Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is calling on inspiring rural women who want to make a lasting contribution to primary industries and rural communities to put their hand up and nominate for the 2012 Rural Women’s Award.

Mr Bull said, the award was designed to recognise and encourage the vital contribution women make to rural Victoria and Australia.”

“In addition to a $10,000 bursary awarded to the Victorian winner, both the winner and the runner-up will attend a course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors in Canberra.

"The winner will also be given the opportunity to sit on the Ministerial Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel, which provides advice on emerging issues in primary industries and how they affect women," Mr Bull said.

Past Victorian award finalists put forward projects on a range of topics including young farmer networks, farm financial management, succession planning, aquaculture, dairy co-operatives, agriculture education and exports.

Entries close on 15 October and application forms can be downloaded from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's website at www.rirdc.gov.au, or by calling (03) 9658 4493.