The experiences of youth in rural and regional Australia are as diverse as the landscapes that they live in, and thirty-eight winners of the ABC Radio’s 2005 Heywire competition have been given the opportunity to share these experiences with the nation.

The Heywire initiative – of which the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has been a proud sponsor since its inception in 1998 – brings together a motivated group of young people, and helps them build the skills they will need to continue voicing their ideas and opinions in the future.

Speaking at the presentation dinner for the 38 winners on Thursday 9 February, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Sussan Ley said Heywire is a valuable leadership scheme specifically for people aged 16 to 22 who live or work in rural, regional or remote areas of Australia.

“Their enthusiasm, their strong sense of community and their faith in the future is truly inspirational.

“The challenge is to write a non-fiction story — that is no more than 400 words long and will work well on radio — on an aspect of life in rural or regional Australia,” she said.

“That resulted in stories on local sporting teams and life in the shearing shed, right through to the importance of the neighbourhood fish-and-chip shop.”

In 2005 over 800 young people from around Australia submitted a radio story for the competition. The stories of the 38 winners, chosen from ABC regional radio locations around Australia, have been produced and broadcast throughout Australia on ABC Radio and online.

"All up, a staggering 800 plus entries were submitted from around the country, with the 38 winners representing each State and the Northern Territory,” Ms Ley said.

"I'm particularly pleased that one of the NSW winners - Guy Petersen - is from my electorate of Farrer.”

The winners were brought together in Canberra for the Youth Issue Forum, which climaxed with the Heywire Presentation Dinner on Thursday.

Highlights of the Forum have included the further exploration of the issues of importance for regional and rural youth, living alongside the athletes in training at the Australian Institute of Sport, and a visit to Parliament House.

RIRDC Managing Director Dr Peter O’Brien said that the diversity of the Heywire winners’ stories reflects the diversity of Australia’s regions, and the ways in which regional communities contribute the national economy.

“The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation is committed to improving the sustainability of the Australian rural sector, and nurturing our vibrant rural communities is an important part of this. It is encouraging to see that a spirit of innovation and a commitment to community is thriving in our rural youth,” Dr O’Brien said.

Media Contacts:
Rural Industries R&D Corporation: Martin Field  02 6272 4735
ABC Radio Marketing and Media: Lindsay Banffy  0418 650 553

Information on the winners’ stories and hi-res photos are available at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/media_releases
More information on Heywire: www.abc.net.au/heywire