Tell us a little about yourself:

We are very much a family-orientated business. My husband Graham and I, along with our four daughters – Tamieka, Jaimee-Lee, Montana and Bonnie – run a beef cattle operation in the Charters Towers shire, two hours south-west of Townsville.
 

Why did you join the Rabo Client Council?

I am someone that loves to give back and keep busy, whether it’s being active in our business or sitting on voluntary committees. So when I was asked in 2018 if I would be interested in being on the Rabo Client Council, I had no hesitation at all. I am a big advocate for the Bank and really value the opportunity to have a voice in the ag industry. We’re not a large corporate – we are a small, family-run entity – so having that direct inroad to the Bank to relay our views and engage in conversation around ag issues and banking is really important.
 

What are some of the key initiatives your Rabo Client Council has been involved in:

Without a doubt, the Financial Skills workshops have had a big impact. With over 5000 people having now participated in this program, the numbers speak for itself. These workshops have been particularly beneficial for the next generation coming through, to help get them up to speed on the basics such as reading financial statements and understanding reports.

More recently, the Business Transition and Succession Planning workshops have proved to be very relevant and an important space to be in. Every day I speak to people, and they mention succession – people are talking about it, and they are thinking about it. We really need to keep this initiative going.
 

What initiatives have had the most impact?

All the initiatives we are involved in are all worthy – each one plays a role in supporting our industry. One initiative our Rabo Client Council felt strongly about backing is Sober in the Country through their Amplification Project. Featuring a series of videos, it shares stories of hope from those who have now chosen a life with less or no alcohol. It is a growing issue in rural communities and people often don’t know where to turn to for support.