Our guest speaker was Daryl Smith from Inland Regional Development who outlined progress with the Australian Agricultural Centre to be built on recently acquired land near Crookwell.

The AAC is a unique concept which aims to dynamically present the agriculture of today.

It will focus on two core activities: agricultural education and training for students and farmers, together with tourism for local and international visitors in an innovative and motivational environment. It has been described as a 'Questacon' for agriculture.

Mr Smith and NSW Farmers regional services manager Dave Banham also spoke about the National Ag Day in November when Glen McGrath will be the keynote speaker for a fundraising dinner.

The Breast Cancer Foundation will be a major beneficiary. Breast cancer impacts many rural women and some men, so our branch voted to be one of the sponsors for the evening.

Q-fever and the devastating health issues it brings was another major topic raised, both at the Goulburn meeting, and again at the Upper Lachlan NSW Farmers AGM.

Our state president, James Jackson, who attended the meeting at Crookwell, suffered from this bacterial disease, which causes debilitating flu-like symptoms, including aches and pains with effects which can reoccur over many years.

Many branches will be seeking to have clinics for testing and vaccination. Politicians will also be lobbied for the vaccine to be placed on the PBS.