The success of a rural women’s empowerment event in Weipa showed similar events were needed for rural and remote communities, the event coordinator said.
The National Rural Women’s Coalition funded the Women Empowering Women Event, which brought together 35 women from Cape York Peninsula.
Coordinator Emma Jackson, Wolverton Station, said key to its success was the location.
“I think there needs to be more events like this in rural and remote Australia,” Mrs Jackson said.
“Women are the core to a lot of properties, families, businesses and are the first to put themselves last.
“Women expend all their energy into their family and passions without prioritising their own needs.
“By bringing women together, they not only remember how truly beautiful, inspirational and empowering they are, but they empathise with each other.
“They remember that they are not the only ones doing it hard. They refresh and find a little more empowerment to keep going hard with their obstacles and goals to succeed.”
NRWC President, Alwyn Friedersdorff said the organisation was delighted the forum was a success.
“The NRWC aspires to provide capacity for women in regional, remote and rural areas and give them access to an environment that delivers professional development, strength and resilience,” Ms Friedersdorff said.
“This forum in Cape York brought women from far and wide, gave them access to professionals and an opportunity to network with other women in the same region.
“The aim of this forum was to strengthen the voice for women in the North and help make them as individuals and in turn, their community stronger.”
Participants traveled from far a wide – some up to 200km – including from the Steve Irwin Nature Refuge, Merluna Station, Watson River, Wolverton Station and the Australian Wildlife Conservation property Piccaninny Plains, Mapoon and roadhouses on Cape York.
Guest speakers included Nicole Ramsamy, an Indigenous medical nurse practitioner who has spent her working career in Cape York and the Torres Straits and Olympian Marita Nicholson who talked about her road to becoming a paraplegic and bronze medallion win at the Sydney Paralympics.
Mrs Jackson’s sister-in-law Debbie Jackson spoke about losing her son to suicide and how to work with the daily struggle.
“Melissa Winks is one of only two female managers in Rio Tinto Alcan,” Mrs Jackson said.
“Mel spoke about her drive and commitment to become a nurse but then to see so many health and safety injuries which pushed her into the world of health and safety.
“By working in a globally huge company, such as Rio Tinto, she can reduce the number of incidents and influence the level of injuries resulting in hospital care.
“Melissa was extremely special because she has become a manager in a male-dominant world yet retained her 'authentic genuine' passion, drive and commitment to people.”
Mrs Jackson said the event was a resounding success.
”We had a beauty consultant who was doing ladies make up, manicures and pedicures, so ladies throughout the evening would go out to have their consultation,” Mrs Jackson said.
“Ladies who never wear make up, felt gorgeous. They made new friends and discussed why they were there.
“Ladies were open with where they are in their lives. There were tears and frustrations shared...there were extremely personal stories shared and at the end of the night, it was one big group of ladies openly talking about what is holding them back.”
The group will come back together in two weeks to reflect on personal outcomes and Mrs Jackson hopes a network will be formed moving forward.
Check out some photos from the event here