IT WAS another successful Power of Women in Dairy Dinner held at International Dairy Week 2020.
A new format saw Channel 7 reporter and former dairy farmer Casey Treloar host a panel of three women for an informal chat about their lives.
The panel included State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed, Ayrshire breeder Trish McCraw from Korumburra and journalist and former dairy farmer Sophie Baldwin from Echuca.
Organiser and Torrumbarry dairy farmer Jade Sieben declared the night a success.
“It was great to see so many women in the room and it was great to hear the stories behind the women on the panel, including our lovely host for the night Casey,” Jade said.
Jade said the Power of Women dinner always reminded her of the amazing and powerful women involved in the dairy industry and she welcomed the networking opportunity the night provided for everyone.
The night included the annual presentation of the Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Award for Excellence, which was presented to panel member Trish McCraw from Glen Afton Ayrshires.
Trish said she was humbled by the award and for the first time in her life she announced to the crowd she was “speechless”.
“I feel very humbled to have received this award. All my life I have been doing unto others, which is what my parents taught me, but it has given me a lot of pleasure over the years,” Trish said.
Trish’s love of cattle and showing is a legacy from her parents — she began showing and exhibiting cattle at Melbourne Royal Show from a young age.
Trish formed Glen Afton Ayrshires with her beloved husband Stuart and together the couple had the third-best production herd in the country.
Trish was never afraid to invest in the best genetics, purchasing Brookfield Belle Star for $7500 — an Australian record at the time. Belle Star went on to become the first Australian Ayrshire embryo exported to Canada.
Always passionate about helping youth, Trish was responsible for setting up her own youth camp and during the years she has continued to support young people in the industry.
“I think we all have ladies we look up to in the industry and aspire to be like and we just want to acknowledge some of them who are leaders and hands-on,” Jade said.