RACHAEL DETTLING

Passionate about agriculture, this industry has provided career opportunities, and a means to build and develop an asset and the opportunity to fully embrace a farming lifestyle in country communities in both New Zealand and Australia.

My husband and I purchased a 425-acre farm in 2006, with the next 14 years spent developing this into a productive 180 cow diary unit while also raising three children. In 2019 our farming direction changed and the business converted to beef fattening and trading operation. This allowed me the opportunity to seek work off farm and in June 2020 I was employed by Qconz Australia as a food safety auditor assessing compliance of dairy farmers to meet their dairy licence requirements. Qconz Australia withdrew their auditing services from Australia in July 2022, and I am now working as an independent self-employed contractor to continue performing regulatory food safety audits in the dairy sector as a sub contractor for Comply Ag and BVAQ, as well as directly with farmers supplying certain processors. I am also a sub contractor for AusMeat completing LPA and NRS audits (red meat QA programs) and recently began JBS on-farm QA audits for BVAQ.

I believe myself to be a hardworking all-rounder, who gets on with the job in a cheerful manner. I pride myself on being a friendly and approachable person and take care to be respectful to others. I can problem solve and use common sense. I have a genuine enthusiasm to remain working in the agricultural industry and are really enjoying the experiences and the challenge of putting my skills to work as an auditor.

Getting involved in the local community has been very rewarding, and includes the following positions held:

*ANZAC Dairy Discussion Group organiser 2007 - 2016

*CFA member, Knebsworth/Byaduk -  CFA secretary/treasurer 2016 - 2019

*Macarthur Primary School Council 2017 - present 

*Macarthur Kindergarten Committee member 2010 -2015 (secretary and treasurer roles)

*Hockey Monivae, Div 2 Women's team player 2016 - 2023 (club secretary 2019, club treasurer 2021 - 2023)

*Hamilton Soccer Club treasurer 2019 - 2023

*Dunkeld Pony Club treasurer 2017 -2019, adult riding member 2017 - 2019

*Breakaway Creek/Knebsworth Hall committee president 2013 - present

*Sporting Schools coach Macarthur Primary School 2015 - 2019

*Horse riding; trail riding and competing in low level local competitions with my daughters

*Enthusiastic gardener of flowers and vegetables

*Bookworm

Mr Russell Fountain

Comply AG

Employment reference

0417 453 330

Mr Craig Allen

Qconz

Employment reference

64 274 310 544

Mrs Kirsti Keightley

Prime Value Asset Management

Character Reference

0418 38 813