At the Rotary Club of Daylesford, we are committed to ensuring our local youth have the support and opportunities they need to thrive in our rural landscape. One of the most impactful ways we do this is through the Defying the Driftprogram, an initiative designed to encourage young people to explore the vibrant, high-tech, and essential careers available in modern agriculture.
We were recently honored to sponsor Caitlyn Sandwith, a 17-year-old from Newlyn, for this transformative experience. Caitlyn, whose agricultural roots run deep through her grandparents’ farm in Blampied, joined a cohort of young leaders at Longerenong College. Through site visits to organizations like Nuseed and Crop-opti, she gained firsthand insight into everything from canola breeding to chemical efficiency and agribusiness finance.
For Rotary, the “drift” refers to the trend of young people moving to the city for work. By sponsoring students like Caitlyn, we hope to show that the future of the bush is bright, professional, and full of opportunity. Caitlyn returned not just with new technical knowledge, but with enhanced public speaking skills and a strengthened network of industry mentors. We are proud to play a small part in her journey as she prepares to become a leader in our local agricultural community.
