City dwellers losing touch with rural Australia
New research shows one in four Australians never venture beyond our cities!
12th October 2011 – Nearly a quarter (22%) of city dwellers never make it to the countryside and the majority (69%) visit rural Australia less than once a year, according to research released today at the Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 launch in Sydney
Despite Australia’s rich farming heritage and iconic rural landscapes, the research conducted by TNS found altogether city people spent an average of 3.5 days a year in rural areas and the majority (58%) said they would like to visit the country more often.
However Year of the Farmer Chairman Philip Bruem AM said he expected the Year of the Farmer campaign to help boost these numbers.
"The Australian Year of the Farmer campaign aims to enhance the ties between city and rural communities in a celebration of Australian farming, and in doing so, communicate to all Australians the importance of farming to our economic and social fabric," Mr Bruem said.
Today’s official launch of the Year brought a diverse combination of celebrities, business and farming identities together today at the site of the first European farm in Australia in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
Television personality Natalie Gruzlewski joined Patron for the Year, Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC and Ambassador for the Year, former Australian cricket champion, farmer and philanthropist Glenn McGrath in launching the Year, which also enjoys the support of the Federal, State and Territory Governments, sponsors and industry supporters.
Conceived by NSW-based farmer Philip Bruem, and former Sydney Markets CEO Geoff Bell, the Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 is a year-long program of activities that will celebrate the contribution farmers and rural communities make to the nation.
"For the first time ever, Australia will celebrate our farmers and recognise how they connect rural and urban communities.
"The Australian Year of the Farmer recognises what farmers do for all Australians. It celebrates them for feeding the nation, for leading the world in farming techniques and innovation, and for sustaining the vital agribusinesses that underpin our economy. Farmers are the providers of our nation," Mr Bruem said.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, said the year-long celebration would highlight the contribution made to Australia by its farmers.
"Australian farmers are some of the best in the world," Minister Ludwig said.
"The Year of the Farmer will boost Australia’s recognition of the important contribution our farmers and our rural communities make to our food supply, to our economy, and to the Aussie way of life as a whole.
"It’s fantastic to see the efforts of our farmers being recognised on a national scale."
Mr Bruem said the Australian Year of the Farmer was particularly important because of the key role farmers would play in providing food to meet significant growing demand in Australia and abroad.
"By 2050, there will be 9.3 billion people in the world, up from seven billion today. Farmers globally will need to increase productivity by 70% over the next 40 years," Mr Bruem said.
"It goes without saying that we need a strong, sustainable farming sector in Australia.
"In 2012, the Australian Year of the Farmer will encourage all Australians to celebrate and recognise the contribution farming makes to all of our lives. It will celebrate farmers for feeding the nation, for leading the world in farming techniques and innovation, and for sustaining the vital agribusinesses that underpin our economy. Farmers are the providers of our nation."
A non-political, not-for profit organisation, Australian Year of the Farmer is made possible by Foundation Partners Elders and Woolworths, and major partners Fairfax Media, oOH! Media, Toyota and PMP. Seed funding for the development of the Year was provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with support from all States and Territory Governments.
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