FORMER Moree and Gurley local Katherine Munn will join seven finalists as future leaders in Australian agriculture at a unique, eight-day leadership program at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Joining Katherine as RAS Rural Achiever Award finalists is James Gilmour from Bukkulla, near Inverell, and Georgina Haire from Wee Waa.
Tasha Hurley and Jacob Moriarty from Condobolin, Brooke Watts (Molong), James Stephens (Gresford) and Roy Elder from Wongarbon near Dubbo, round out the eight finalists.
Katherine is now president of the Albury Show committee and, at 28, is the youngest person in the Show’s 168-year history to hold the position.
“As president of the Albury Show, I’m trying to get some fresh, new faces involved to make sure the Show can keep on going for years to come and has a solid succession plan in place,” Katherine told Moree Online News when named a finalist earlier in the year.
“I’m also bringing a bit of my experience from the Moree Show to try to incorporate more of an agricultural focus, which I think has fallen off a little in recent years due to a lack of committee members.”
Katherine found her passion for agriculture as a young girl feeding sheep off the back of an old Toyota Landcruiser with her grandfather, before her passion for rural issues was cemented during the 2017-2020 drought.
Having worked in a professional capacity in the agriculture industry for the past seven years, her love of rural Australia has only grown, as she has listened and learned from the stories of growers across the country, from Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory, to Ballarat in Victoria.
Katherine’s mission is to champion agriculture across the state through rural and regional communities and agricultural shows, as a long-time committee member of the Moree Show, and now as the youngest president of the Albury Show.
Bukkulla’s James Gilmour is deeply passionate about supporting the vitality and sustainability of rural communities.
Since 2015, James has participated in Sydney Royal Easter Show Young Judges competitions, where he has gained the experience to mentor young wool classers and other young judges, and advocates for inclusivity and leadership despite physical challenges.
He has worked closely with farmers and agricultural organisations, particularly through his qualifications as a wool classer and his role as Chief Farm Produce and Junior Judging Steward at the Warialda Show, to champion local industry.
He currently manages the self-founded White Gold sheep studs and has recently established JAG Santa Gertrudis stud.
James’ most recent achievements include the RAS Next Generation Recognition Award and State Champion Junior Fleece Judge.
Georgina Haire, after completing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2020, moved closer to home to become more involved in her family farm, and in 2023 partnered to open a physiotherapy clinic in Narrabri.
Georgina has completed further studies in women’s health and physiotherapy, and plans to undertake further studies in rural generalist practice, to widen her skillset and help overcome healthcare accessibility barriers for people living in rural and remote communities.
She has always been passionate about agriculture and is starting to take more responsibility in her family’s farming business with share farming.
Georgina has also been involved with the Zone 4 Young Woman movement, striving to empower more young people to return and work in our smaller communities.
The RAS Rural Achiever Competition is a state-wide leadership program run by the RAS to recognise young leaders aged 20-29 who are working hard to make a significant contribution to their local community, show society and Australian agriculture.
The program facilitates valuable agricultural industry networking opportunities during the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Through this unique and esteemed platform, participants are enabled to further develop their leadership skills, create important connections, and promote the work they are doing within their area of country NSW.
Additional opportunities throughout the year include representing New South Wales at the National Rural Ambassador Award and the chance to partake in the unique exchange program to the Royal Adelaide Show.
The RAS Rural Achiever Award not only highlights the hard work and passion of these young leaders but also inspires the next generation to continue advancing rural Australia.
Read More about Katherine Munn in an article written when she was named a finalist late last year:
Gurley’s Katherine Munn a RAS Rural Achiever Program finalist.
