News

On International Women’s Day, we acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution women make to the Australian macadamia industry. 

By Samantha Elley

Grower: Lisa Maclure

Farm location: Two farms at Dunoon

Size: 16 ha under trees

Cultivars: 246, 344, 741, 849 and a smattering of others

Soil: Red ferrosol

As a TAFE teacher in hospitality, Lisa Maclure was well-versed in teaching her students how to make a good latte or cocktail. It can’t be underestimated therefore, the learning curve she undertook when she and husband Daniel bought their two macadamia farms at Dunoon in the NSW Northern Rivers.

“When we moved back to the area, we decided to go into macadamia farms,” she said.

“It felt like a welcoming industry that we could fit into without coming from a background of farming.”

Lisa had the added challenge of managing the farm on her own while Daniel stayed in the IT industry.

“He helped in his spare time,” said Lisa, “but it was a steep learning curve.”

Over the next six years Lisa worked at improving the farms by carrying out row removal, major limbing, putting in drainage lines and inter-row planting as well as establishing more sheds.

An ongoing task for Lisa is soil improvement and sustainability.

“That’s more about the organic inputs to help the sustainability of the soil,” she said.

She is also continuing with inter-row plantings to attract beneficial insects and pollinators and provide good soil health.

Lisa said sustainability of the farm is her main focus now.

“If you move in that direction everything else, like profitability, follows,” she said.

When she looks at the farm, Lisa said she can see it from a nurturing and caring perspective.

“I take time to nurture the farm and move it along,” she said.

“My knowledge of mechanics and engines isn’t great, so I find people to do this for me.”

Lisa has been involved in some of the Australian Macadamia Society’s women’s events and seen them as very beneficial.

“At the start of COVID, I got involved with the online groups for women,” she said.

She has also been to some of the Women in Macadamias workshops which provided “a great opportunity” to network.

Lisa believes that it is important for women in the macadamia industry to succeed and prosper.

“We face a lot of challenges and need to be able to change perceptions that are out there.”

Lisa cited the example of people assuming the farmer was always the man.

“My husband would often refer people to me, as I knew more of what was happening on the farm than him,” she laughed.

Lisa is adamant she would recommend women enter the macadamia industry.

“Women have a lot of skills and our industry draws people from a vast array of backgrounds. If we can network together, we can share those skills, whether we are marketers, teachers or agriculturalists,” she said.

Daniel has since left the IT industry and works with Lisa on the farms.

“I wouldn’t change anything from the past six years,” she said.

“I’ve had my ups and downs and learnt so much. Often, I’ll get to the end of a row, covered in dirt and I’ll think how lucky I am.”

Then it’s time for a shower.