The Lachlan and Murrumbidgee Cotton Growing Association (LM CGA) is one of a number of CGA organisation's formed throughout cotton growing areas in Australia by local growers and sponsored by Cotton Australia with the aims of; 1. To be a link between grower, community and industry. 2. To promote cotton production as a sustainable and responsible industry. 3. To be a source of information for members and the community. CGA's do this by supporting events that are going on in their community and educating people within their district about the cotton industry, as well as promoting what the industry does, the growers and anything else on offer.

This project aimed to increase the awareness of the significance of cotton production to the local economy of the Lachland and Murrumbidgee valley.Four bus trips were planned in this project but due to clashes only one trip followed the planned format.

Extra bus trips were planned but due to clashes they did not occur. High school students were able to participate in the Southern Cotton Expo on the 25th July with 32 Griffith High School students attending. This project paid for their transport and entry into this event. See attached photos.

Other target audiences were catered for in different ways. Researchers from NSW DPI Yanco, Wagga and CSU organised their own transport and completed a tour in early June.

Funds from this project enabled the CGA Expo to be held and provide an excellent network forum for growers, researchers and industry.

An awareness tour has been planned for early February for financial institutions from the MIA/CIA. This is in response to a request from some of the financial organisations.

To remain flexible in the format of these awareness tours is a point that future projects should take into account.