Hello Yellow: the humble crop spinning tourism gold
Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field.
Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt.
Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country.
Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns.
Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land.
Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period.
International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors.
"It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP.
"Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth.
"It's a gift that the country can give to the city."
While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030.
Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes.
A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries.
Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region.
Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains.
Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail.
Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said.
"There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP.
"It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that."
Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments.
Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide.
"Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said.
"If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things.
"It builds a connection with the country."
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Australian workplaces are being urged to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs rather than follow the United States in dismantling them. Known colloquially as DEI, these initiatives are designed to create a fair and inclusive workplace with diverse people, where the playing field is levelled and all feel welcome. Since his most recent election as United States president, Donald Trump has wound back government DEI programs with many private sector companies following suit. But the former head of the Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, wants Australian businesses to take a different path. Recently appointed patron of Pride in Diversity, an organisation that supports employers in all aspects of LGBTQ workplace inclusion, Mr Zahra said the need for diverse visibility had never been greater. When appointed chief executive of David Jones in 2010, he was the only openly gay leader in the ASX 200. During his time at the retailers association, Mr Zahra then championed DEI by signing retailers up to gender and LGBTQI equity statements and advocating for First Nations peoples. "I bring lived experience and I understand the complexities," he told AAP. "For LGBTQI people there is still a social taboo and it's not always socially acceptable." But rather than going down a rabbit hole of winding programs back, diversity, equity and inclusion should represent an opportunity for employers. "People need to see it as an economic imperative and what is happening in the US means Australia can position itself advantageously," Mr Zahra said. "While Washington rolls back DEI initiatives ... Australia has a unique chance to position itself as a global leader in inclusive business practices and reap the substantial economic benefits that come with it." The White House has defended its shutting down of DEI programs within government, calling the framework a form of discrimination and says its transgender policy protects women by keeping transgender women out of shared spaces. But Mr Zahra, who led the retailers association through the COVID-19 pandemic which was one of the toughest periods in retail history, said he had seen time and again how diverse leadership teams outperformed homogeneous ones. "As this continues in the US, more of the talent will be forced out and Australia has a real opportunity to capture that talent," he said. "When your competitors abandon proven business practices, Australia can capture the talent that values inclusion." Recent Diversity Council Australia research shows some progress has been made in Australian workplaces towards diversity and inclusion but opposition to these efforts has doubled to seven per cent since 2017. Despite having more ways of reaching colleagues than ever, the Inclusion at Work Index found workers report feeling less connected and able to contribute to their teams. Australian workplaces are being urged to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs rather than follow the United States in dismantling them. Known colloquially as DEI, these initiatives are designed to create a fair and inclusive workplace with diverse people, where the playing field is levelled and all feel welcome. Since his most recent election as United States president, Donald Trump has wound back government DEI programs with many private sector companies following suit. But the former head of the Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, wants Australian businesses to take a different path. Recently appointed patron of Pride in Diversity, an organisation that supports employers in all aspects of LGBTQ workplace inclusion, Mr Zahra said the need for diverse visibility had never been greater. When appointed chief executive of David Jones in 2010, he was the only openly gay leader in the ASX 200. During his time at the retailers association, Mr Zahra then championed DEI by signing retailers up to gender and LGBTQI equity statements and advocating for First Nations peoples. "I bring lived experience and I understand the complexities," he told AAP. "For LGBTQI people there is still a social taboo and it's not always socially acceptable." But rather than going down a rabbit hole of winding programs back, diversity, equity and inclusion should represent an opportunity for employers. "People need to see it as an economic imperative and what is happening in the US means Australia can position itself advantageously," Mr Zahra said. "While Washington rolls back DEI initiatives ... Australia has a unique chance to position itself as a global leader in inclusive business practices and reap the substantial economic benefits that come with it." The White House has defended its shutting down of DEI programs within government, calling the framework a form of discrimination and says its transgender policy protects women by keeping transgender women out of shared spaces. But Mr Zahra, who led the retailers association through the COVID-19 pandemic which was one of the toughest periods in retail history, said he had seen time and again how diverse leadership teams outperformed homogeneous ones. "As this continues in the US, more of the talent will be forced out and Australia has a real opportunity to capture that talent," he said. "When your competitors abandon proven business practices, Australia can capture the talent that values inclusion." Recent Diversity Council Australia research shows some progress has been made in Australian workplaces towards diversity and inclusion but opposition to these efforts has doubled to seven per cent since 2017. Despite having more ways of reaching colleagues than ever, the Inclusion at Work Index found workers report feeling less connected and able to contribute to their teams. Australian workplaces are being urged to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs rather than follow the United States in dismantling them. Known colloquially as DEI, these initiatives are designed to create a fair and inclusive workplace with diverse people, where the playing field is levelled and all feel welcome. Since his most recent election as United States president, Donald Trump has wound back government DEI programs with many private sector companies following suit. But the former head of the Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, wants Australian businesses to take a different path. Recently appointed patron of Pride in Diversity, an organisation that supports employers in all aspects of LGBTQ workplace inclusion, Mr Zahra said the need for diverse visibility had never been greater. When appointed chief executive of David Jones in 2010, he was the only openly gay leader in the ASX 200. During his time at the retailers association, Mr Zahra then championed DEI by signing retailers up to gender and LGBTQI equity statements and advocating for First Nations peoples. "I bring lived experience and I understand the complexities," he told AAP. "For LGBTQI people there is still a social taboo and it's not always socially acceptable." But rather than going down a rabbit hole of winding programs back, diversity, equity and inclusion should represent an opportunity for employers. "People need to see it as an economic imperative and what is happening in the US means Australia can position itself advantageously," Mr Zahra said. "While Washington rolls back DEI initiatives ... Australia has a unique chance to position itself as a global leader in inclusive business practices and reap the substantial economic benefits that come with it." The White House has defended its shutting down of DEI programs within government, calling the framework a form of discrimination and says its transgender policy protects women by keeping transgender women out of shared spaces. But Mr Zahra, who led the retailers association through the COVID-19 pandemic which was one of the toughest periods in retail history, said he had seen time and again how diverse leadership teams outperformed homogeneous ones. "As this continues in the US, more of the talent will be forced out and Australia has a real opportunity to capture that talent," he said. "When your competitors abandon proven business practices, Australia can capture the talent that values inclusion." Recent Diversity Council Australia research shows some progress has been made in Australian workplaces towards diversity and inclusion but opposition to these efforts has doubled to seven per cent since 2017. Despite having more ways of reaching colleagues than ever, the Inclusion at Work Index found workers report feeling less connected and able to contribute to their teams. Australian workplaces are being urged to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs rather than follow the United States in dismantling them. Known colloquially as DEI, these initiatives are designed to create a fair and inclusive workplace with diverse people, where the playing field is levelled and all feel welcome. Since his most recent election as United States president, Donald Trump has wound back government DEI programs with many private sector companies following suit. But the former head of the Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, wants Australian businesses to take a different path. Recently appointed patron of Pride in Diversity, an organisation that supports employers in all aspects of LGBTQ workplace inclusion, Mr Zahra said the need for diverse visibility had never been greater. When appointed chief executive of David Jones in 2010, he was the only openly gay leader in the ASX 200. During his time at the retailers association, Mr Zahra then championed DEI by signing retailers up to gender and LGBTQI equity statements and advocating for First Nations peoples. "I bring lived experience and I understand the complexities," he told AAP. "For LGBTQI people there is still a social taboo and it's not always socially acceptable." But rather than going down a rabbit hole of winding programs back, diversity, equity and inclusion should represent an opportunity for employers. "People need to see it as an economic imperative and what is happening in the US means Australia can position itself advantageously," Mr Zahra said. "While Washington rolls back DEI initiatives ... Australia has a unique chance to position itself as a global leader in inclusive business practices and reap the substantial economic benefits that come with it." The White House has defended its shutting down of DEI programs within government, calling the framework a form of discrimination and says its transgender policy protects women by keeping transgender women out of shared spaces. But Mr Zahra, who led the retailers association through the COVID-19 pandemic which was one of the toughest periods in retail history, said he had seen time and again how diverse leadership teams outperformed homogeneous ones. "As this continues in the US, more of the talent will be forced out and Australia has a real opportunity to capture that talent," he said. "When your competitors abandon proven business practices, Australia can capture the talent that values inclusion." Recent Diversity Council Australia research shows some progress has been made in Australian workplaces towards diversity and inclusion but opposition to these efforts has doubled to seven per cent since 2017. Despite having more ways of reaching colleagues than ever, the Inclusion at Work Index found workers report feeling less connected and able to contribute to their teams.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hello Yellow: the humble crop spinning tourism gold
Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country."
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Hello Yellow: the humble crop spinning tourism gold
Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country."
