The farmers who have never heard of Tash Kocks are the lucky ones. But for those who have, they would know they have a true champion of rural Australia on their team.
Tash is an integral part of the Aussie Helpers charity, an organisation founded by her parents, the late Brian Egan and his wife Nerida. After spending time building up rural businesses across Australia, Tash took over the running of the charity, carrying on from the legacy that her parents started more than 20 years earlier.
It's clear she holds her parents' achievements in awe. After all, they tirelessly offered support to farmers over many years, with their dedication recognised with Order of Australia medals in 2020.
But there's no sense of obligation for Tash; she is determined to build on the foundations of her parents' work and make Aussie Helpers an even greater support to the farming community across Australia.
This means that on one day she could be in a board meeting or pitching for assistance to major companies, and the next day, she's hitting the road to be the face of assistance to someone in need. Long hours don't phase Tash, nor big car trips; both come with the territory, she says, of what is more than a job - it's a calling.
'I want every farmer and rural community to know we are there for them,' Tash says. 'As CEO, I am uncompromising in my focus to grow Aussie Helpers so we can support more farmers, farming families and communities.'
Tash's roots growing up in western Queensland keep her grounded, and those heavily imprinted memories are what keep her on task. It also gives her an instant rapport with the people she works with, knowing when and how to offer assistance, which leaves dignity intact but provides a path forward.
'I want to be the biggest champion for rural Australia,' Tash says. 'The paperwork certainly isn't the fun bit and it has to be done but hitting the road and offering assistance is where the real work is done.'
While seasons ebb and flow, Tash will always be either helping out or preparing for the next dry time, supported by her team of staff and volunteers. And it is clear that while she may wear the CEO hat, the best part of her role at Aussie Helpers is `being on the ground', talking to those she calls 'the salt of the earth', farmers who just need a helping hand to keep going.
