“You’re only a product of the people you surround yourself with and I’ve been surrounded by extraordinary people — specifically rural people,” the Yarrawonga resident said.
“I’ve been lucky to grow up in agriculture and understand it’s a career path.”
Ms Marriott grew up on a sheep and cropping farm outside Benalla and has travelled across Australia and the Asia-Pacific working in the northern beef industry, specifically in the Kimberley.
These days Ms Marriott serves as Riverine Plains chief executive officer, a farming systems group based in Mulwala.
She was awarded the OAM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her service to primary industry and regional development.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting the award,” Ms Marriott said.
“But I did get a warning, because they write to you before to check you’ll accept it.”
Ms Marriott said she still didn’t know who nominated her for the award or who her referees were.
“The first thing I did was ask who’d nominated me, but they pretty much said ‘you’ll never know’,” she said.
“I’d like to hug them — then I’d like to kneecap them.”
The Australian Honours have four levels. Starting at the lowest level is Medal of the Order (OAM), before continuing up into the Member of the Order (AM), Officer of the Order (AO) and the highest award level, the Companion of the Order (AC).
The Australian Honours were established in 1975 and are the highest recognition a citizen can receive for outstanding achievement and service.
“I think I received the OAM for my unpaid service just as much for my paid work,” Ms Marriott said.
“If anything, this honour is helping lift the profile of agriculture and people in rural communities.
“Over the last five to 10 years agriculture has experienced a big lift in how it’s seen by the general public.”
This isn’t the first honour for the extended Marriott family, with Ms Marriott’s uncle an AM recipient.
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