Traditionally, the Association meets over lunch on the last Friday of each month to hear invited speakers or expert panels present and discuss their views on rural issues of current importance.

Bookings can be made online.

The cost for lunch is $70 per person or voucher for members and $90 for non-members.
(The Association reserves the right to charge an administration fee of $5 for bookings made after the booking deadline for each event. Please also note that if cancellations are not received by the appropriate deadline, the Association incurs a charge and this charge will be passed on to the person who made the booking.)

Books of vouchers can be ordered from the Treasurer at a cost of $420 for 6 or $840 for 12 vouchers.

Meeting times are 12:00 for 12.30pm
(excepting the Budget breakfast, the Christmas party and Agribuzz events).

Venue: Brisbane and Adelaide Rooms at The Accor Menzies Sydney Hotel
14 Carrington Street
Sydney - (near Wynyard station).
See the map for more detail.

Parking: Carpark entry is via Wynyard Lane. Parking discount vouchers are available from our venue reception team upon arrival.

Confirmed Breakfast & Lunch Meetings for 2011:
Feb |March |April | May | June | July | Sept |

September 2011
Date	Friday, 30 September, 2011
Speaker	NSW Farmers President Fiona Simson
Topic	Fiona sets the agenda for agriculture
Corporate Members of the Month	NAB Agribusiness
Venue	The Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
Agribuzz - September 2011
Date	Thursday, 8th September
Speaker	Andrew Grant, CEO of the CO2 Group
Topic	Andrew will discuss his career progression to the forefront of climate change science, carbon trading and business risk management.
Sponsor	Baker & McKenzie
Venue	Baker & McKenzie, Level 27, AMP Centre, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney. 6:00pm to 8:00pm
September 2011
Date	Friday, 2nd September
Speaker	Gerry Lawson AM
Topic	Godfather of the Australian Rice Industry: Gerry Lawson AM
Sponsor	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
July 2011
Date	Friday, 29 July, 2011
Speaker	David Crombie, member of the The Industry–Government Working Group on Live Animal Exports and a former president of the National Farmers Federation and Meat and Livestock Australia.
Topic	Live Cattle Export Crisis: Hear the Inside Story
Corporate Members of the Month	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Sydney Hotel, Carrington St Sydney
June 2011
Date	Friday, June 24, 2011
Speaker	Stephen Strachan, the Chief Executive of the Winemakers' Federation of Australia
Topic	Can Australia's wine industry return to sustainable profitability?
Corporate Members of the Month	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Sydney Hotel, Carrington St Sydney
May 2011
Date	Friday, May 27, 2011
Speaker	CEO of Foodbank, John Webster
Topic	Can farmers and agribusiness be better corporate citizens?
Corporate Members of the Month	Rabobank
Venue	The Menzies Sydney Hotel, 14 Carrington St Sydney
Agribuzz - April 2011
Date	Tuesday, 19th April, 2011
Speaker	John Bennett, MD of MJ & EA Bennett P/L,
Topic	Agribuzz at the Easter Show: Farm Writers’ joins with the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) on Excellence in Agriculture Day at the Easter Show – Tuesday 19 April 2011. - to hear John Bennett share his experiences, career development, leadership opportunities and views on Australian agriculture. John was appointed as a Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in 2009, where he sits on the Horse and Agricultural Development Committees. John is the Assistant Ringmaster for the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show and plays a vital role in encouraging young people into the show movement via his position as facilitator of the Next Generation group of the Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth (RASC). His recent involvement in the RASC has taken him from Papua New Guinea on an international development mission to Scotland for the Biennial Commonwealth Agricultural Conference. Generously hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Agribuzz at the Easter Show, starts at 6:30pm and concludes at 8:30pm. Thanks to RAS, your entry to the Easter Show is included in the cost of the event. Places are limited and bookings close at 5pm on Wednesday 13th April 2011 so book now at www.nswfarmwriters.org. All tickets must be pre-paid and collected prior to the event to ensure your entry into the Easter Show. How to purchase and collect tickets to Agribuzz at the Easter Show: Tickets will be on sale (cash only) at our March Farm Writers’ luncheon, Friday 25 March, 12 for 12:30pm at the Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street Sydney; or Make an electronic payment to Farm Writers (see EFT details below) and the tickets can be mailed* to you or arrange to collect them from the March Farm Writers’ luncheon. Payment: Tickets can be purchased at the March Farm Writers’ luncheon (Friday 25 March, 12 for 12:30pm at the Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street Sydney); or you can make an electronic payment to Farm Writers and the tickets will be mailed* to you or arrange to collect them from the March Farm Writers’ luncheon. Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation BSB Number: 032-000 Account Number: 63-4181 Account Name: The Farm Writers Association of NSW Inc *Farm Writers will Express Post tickets however no responsibility will be taken for lost or misplaced tickets. We hope to see you there! Book now.
Sponsors	The Royal Agricultural Society
Venue	Clydesdale Room, The Stables (RM Williams Pavilion), Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
April 2011
Date	Friday April 29, 2010
Speaker	Matt Linnegar, Chief Executive of the National Farmers Federation
Topic	Supermarket price wars and other challenges for farmers and the NFF in 2011
Corporate Members of the Month	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
March 2010
Date	Friday, March 25, 2011
Speaker	David Palmer - Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia
Topic	Lessons from 25 years in the red meat industry
Corporate Members of the Month	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Sydney Hotel, Carrington St Sydney
February 2011
Date	Friday, February 25, 2011
Speaker	Incumbent Minister Hon Steve Whan MP and his opposite number the Hon Duncan Gay MLC
Topic	2011 Primary Industries Portfolio Election Debate
Corporate Members of the Month	TBC
Venue	The Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
Agribuzz - February 2011
Date	Thursday, February 3, 2011
Speaker
Topic	NSW Farm Writers’ Association would like to invite you to our first Agribuzz of 2011 on Thursday 3rd February. Mingle with the leading and emerging minds of agriculture and hear from Alison McIntosh, NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion, who will discuss her journey as a livestock consultant and experience at the recent International Livestock Congress in Denver. Agribuzz is a smart-casual event in an intimate yet relaxed atmosphere that facilitates professional networking and provides professional development opportunities. Over drinks and canapés, our members and friends exchange business intelligence and views, enjoy brief presentations from key note speakers and take the rare chance to meeting agribusiness’s leaders or leaders-in–the-making. Generously sponsored by NAB agribusiness, Agribuzz will be held at NAB House from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Thursday 3rd February. Please pass this invitation on to friends or colleagues, particularly the younger members of your staff. Agribuzz welcomes professionals working in, or with an interest in, the agribusiness sector.
Sponsors	NAB Agribusiness
Venue	NAB House, 255 George Street, Sydney
Bookings	Bookings must be received before 5pm Monday 31st January 2011 online or to bookings@nswfarmwriters.org
Cost	$25 for NSW Farm Writers’ members, $35 for non-members, Cash only at the door.