Rachel Kendrigan
Hometown: Mildura
Occupation: Community Planning
Area of Interest: Building community through growing food together
How is climate change impacting your community?
Living in a farming community, the impacts of climate change and their interrelatedness to the way we grow food is evident. There are many challenges being faced by irrigated and dryland farmers particularly around prices and access to water due to drought. The increasing intensity and frequency of dust storms, as well as high temperatures are a harsh reminder that our climate is changing. The effects of this on our farmers trickle out through the whole community.
What are you passionate about changing?
I’m very motivated to build a strong local food system to complement some momentum already underway in the Mallee. Especially under current circumstances, we are seeing how important it is that everyone has access to locally grown and fresh produce. I strongly believe in the power of growing food together to produce positive social, environmental and economic outcomes.