SENATOR THE HON RICHARD COLBECK
Senator for Tasmania
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science
M E D I A R E L E A S E
Bright future for Tasmanian vegetable leaders
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck congratulated the fifteen participants who graduated earlier this month from the six-month 2011 Growing Leaders – National Vegetable Industry Leadership Program in Canberra.
“Growing Leaders is the only national industry specific leadership program for the vegetable industry, it provides participants with the opportunity to refine their leadership skills, to work together on a project and to expand their networks,” Senator Colbeck said.
Participants in the program included Tasmanian Tim Walker of Harvest Moon, who spoke at the recent Program Graduation Dinner, vegetable grower Colin Chaplin from Moriarty and Tom Loveless of Tasmanian company Peracto.
“For Harvest Moon the emphasis is on local recruitment and skills development. Tim Walker is a great example of this and according to Simon Drum from Harvest Moon Tim has a great attitude and a great future with the organisation.”
“Colin Chaplin is a well known local vegetable grower who has diversified from growing traditional vegetable crops into seed crops. Colin can see the market advantage in quality assurance systems and is very interested in helping industry access the best science in terms of pest and disease control, particularly for minor crops.”
“Tom Loveless joined Peracto through their Graduate Development Program, which is a 12 month structured training program for new staff. Tom has been pivotal to Peracto’s expansion having established the company’s Melbourne office and taken on the coordination of the Graduate Development Program.”
“The Growing Leaders Program also highlights the forward looking and people focussed nature of the Tasmanian horticultural industry. Harvest Moon, Peracto and Chaplin Brothers all understand the future lies in the ability of their people and are to be commended for investing in the development of industry leaders.”
“With individuals and businesses like this involved in horticulture, the future is bright,” Senator Colbeck said.
Senator Richard Colbeck
