The Riverina rice industry lost a pioneer with the recent passing of Dorothy Meyer.

Mrs Meyer was the only honorary life member of the Rice Growers Association of Australia, an honour bestowed for her commitment to rice, in particular showing people how it should be cooked.

For many years she attended numerous shows, field days and demonstrations – large and small – cooking her famous rice dishes and helping people to learn and understand about rice.

Her fried rice was a specialty.

Her efforts played an important role in educating the public about a staple food that was relatively new to the Australian farming scene.

Mrs Meyer’s husband, Rudy, who passed away in 2012 after spending six months in hospital following an ultralight accident, was a rice growing pioneer in the Coleambally district.

The couple moved to the area in the 1960s and were involved in a host of local community organisations.

Mrs Meyer was founding chairperson of the Cypress View Lodge retirement home, and remained unopposed in that role for more than 20 years. 

She spent her final years enjoying the friendship and surrounds at Cypress View Lodge, where the Dorothy Meyer Room has been named in her honour.

She was also life member of various other Coleambally organisations in which she was passionately involved during nearly half a century in her beloved community.

Dorothy Meyer, like her late husband Rudy, leaves a lasting legacy to Coleambally and the Riverina rice industry.

She was also an avid member and supporter of the Country Women’s Association.

Mrs Meyer also regularly presented the Rudy Meyer Memorial Scholarship.

The annual award named in her late husband’s honour, provides as an opportunity for a 15-17 year old student from Coleambally to participate in an Outward Bound Navigator course.