Southland Dairy Woman Acknowledged For Successes

17 May 2007

Southland Dairy Woman Acknowledged For Successes

A new award has been launched for rural women who have stepped outside their comfort zones and pushed themselves further to achieve successes in their lives.

The Network for Women in Dairying launched the Celebrate You Award at its national conference in Invercargill this week (17, 18 May). The inaugural award has been given to dairy farmer, mother and business woman Michelle Wilson from Tuatapere in Southland.

"We're taught to focus on strategic planning and goal setting in our businesses as well as our personal lives but one of the important things that is often forgotten about is to celebrate the successes along the way too.

"Michelle has grown from an unassuming person to someone who has the ability to lead in her field," said Lynda Clark, general manager of the Network for Women in Dairying.

Michelle Wilson said a move to Southland from the Bay of Plenty changed her focus on where she, and husband Pete, wanted to go in their farming career.

"I moved from my comfort zone in the North Island and found that I didn't adjust very well to the change of environment -, geographically or socially. I then made a decision that I could either give up or get on my feet and make the best out of the opportunity we had been given.

"Five years ago I would never have envisioned myself that I would be doing what I am today, which includes sitting on three trust boards - Network for Women in Dairying, School Board of Trustees and the local community workers trust at Tuatapere."

The Wilsons are equity partners in a 650 cow dairy farm and Michelle also runs her own beauty therapy business from home.

"Pete and I do set goals for our business and family. I can't say that I have actually written my personal goals down for a long time, but I do have them in mind.

"I guess I have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by family, friends and business partners who are all motivated, enthusiastic, successful people in their own right," she said.

The Network for Women in Dairying was set up in 1998 by New Zealand dairying women to inform, educate, support and mentor women in dairying. This is provided through a number of forums, so that dairy women have greater access to knowledge, enabling them to better add value to their dairy businesses. The Network also aims to promote leadership and recognition for women in dairying.

ENDS

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