IT’S tough to find a farmer today who isn’t diversifying with niche crops or clever processing – plus finding a second income stream ‘off-farm’. Alicia Harrison, NSW Farmers’ membership service manager, is doing all that.
Alicia and her husband Luke live on a 200-hectare property, Kelburn in Tooraweenah, near Gilgandra in Central West NSW. Here, they run 300 Merino ewes and first-cross lambs, as well as a thriving 12-hectare olive grove, from which they produce a line of locally-renowned olive oils under the label 'The Crossroads’.
“I love seeing what branches can achieve at a local level,” Alicia says.
Alicia moved to her current role two years ago. As the membership service manager, she is responsible for attracting and retaining members, working closely with the regional service & sales manager Jonathan Tuckfield and the RSM team to develop and implement membership campaigns, and report and monitor membership statistics.
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.jpg "Gunnedah AgQuip NSW Farmers team")
NSW Farmers' were on hand to give advice at Gunnedah's AgQuip this year. Lining up here: (back row, from left): Matthew Waring, James Jackson, Anna-Kate McDonald, Daniel Brear, David Banham, Michael Collins; (front row): Alicia Harrison, Michael Burt, Alexandra Bunton, Jennifer Shillabeer and Cassandra Low.
Alicia sometimes attends field days and other events, but she largely works remotely from the farm, which is also home to the couple’s two children – Jemima, eight, and Claudia, six. The rural lifestyle suits the family. After a very brief stint in Sydney, Alicia says she enjoys the work-life balance that allows her to spend time with her children and work on the land, as well as look after members, many of whom she has known for years.
“My father Rex Wilson, who has been mayor of Warren Shire Council for the past 30 years, really instilled in me the importance of playing an active role in your local community, which our members do so well. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know members from all walks of life and all types of commodities over the years. You are always learning something new,” she says.
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“It’s vital that we work with our older farmers and tap into their skills and experience. We also need to appeal to our younger members by ensuring we are relevant and up-to-date.”
“My job is to find that balance of respecting our history and protecting our future so that membership continues to be of value.”
She believes that advocacy is vital in making sure that
young people are attracted to the farming industry. “I want to ensure that regional and rural communities have a strong voice.”
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