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2014 Youth Conference Location and Topics are now being finalised please email any suggestions to ngadmin@queenslandshows.com.au .
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QUEENSLAND NEXT GENERATION
About Us
Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies Inc (QCAS) Next Generation Youth Committee consists of 128 affiliated show societies throughout Queensland. Each society is responsible for the organisation and staging of their annual show. Few shows are identical however most feature a strong Agricultural focus.
In order to see the success of the local show movement continue QCAS have created a Youth Committee known as QCAS Next Generation. This committee is charged with increasing Youth participation in the organising and co-ordinating of our local shows. This includes assisting with the running of various show competitions, providing assistance to individuals show, providing assistance to youth in attracting sponsors, running new events at shows and obtaining the necessary skills to add value to the individual show.
Next Generation hold a biannual youth Workshop and Conference to provide delegates with the skills they need to fully engage with established agricultural show societies within their region. The very purpose of the conference was to get like minded young people together from across Queensland and Australia in one location to learn new skills, share best practise and build up a network of support. As a result of the conference young people have the required skills to become fully engaged in the decision and organisation of their local show. The experience gained from the workshops helps to see youth sitting on, and fully contributing to a successful show committee. The First conference was held at the Royal Toowoomba Showgrounds in 2010 with 46 delegates representing 3 states and 9 Queensland Sub-Chambers. The 2012 conference at the University of Queensland's Gatton Campus was a huge success with participation almost doubling the 2010 conference. Plans for the 2014 Conference are now in full swing. The executive committee are seeking any ideas, such as ideal speakers, topics, or even location. If you have any ideas for the 2014 conference or any after that we would love to hear from you, please email ngadmin@queenslandshows.com.au or contact Amy Wicks on 0427 322 781.
WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER!!! IT IS FREE!!
Complete a membership form and return to QCAS NEXT GENERATION, PO BOX 194, GAYNDAH 4625
QCAS NEXT GEN membership form
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| Next Gen AGM: |
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| Saturday the 10th of August 2013, RNA Showgrounds Time and Location TBA |
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Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth Conference 2012 - Zambia |
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Left: Bruce McConell representing QCAS Next Generation with Ian McConel representing Rural Ambassador at the Next Generation Welcome Dinner at the RASC in Zambia, Ian McConnel at VIctoria Falls enjoying the best of the conference.
Below: Ellen Newberry NSW Next Generation, Bruce McConnel QCAS Next Generation and Anna Playfair-Hannay Next Generation
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| The Future is in Your Hands |
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The QCAS Next Generation provides:
- Assistance to Local Shows, Sub-Chambers & QCAS
- Help in bridging communication gaps between youth and their committees
- Opportunities for members to participate in workshops, training days and conference
- Opportunities for development at other shows
- Mentor opportunities at local and state level
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Youth Conference and Workshops |
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2012 Next Generation AGM held at the Ernest Baynes Room During the Ekka. Thank you to all Next Gen members who helped QCAS at the Ekka in 2012.
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On the 24th and 25th of January 2010, the QCAS Next Generation held their first Show Day Youth Workshop and Conference. 46 delegates representing 3 states and 9 Queensland sub-chambers attended the workshop at the Royal Toowoomba Showgrounds. The Australian Government throught he Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foresty supplied the QACS Next Generation with funding to hold this workshop to provide accommodation and transport of delegates to the workshop.
The Show Day Workshop helped to provide the delegates with the skills they need to fully engage with established agricultural show societies within their region. This was accomplished by hands on activities, guest speakers and shared experiences between youth and distinguished guests. A full report of the 2010 Conference is available from the QCAS Next Generation.
The very premise of the workshop was to get like-minded young people from around Queensland together in one location to learn new skills, but also to share best practice and build a network of support. The three day workshop provided the young people selected by their Sub-Chambers with the necessary skills to become fully engaged in the decision and organisation of their local show. The experience gained from the workshops helps to see youth sitting on, and fully contributing to a successful show committee. This will empower the youth to extend their area of influence.
In January 2011 the QCAS NG will repeat the success of the 2010 gathering by holding our 2nd Youth Conference and Workshop in Brisbane. This will provide delegates with knowledge and practical skills through hands on activities, guest speakers and shared experiences between youth and distinguished guests. |
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| Contact Details - QCAS Next Generation Committee |
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Amy Wicks
President
Nanango, Darling Downs Sub Chamber
dandalooharvesting@gmail.com |
Amy lives in Gayndah in the North Burnett and works on the North Burnett Regional Council. She is married and has one son, with her second child due in March. Amy grew up on a farm and Brahman stud in the South Burnett area. Amy has been involved in showing cattle since high school, and now judges at a number of country shows throughout . She has competed in young judges and handlers in beef and dairy at local, regional, state and national levels.
Amy was the 2009 Nanango Miss Showgirl and went onto to be named the 2009 Miss Popular. Amy joined Next Generation in 2009 and has been an executive ever since, and also served a twelve months term as secretary. In 2012 Amy was the Rural Ambassador for the Nanango Show, and was awarded the state runner-up title at the Brisbane Exhibition.
Amy has a strong passion for the show movement. "Shows play an important role in bringing our communities together," Amy says.
"They give the community an opportunity to showcase a variety of local skills and talents. It is vital that the Next Generation work with the current show leaders to ensure that the show movement will continue for years to come."Amy is looking forward to the challenges that this new role as president involves and welcomes any advice or suggestions.
*You can email Next Generation at ngadmin@queenslandshows.com.au
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Janine Milne
Vice-Presdient
Chinchilla, South West Sub Chamber
janine_milne@live.com.au
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Janine was originally involved as a young child with the Caboolture Show Society, and as she got older volunteered and stewarded. She was a Rural Ambassador state finalist in 2007, and has since been involved with QCAS Next generation since its inception in 2008. Janine says she has met many great friends and inspirational people along the way, through volunteering and community work with Queensland Country Shows.
"What I enjoy most about being a part of this youth leadership group is the organisation of our biannual state and national conferences, as well as our first regional workshop which were all very successful."
Janine has starting teaching agriculture at a Rockhampton high school this year. She says she finds her job enormously fulfilling to teach, and learn more about the agricultural industry.
"The agricultural industry is the most exciting, proactive, innovative industry for young people to become involved in. I hope that I can share this with my students."
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Kylie Welke
Secretary
Goombungee-Haden, Darling Downs Sub Chamber
welke@bigpond.com.au |
Kylie was one of the founding members of the Next Generation committee under the leadership of Bruce McConnel. Kylie is involved in the Goombungee-Haden Show Society where she is the senior vice president and the chief steward for the young judges and the Miss Showgirl competition. She was selected to represent the Goombungee-Haden Show Society at the 2012/2013 Darling Downs Rural Ambassador awards where she was announced as runner-up. In 2005 Kylie was also the runner-up in the Darling Downs Miss Showgirl competition.
Kylie has a strong connection with the young judges competitions and works with the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies to organise the state finals for the grain young judges competition. She is currently employed by Riverina Stockfeeds based in Oakey in merchandise sales.
Kylie believes shows are the one time every year that the community comes together and to showcase the local talents, produce and livestock from the region.
"Shows are an important event, and allow families to enjoy a fun filled day together."
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Samamtha McConnell - Green
Treaseurer
woodridge7@bigpond.com |
Samantha has shown a number of animals including cattle, sheep, goats and poultry for many years. Her enthusiasm for shows and exhibiting started at a young age and her commitment to the show movement continues today.
Samantha is the committee member in charge of the school work and poultry sections at the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland, and stewards at many other shows across the Darling Downs and the RNA. In her roles as committee member, steward and a past Darling Downs Rural Ambassador, Samantha takes every opportunity to encourage young people to stay actively involved in their local shows and to step up and take on roles within the organising body.
Samantha works full time for Education Queensland as a primary school teacher and encourages her students to actively support shows with entries and attendance.
Samantha believes that shows are a pivotal part of any community.
"Shows provide opportunities for communities to unite and showcase their district," she says.
"They also providing a starting point for enthusiastic individuals to become more actively involved in agricultural industries." |
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Andrea Schulz
Executive Member
Gympie, Near North Coast Sub Chamber
andrea.schulz@fairfaxmedia.com.au |
Andrea has shown cattle for the past 10 years, and has competed in the junior judges and paraders competitions. She qualified for state finals several times while in high school, and has also judged stud cattle at shows in both and NSW.
She was the chief steward for the Mary Valley Show Society, after starting up a cattle section in 2010. In the same year she was the Miss Gympie and Near North Coast Showgirl, and was named the QCL Miss Popular at the state finals at the Ekka. Andrea has completed a dual degree at the majoring in animal science, and animal and plant biosecurity. She works full time for the Queensland Country Life based in , and says she enjoys promoting the show movement.
'Shows are such an important aspect for rural and regional communities, and they are a great stepping stone for getting more young people involved in the agricultural industry." |
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Jessica Bargenquast
Executive Member
Biggenden, Burnett Sub Chamber
jesswillbargenquast@gmail.com |
Jess is involved with two shows societies in the picturesque Burnett region, being Biggenden and Teebar. Jess lives in Biggenden with her husband, and works for the Isis Central Sugar Mill.
She says most weekends you'll find her out in the paddock working, in the kitchen baking, or heading to the odd country race meeting.
She enjoys helping and volunteering at various community events and the local show.
Jess has been a driving force in promoting the Showgirl and Rural Ambassador competition for the Biggenden and Teebar Show Societies, and was a state Rural Ambassador finalist herself last year.
Jess says she looks forward to working with the Next Gen committee over the coming 12 months to further encourage youth to be more involved in the local show movement, and to help introduce more events and competitons to regional shows. |
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Kerri Robertson
Executive Member
Goondiwindi, Darling Downs Sub Chamber
kerrivolger@hotmail.com |
In 2004 Kerri was awarded the Goondiwindi Miss Showgirl title, and from there has received many opportunities within the show society.
She has stewarded for the Showgirl competition for eight years, and is currently in her third year as the Goondiwindi secretary.
Kerri is on several committees relating to the show, including the finance committee, the ladies auxiliary, and the management committee. She is also the sub chamber delegate.
Kerri says she is very lucky to have been raised in a show oriented family.
"I have very fond memories as a child attending shows, and exhibiting merinos and prime cattle.
"I've also entered pasture competitions, which combinations of Bambatsi and .
"I am now endeavouring to raise awareness of the Next Gen committee to our Goondiwindi community and our surrounding regions." |
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Sophie Curtis
Executive Member
Millmerran, Darling Downs Sub Chamber
sophcurtis@live.com.au
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Sophie Curtis managers her family's Dorper stud and commercial sheep enterprise on their property 'Bellevue' located at Millmerran on the Darling Downs. She is actively involved with her local Show Society Millmerran, where she is the Junior Vice President and Showgirl coordinator. At the Brisbane Exhibition in 2012 Sophie was announced the winner of the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies MARSH Rural ambassador competition.
I love the land and working with sheep. I am passionate about food production in Australia and we really need to encourage a younger generation to pursue a career in agriculture.
Show societies and showground facilities are so important for communities. We have to keep the show movement going, and encourage a younger generation to get involved. I am very excited to be involved with Next Gen. It is so important to have a strong network of young people across the country, and Next Generation is helping to build this. |
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Rowan O'Hara
Executive Member
Nambour, Near North Coast Sub Chamber
rowan.ohara@bigpond.com |
Rowan has been involved in the agricultural industry for most of his life, and now runs his own successful contract farming business in Chinchilla. For over 20 years, Rowan has been involved in agricultural shows, and has sat on management committees for the last 12 years. He also holds a diploma of Event Management.
Rowan is the vice president of the and Chinchilla Show Society's, and was the vice president for Next Generation for the past three years.
He is actively involved in many other festivals and committees throughout various communities.
Rowan says his main passion and drive for these roles is the desire for the promotion and education of agriculture to the city people, as well as encouraging the next generation of young people in this great country. |
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Lyle Hasselbach
Executive Member
Goomeri, South Burnett Sub Chamber
haso.5@bigpond.com |
Lyle has been a member of the Goomeri Show Society management committee for the past five years, and is serving his second term as secretary. He was the secretary of the South Burnett sub chamber, and is still involved with the organisation of other South Burnett shows. Lyle has been an executive member for Next Generation since the group was formed. He was Rural Ambassador himself in 2008, and has since been a state coordinator of the competition which has allowed him to travel to royal shows in Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Lyle says he is looking forward to having the opportunity to travel to next year to attend some of the shows across the Tasman.
"I'm also looking forward to my continued involvement in the show movement which has allowed me to extend my networks well beyond what I ever imagined.
"It has allowed me to meet people I would not ordinarily meet." |
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Monica Skerman |
maskerman@bigpong.com | |
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For further information contact any of our executive committee or phone:
Amy Wicks on 0427 322 781
Postal Address:
QCAS Next Generation
PO BOX 194 Gayndah QLD 4625
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