Hosted at the Oaks Toowoomba, this year’s event was well attended by a diverse mix of members from across Southeast Queensland representing all age groups and sectors within the rural and regional property community – many enjoying the picturesque drive through the Lockyer Valley en route to the venue.

Featuring an impressive line-up of speakers through the day tackling some key industry issues and hot topics, we had the pleasure of Karen Penfold, Director, Four Daughters Beef speaking passionately about her and her family’s incredible real life journey in diversifying their holdings by setting up and operating a successful beef enterprise starting from an impromptu meeting in a tavern – which led them on a journey to Wuhan, China (pre-covid) and a delivery arm to their products and embracing sustainability, to now looking at succession planning to ensure the success of their properties, which will eventually fall to all “Four Daughters”.

We also had a very interesting presentation (and sometimes eye watering – excuse the pun) with Matthew Donovan – LLB, Barrister-at-Law, and owner of Queensland Water Consultancy (who also has the pleasure of working with his daughter!) sharing insights into water trading in Queensland – this drawing some interesting questions and thoughts from around the room especially when touching on government funding of water projects and the potential costs involved for building dams and applying for water.

One of the final sessions of the day was a very interesting panel discussion with Dr Terry McCosker, OAM, Chairman, CarbonLink, Tim Bartholomew, Director, Valcore and Andrew Loughnan, FAPI CPV SWV, Viem Ventures where Carbon, Compliance & Land Value was discussed and very well received by the audience, particularly when the complexities involved in monitoring and measuring carbon levels in soil was being explained by Terry.

An impromptu feedback session in the afternoon gave members the opportunity to share their thoughts and views around the very hot topic of attracting and retaining rural valuers – with over 20 valuable points taken away for further discussion and consideration.

All the sessions generated interesting conversation amongst members not only during the day but also during breaks and lunch, many expressing enthusiasm for the topics and appreciation for the opportunity to connect in person. It was a fantastic day to put names to faces and I want to personally say a huge thank you to all those who attended and to the support from our speakers who took time out of their valuable schedules to speak. For those who were unable to attend, a recording will be available to purchase soon and for those who attended, a copy will be allocated to you – watch this space.

Up next is the Queensland State Conference on 15th October at the Voco Hotel Brisbane – see you there.