Narrogin Shire President wins big at regional awards

A push to improve internet connectivity in the Wheatbelt has seen tech-wiz and Narrogin Shire President Leigh Ballard bestowed the West Australian Regional Achievement and Community Award for agricultural innovation.

Mr Ballard, through his Regional Communication Solutions business, has worked tirelessly to support farming through products such as mobile phone boosters, wi-fi and CCTV. Technology installed to turn on pumps and open gates from a smart phone was noted by the judges.

Narrogin’s Leigh Ballard has been rewarded for his effort to get the region better internet connectivity by winning the Agricultural Innovation Award at the Western Australia Regional

Mr Ballard used his speech to point out his home town’s important place on the WA map.

“I would like to say a couple of thank you to the amazing support team that I have behind me,” he said.

“Putting my shire president hat on for a minute, Narrogin is the centre of WA.

“We have had two winners here tonight and a finalist as well.”

Esperance’s Nigel Metz, Harvey’s Women in Farming Enterprises and AGRIFresh from Badgingarra were the other finalists in Mr Ballard’s category.