From hobby farmer to a rural powerhouse

Belinda Hazell has been recognised for her services to primary industries.
Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A LIFELONG love of agriculture for Belinda Hazell began with idyllic days on the family hobby farm in the Huon Valley surrounded by apple trees and cattle.

After a decades-long career spanning the vast corners of this primary industry sector, Mrs Hazell, of Sandford, has received an Order of Australia Medal in the 2022 Australia Day Honours.

“I actually left school at 15 and worked for an apple exporting company for 12 years, then I was married and my husband was part of a large family enterprise (Hazell Bros Group) that was running the agricultural division so I became part of that,” she said.

Following these first chapters of her agricultural career Mrs Hazell went on to co-own a consultancy business in 2003, and has been principal consultant ever since.

“Tasmania has quite a diverse primary industry sector, but also a real desire to connect with people, product and place in these niche and smaller boutique farming enterprises,” she said.

But it is her pages long involvement in related organisations, often in the most senior of roles, that makes Mrs Hazell a true industry powerhouse.

Current roles include Environment Protection Authority Tasmania deputy chair and Rural Business Tasmania board chair and former roles include Tasmanian Women in Agriculture chair, member of Rural Youth and Agfest Field Days, among many others.

“When I joined rural youth it developed the real foundation of the person that I am today,” Mrs Hazell said.

“Then in 1994 I joined Tasmanian Women in Agriculture … back then there was no real profile of what women do.”

One of her proudest achievements was raising awareness of sexual harassment in rural workplaces in 2018; which involved speaking at the TFGA’s Inspire conference, submitting a paper to the Australian Human Rights Commission and assistance in the creation of a related educational program.