Long time farmer Pam Howard has recently taken the chair for the NSW Farmers Gloucester branch.
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Elected during the branch's annual general meeting (AGM) on September 12 at the Roundabout Inn, she will sit along side fellow farmer, Albert Mullen who has been elected as the secretary/treasurer.
Pam comes from a long line of agriculturalists, as does her husband, Ken with both their families being involved in the farming and the timber industries in Gloucester since 1952.
Pam and Ken purchased their first property at Wallanbah in 1974 before moving to Wards River in 1979, where they raised their three boys.
"Beef cattle production was our main focus until 1996 when we decided to diversify into the poultry industry," Pam said.
Being in the industry for such a long time, Pam has an appreciation for the support NSW Farmers provides producers across many different areas of agricultural.
"We have attended many forums, seminars and workshops with the egg industry and meetings of the NSW Farmers egg committee and I realised that to have a voice in what happens to us 'the Australian family farmer', we must be prepared to speak up," she said.
"To be asked to be the Gloucester branch chair was an honour and I am looking forward to representing Gloucester and district farmers at the next level."
According to Pam, this year's AGM was the first time members were able to conference call from home and be a part of the meeting, listening to and joining in on all discussions, nominations and voting.
"We hope in future many other members will take advantage of this new technology and participate in our meetings," she said.
"Distance, time and workload has prevented members from attending meetings and now they will be able to make a phone call from home and be officially at the meetings with a voice and a vote on matters relating to Australian farmers."
NSW Farmers in various incarnations has supported the agricultural industry in NSW since the 1800s, fighting for rural industries and country people in times of peace and war.