Ms Davis said she was \u201cproud and humbled\u201d to receive the gong which encapsulates exactly how she feels every day, working to champion the region\u2019s hospitality industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m extremely passionate about Ballarat\u2019s place on the map…and everything I\u2019ve done has been for the dynamic people, producers, business owners and chefs in Ballarat; the culinary capital of western Victoria,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I loved most about it was that I was nominated amongst so many dynamic women, like Rebecca, and that the judges spoke about work I\u2019d done quite some time ago.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Weekly Times<\/em> have followed my journey for a long time, and that made me reflect on all the wonderful things I\u2019ve been able to do over many years.\u201d<\/p>\n She said the opportunity for Ballarat\u2019s hospitality community to get this national exposure was \u201cincredible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur city is getting better and better with our venues and offerings. Our hospitality scene is so strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs McErvale said the person who nominated her remains a mystery, so her recognition came positively \u201cout of the blue.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been so excited about it. It\u2019s unbelievable to be a finalist because there are so many amazing rural women out there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a fire at our Lexton farm at the start of the year, so we\u2019ve overcome lots of challenges in 2020, but so has every other woman nominated.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the women were so deserving, so I am honoured that I was recognised.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs McErvale said it was wonderful to have a popular newspaper and a large corporation giving rural women a platform, and helping them reach a wider audience.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/11\/Leroy-Mac-pic-1-e1606196154209-300x279.jpg\")