Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate both the editor of the Warragul & Drouin Gazette, Yvette Braddon, and former editor of the Warragul & Drouin Gazette, Carolyn Turner, on being presented with lifetime achievement awards by the Rural Press Club of Victoria last week. Yvette and Carolyn were both just 17 when they started their careers as cadet journalists at the Warragul & Drouin Gazette. These two women have risen through the ranks from cadet to editor while displaying an unwavering loyalty to the Gazette, journalism and our broader community. As journalists and editors, Yvette and Carolyn have both made significant and lasting impact on the west Gippsland community. They've told the stories of triumph, of grief and of crisis, ensuring local voices and issues are heard.

After almost 50 years at the Gazette, Carolyn retired in 2022. I've been for a few spins on the bike around Darnum with her since that time. She handed the reins to Yvette. Yvette joined the paper in 1990 and now leads the award-winning editorial team with integrity, innovation and an incredibly strong work ethic. I congratulate Yvette and Carolyn on their well-deserved lifetime achievement awards. There's a plaque that hangs above the editor's desk at the Warragul & Drouin Gazette which says:

A good local newspaper is one of the best public assets that any district can possess.

That's a quote from Albert Harvey, the founding editor and owner. I think that sums up the dedication of Yvette and Carolyn so very well.

Last week I had the great privilege of attending Farm World at Lardner Park. I've only missed a couple of farm worlds in 20 years. It is the hottest ticket in the Monash calendar. Despite fuel and fertiliser crises, almost 30,000 people attended across the three-day event, and this underpins the importance of Farm World in connecting farming to our broader community and, indeed, to many visitors from Melbourne and further afield. Farm World is a celebration of our region, our produce and our people. It starts conversations about new technology, global trends and peer-to-peer support right here in our community. Farm World brings not only Gippslanders together; it invites people from city areas as well. I want to commend Craig Debnam, the board and staff, as well as volunteers from right across the community, such as Ellinbank footy club and the Lions club.

Last night, with the member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, I had the great privilege of co-hosting Just a Farmer, a film about mental health, resilience and regional communities. I am very grateful that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry attended. This film is incredibly important to regions right across Australia, and I encourage people in a regional community to have a look at the website justafarmer.com.au if they'd like to host a screening in their local community. Thanks to the production team.