s website: www.niia.com.au.

Northern Inland Supply Chain Study

RDANI has recently commenced a Supply Chain Project, with the objective of boosting economic activity in the region.  One of the ways to grow our regional economy is to slow the ‘leakage’ of economic activity to other areas, by assisting businesses to source their inputs from within the region.

A survey of major businesses is being conducted to learn what they produce, and what inputs they source from outside the Northern Inland area.  This will enable us to identify opportunities to link firms within the region to source inputs, and also to attract firms to re-locate to the Northern Inland should substantial product or services gaps be identified. The project will also deliver an inventory of the products and services available, which will be crucial information for firms looking to re-locate to the Northern Inland, providing them with the knowledge that their required inputs and support services can be sourced locally.

Why Come On Inland?

the successful launch of ‘Come on Inland’ and with the power of our social media reaching over 20,000 people each week, we thought it might be time to run a few competitions to see why people really do love living in the Northern Inland.

Over the coming weeks, a series of competitions will be launched asking residents of the Northern Inland to tell the world in 25 words or less, or with a photo, why it is fantastic to live here.

Come On Inland focuses on attracting businesses and families to relocate to the Northern Inland Region, so to complement this initiative, we are interested in hearing from local residents why they think it is great to live where they do. The main judging criteria will focus on words and photos that best showcase the local area and the competitions will alternate between photo competitions and word competitions during the next few months. We hope they will appeal to both photographers and wordsmiths alike.

There is no stronger or compelling advertising than hearing from local people.  We really hope that each local community will see these competitions as a wonderful way to promote where they live to our city cousins.  And let’s face it, the more people who choose to visit and move to each region, the stronger and more vibrant that region becomes.”

iTunes vouchers will be presented to all winning entries. To enter, simply go to Come On Inland's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/comeoninland

An Opportunity For Tamworth

As part of the NSW Government’s Plan for Aboriginal affairs (OCHRE), one of the key initiatives identified was that of Opportunity Hubs. Opportunity Hubs aim to provide Aboriginal young people with the confidence and knowledge to follow a supported pathway between secondary school and further education and/or employment.  To achieve this outcome, Opportunity Hubs will build partnerships between schools, employers, education and training providers and the local community to coordinate and match employment, training and further education opportunities to individual students’ aspirations.

Four locations were identified across the state, with Tamworth being one of them. The sites were chosen based on the following criteria:

• existence of strong Aboriginal leadership
• significant or growing proportion of Aboriginal students in school populations
• real and sustainable employment opportunities
• real opportunities for NGO and business sector buy-in
• available career champions and mentors
• VET or tertiary education providers.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) for non-government organisations to apply for operating the Opportunity Hub in Tamworth has been announced. To find out more, visit  www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/opportunity-hubs/

Local Woman Runner Up in Rural Women's Awards

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, today congratulated NSW’s Isobel Knight, following her announcement as the national runner-up in the 2013 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award.

Ms Knight, a succession planning specialist from Loomberah near Tamworth, was presented with the award by Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, at a gala dinner in Canberra this month.

“I congratulate Isobel on winning this prestigious award which not only celebrates her contribution to the rural community of NSW, but rural women’s contributions Australia-wide,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“Isobel has worked closely with more than 400 individual families as part of her business ‘proAGtive’, which delivers targeted workshops across Australia, helping farmers prepare succession plans and navigate through what can be a complex journey.

“I also congratulate Northern Territory crocodile farmer, Giovanna Webb, who was announced as the national winner. Both Isobel and Giovanna are excellent advocates for rural women and deserving recipients of this prestigious award.”

Ms Hodgkinson said the field of applicants for the national award this year were highly skilled and showcased the resourcefulness, determination and resilience demonstrated by rural women across Australia.

“Isobel received a $10,000 bursary as part of the NSW/ACT State Award and she has used this to develop an online platform for succession planning that rural businesses can easily access and use,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“This platform will educate farming families about how to prepare their businesses for succession and Isobel hopes it will inspire positive attitudes in relation to planning and encourage more families to do it.

“As national runner-up, Isobel will receive an additional $10,000 bursary to enable her to develop her leadership skills continue to educate about succession planning.”

Applications for the 2014 awards close on the 31st of October, and further details are available on the Department of Primary Industries website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn/rirdc

What's On In The Northern Inland

Inverell Sapphire City Festival
Friday 18th of October to Sunday 2nd of November
Inverell

Come along and be part of sevteen days of fun and activities for the whole family at the Inverell Sapphire City Festival. Some of the festival events include: Communicator of the Year debate and dinner, Gem and Craft show, Holy Trinity Caulfield cup race day, Poet's Breakfast, Arts Society Competitive Exhibition, Telstra Thursday, Bowls Tournaments, BEST Night Out Community Concert and Inverell's Got Talent just to name a few.

The finale of the festival starts with the Festival Parade and continues into the evening with carnival rides, food, the great duck race, entertainment and the Festival Queen and Princess crowning ceremony, concluding with a fireworks spectacular.

Further information can be found on the festival’s website: www.inverellsapphirecityfestival.com.au/

Campervan and MotorHome National Rally
Monday 21st to Sunday 27th of October
Narrabri

The Campervan and MotorHome Club of Australia conducts two Rallies per year, one National and one Anniversary. In April they celebrate the Club's formation at the Anniversary Rally, and at the National Rally in October they hold the Club’s Annual General Meeting, and take reports on Club activities and sub-committees. Both Rallies have special interest group activities, the Poets' Breakfast, seminars, trade stands, market stalls and entertainment.

This year the Anniversary Rally will be held in Narrabri Showgrounds, with more than two thousand campervan and motorhome enthusiasts expected to create a makeshift city encompassing the showgrounds, rugby club grounds, Cooma Oval and the scout hall.

The public is invited to take part in the club’s open day on October 26 with the $3 entry charge going to the local emergency services. Further details are available on the Club’s website: www.cmca.net.au/pages/motorhoming_information/rallies/NarrabriRally2013.php
 

Deepwater Scarecrow and Wool Festival
Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd of November
Deepwater

The Deepwater Scarecrow & Wool Festival is a free family & community oriented event, held in mid-spring where quirky scarecrows spring to life as do the plants and lambs signalling an end to Deepwater’s dormant frosty wintery months.

Visitors can catch the entertaining Scarecrow Bus de Tour; find Scarecrows in front yards, on farm gates, school fences, even stalking local businesses. Festival goers can experience not only the scarecrow creations, but also fine wool fleece, wool spinning demonstrations and local history since 1839 on display at CRT. Grab a map and follow the Open Gardens & Garage Sale Trail and pop into the historic Deepwater Railway Station along the way to see items by our local artists & quilters on exhibit.

The main venue is at the Oval where visitors will be thoroughly entertained with Shearing demonstrations, Woolly Games for all the family, live Sheep on display, music, dancing, face painting, RFS Hot Fire Demonstrations, It's off To Market, To Market, To Deepwater, Festival Markets to find a bargain and Bee prepared for the “beetle plague” at the "Dubbin in Deepwater" VW Show N Shine & Swap Meet.

Further details are available on the festival’s website: deepwaterscarecrowandwoolfestival.webs.com/
 

St Peters Garden Weekend
Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd of November
Armidale and Uralla

Over the weekend ten varied gardens will be opened in the Armidale and Uralla Area. In addition there will be plant and food stalls open over the weekend. On Saturday there will be stalls and morning tea and lunch available in the St Peters parish centre on Rusden Street, Armidale. Further details are available at: www.armidalegardens.org.au/

Party in the Paddock
Saturday 30th of November
Tamworth

A live music event with all proceeds going to support Ronald McDonald House Tamworth. Featuring DRAGON, The Pigs, Georgia Fall, Blu, Streamline and Good Corn Liquor. Coaches depart from Glen Innes, Armidale, Uralla or Gunnedah, however there are limited seats. For ticket info or to book coach packages please contact Ronald McDonald House Tamworth - 6767 8900 or visit the event's Facebook page.

New Grants and Funding Opportunities

Community Resilience Innovation Program (CRIP)
Applications close 15th of November 2013

The CRIP supports grass roots initiatives designed to encourage community sector cooperation, collaboration and education by bringing together local community organisations with agencies that have emergency services responsibilities to enhance local community capacity and resilience.

Applications for the 2013-14 Community Resilience Innovations Program are currently open, further details are available on the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services website: www.mpes.nsw.gov.au/content.php/1262.html

2014 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Applications close 5pm AEDT Friday 8 November 2013

Grant applications are now open for the 2014 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If you’re 18-35, this is your chance to apply for up to $22,000 to fund your project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue to benefit Australia’s primary industries. For more information, visit www.daff.gov.au/abares/conferences-events/scienceawards

The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund
The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund make grants across Australia for general charitable purposes in accordance with our vision to improve peoples' lives in lasting and positive ways.

Grants are made across a number of different areas, including:

• The arts and humanities
• Beyond Australia
• Education
• G4
• Poverty and Disadvantage
• Sustainability and the Environment
• Special Programs

More Information: www.myerfoundation.org.au

Further informaiton on grants and funding opportunities are available in the Grants and Funding Opportunities area of the RDA-NI website.