Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes is encouraging the local community to nominate inspiring rural women for the 2016 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Victorian Rural Womens Award. The Rural Womens Award honours the efforts of emerging leaders and creates opportunities for women to effect change in agricultural industries and rural communities. I am extraordinarily proud to support this award and acknowledge the vital leadership role women play in our local primary industries and communities. I encourage you to nominate those extraordinary rural women in the community that you know. This is about recognising the hard work of inspiring emerging women leaders in our rural communities. Applications for the award are open until October 30, 2015. Victorian finalists will be celebrated at a ceremony at Parliament House in March 2016, with the winner to receive a bursary of $10,000 to implement their project vision and participate in the RTRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. For more information about the award and to obtain a nomination form, visit, the RIRDC Rural Womens Award website, www.rirdc.gov.au or contact Jon Graftdyk on 03 5772 0225 or Jon. Graftdyk@ecodev.vic.gov.au.