During the twelve months from July 2001 to June 2002, NSW Farm Writers' has continued to pursue its charter of generating awareness and promoting enhanced understanding of and support for rural and regional communication.

Farm Writers' membership has also continued to grow. However, there remain a number of potential members out there who have not, as yet, joined up. It, therefore, behoves all current members to encourage their friends and associates with an interest or involvement in rural industries and agribusiness to join our fold, to help us all generate and foster effective communication within the agribusiness community and between agribusiness and the wider community in the interests of rural and regional Australians.

Again, this year, Farm Writers' has continued to present seminars on a monthly basis, featuring prominent guest speakers whose activities, views and agendas impact on the future direction and health of Australia's rural industries and regional communities.

Our seminars have also continued to provide valuable networking opportunities for members and guests involved in agribusiness communication.

This year, Farm Writers' also introduced a series of innovative forums looking at the history, current status and future of key aspects of agriculture, agribusiness and rural/regional affairs. The forums, held at the NSW Department of State and Regional Development's 'Country Embassy', each involved a panel of experts presenting their perspectives and engendering discussion and debate from the floor.

The first of these, on the role of women in agriculture, was a virtual sell out. Attendance was also strong for the seminar on the history, current status and future of the State's wine industry.

The last forum ('The history, current status and future of agriculture and agribusiness in the Hawkesbury Basin'), which fell outside this reporting period, was not as well attended, however, which emphasises the need, I believe, to ensure we tap into what people are really interested in and see as relevant to their interests rather than simply 'giving them what we think is good for them'.

The other eight seminars held during the twelve months under report covered a wide range of issues, from: wool innovation; the role and future of Horticulture Australia; the NFF and what it sought from the last election; and problems with shonky rural investments, to: strategies to handle exotic disease outbreaks; rural R&D; and Telstra's latest from Countrywide.

As shown in the seminar statistics report, average seminar attendance averaged 64 which up by 28 per cent on the previous year. This is most welcome, but still offers little comfort to organisers who spend a great deal of 'wasted' time chasing members and guests who leave it until the last minute to register. Late registrations are a major problem which only requires a little forethought, thoughtfulness and planning to overcome.

As our Treasurer since 1999, Sandy Macqueen reports, both total and average per head revenues and costs were up on last year. Importantly, the increase in revenue outstripped the increase in costs, which saw us come through with a modest surplus. Well done Sandy.

Of course, all the diligent accounting in the world counts for little if we fail to deliver what our members and prospective members are looking for from our association.

To that end, we commissioned the first ever formal, professionally analysed survey of members and potential members towards the end of the financial year. The survey continued into the current year but will be reported on at our AGM by its authors and coordinators, Bev Jordan and Helen Murray. Preliminary results indicate that while we seem to be hitting most of the right notes, there is still some room for improvement in the way we meet members' needs. The new committee will be taking these findings into account in its planning and activity over the coming year.

The success enjoyed by Farm Writers' over the past twelve months has almost solely been due to the tireless and dedicated enthusiasm and support of my committee and the involvement and participation of members.

With the term of my presidency now over, I want to warmly thank all members of my committee for their support, encouragement and friendship.

I sincerely trust that the incoming committee and all our members will offer and provide a similar measure of backing and encouragement to our next president.

I know that those who give their time to play a role on the committee do so because they believe they are contributing something positive to an association which serves an important need of the industries and communities in which we work and live.

As I mentioned last year, they also get involved as a way of giving back a little of what they get out of being a member of Farm Writers'. Their commitment and dedication is to be warmly commended.

Again, I would also like to thank all those businesses and organisations whose employees are members of the committee for not just the time but also the encouragement they have given their team members to do their bit for Farm Writers'.

I would also urge all members to think about taking a more active role in the association in the future and, especially, offering yourself for election to the committee and its executive. The rewards, while not financial, are substantial and well worth the time and effort involved. Importantly, new blood means new ideas and new ideas, put into action, mean progress, which is what we are all about.

I also warmly encourage all members to continue to let your committee know what you think about Farm Writers'. You don't have to wait until the next formal survey.

Feedback on what we are doing, where we are heading, what we are providing, and so on, is absolutely invaluable. The committee is there to serve the members, so we need to know what members need, want, and expect.

Being your President for the past two years has been a pleasurable, enlightening and rewarding experience and I thank you all very much for making it possible.

It has been a honour to serve you.

I wish you all a healthy, safe, rewarding and happy new year.

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