The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Beverlee Adams was the New South Wales winner of the ABC Rural Woman of the Year Award in 1995.

At the time of her award, Beverlee had been a small farm operator in the Scone district in New South Wales since 1968. She had her farm declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1973 with the belief that grazing and wild life preservation can be combined. Beverlee built up a Cherolais herd due to her belief that a low fat breed of cattle would be compatible with the 1990s trend towards less fat consumption and healthier eating.

Beverlee contributed significantly to education on weed control in NSW and was the Scone Shire’s representative on the National Parks’ Advisory Committee for the Barrington Tops (1974-1992). The committee established the Broom Council program of biological control for the Broom plant and raised $300,000 to implement the program. She served as a Hunter Valley Shire Councillor and was a strong supporter of agribusiness in the community. She also had a long history of connection with green and indigenous issues in the community. In April 2000, she was the guest speaker at the Jean Arnot Memorial Luncheon held by the National Council of Women of NSW Inc. and Australian Federation of Business & Professional Women Inc. In 2011, Beverlee Adams was a member of the Board of Trustees that managed the Coal and Allied Community Trust of Rio Tinto Coal Australia.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2001 for service to local government through the Scone Shire Council, to support rural women, to sustainable agriculture and to environmental management.

Events

• 1995

  Winner – ABC New South Wales Rural Woman of the Year