PAULA Gordon has been a trailblazer in the Mallee’s agricultural sector for much of her life – and now she has achieved another first in the region.
She has just become the first woman to receive life membership of Mallee Sustainable Farming, in recognition of her significant contribution and dedication to the organisation and the dryland farming industry for more than two decades.
MSF chair Steve Burt said as a board member, Ms Gordon played a major part in supporting grain farmers in the Mallee area to continue to be sustainable through grower collaboration with research organisations.
He said she pushed the industry hard to incorporate new ideas, new processes, new wheat varieties and new technology in decision-making.
“One of the important advances would have to be the emergence of ‘no till’ farming, which has considerably reduced soil erosion and increased the size of productive areas on dryland farms,” Mr Burt added.
“Apart from her outstanding contribution to MSF, Paula Gordon’s distinguished career included her work with the Victorian Public Service, where she contributed significantly to community services, management, agricultural research, and the adoption of new farming practices,” he said.
“Paula also played a pivotal role in the establishment of the first rural financial counselling service in Australia and contributed to program development adopted by the Commonwealth Government for the horticulture industry when it was confronted with severe challenges.”
When receiving her award at the recent MSF annual general meeting last week, Ms Gordon joined a distinguished list of life membership recipients, including Dr. David Roget, Tony Robbins, Gary Doyle, Allen Buckley, Jim Maynard, Ian Hastings, and Ron Hards.
“I am grateful for this honour, and acknowledge the pivotal role of MSF in information sharing, collaborative research and inspiration, working alongside farmers at the local level,” Mr Gordon said.
“I believe it is the mutual respect and strong interactions between scientists and farmers which is the powerhouse of MSF – planning regionally but responding locally.”
