The Power of Women in Dairying recently celebrated its tenth year at International Dairy Week with a special event attracting more than 100 people.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The night included the annual crowning of the 2026 Bette Hall Award which honoured Janette ‘Nettie’ Falls from Finley, recognising her outstanding contribution to the dairy industry over many decades.
Janette said she was honoured to receive the award and her cows and family meant everything to her.
“I have had some hard times over the years and the dairy industry has always helped me get through.
“There was a time when I didn’t have five cents to my name, but I had my kids and my cows and I backed myself.
“Cows are my comfort, and even though I am 70, I am still not ready to give them up,” Janette said.
Guest speakers included POW World Dairy Expo scholarship winner Bridget Liebelt who spoke about her trip, and United States dairy farmers Sharon Abbot and Julie Duckket — both women have been amazing contributors to the worldwide dairy industry.
The night also included the launch of the POW Cooking with Cows cookbook.
Entertainment was provided by a special trifle cook-off of three teams and a judging panel.
Teams included Mandy Pacitti and Peter Thurn, Anthony Shelly and Jo Dickson and Brook Boyd and Ben Govett.
The judging panel was Fleur Ferguson, Pat Nicholson and Robyn Barber, who deemed Brook and Ben the winners, with their take on a traditional trifle.
Founding organiser Jade Sieben said POW was an idea she thought up while washing out the dairy yard — a time she says when all her best ideas come forward.
“At the time, I didn’t really realise what it would grow into and the movement it would create.
“It really just started out as an idea to honour some of the amazing contributions of some of the women in our Australian Dairy Industry,” Jade said.
She said POW started to raise a bit of money which enabled the establishment of a scholarship to send someone to World Dairy Expo.
To date, four women have benefitted from the scholarship.
Like all good things, Jade said the idea would have never floated if it wasn’t for the help of some other amazing women including Di Malcolm, who at the time was running CrazyCow and Robyn Barber.
“Di knew if this was ever to get off the ground we needed the boss of Dairy Week on our side, so we teed up Robyn Barber and POW in dairy was born.”
POW has connected and supported women right across the wider dairy industry including passionate breeders and cow people in general.
She said it had been amazing to have been able to send four women overseas, and with the launch of the cookbook, she was hoping there will be a few more.
“The cookbook started out as a fundraising idea I thought would just be on A4 paper and spiral bound.
“IT soon morphed into a beautiful book of stories and photos celebrating Lex Bunn and Bette Hall award winners, along with many of the characters of the industry, some of which are no longer here with us today.”
The book was generously supported by a range of sponsors and capably put together by Kerrie Anderson and Fiona Hanks.
Jade said Janette joined nine other Bette Hall recipients including Lyn Boyd, Jenny Strrong, Pam Malcolm, Lisa Broad, Trish McGraw, Leanne Dobson, Mandy Pacitti, Winsome Anderson and Fiona Hanks.
“We would also like to acknowledge the passing of Trish McGraw who was a passionate woman who did such a wonderful job supporting and promoting the Ayrshire breed and the youth of the industry.”
To purchase a copy of the Cooking with Cows cookbook, visit www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1503343.
All proceeds from the cookbook directly contribute to POW in Dairying World Dairy Expo scholarship.