The 2009 Australian Rural & Outback Awards was launched last Thursday in Canberra. This is the inaugural year for the Australian Rural & Outback Awards, developed to recognise the incredible achievements of people and their communities across rural and remote Australia. 

As a young girl searching for ladybeetles and butterflies around her suburban Darwin backyard, Rachel Meldrum was on her way to becoming a leading Australian plant biosecurity scientist.

Rachel, a CRCNPB PhD student recently won the prestigious title of the 2009 Northern Territory's Young Australian of the Year. In an arena where generally sporting celebrities and social workers are recognised, Rachel was anonymously nominated for her contribution to science in the Northern Territory.