Winners announced

More than 50 women from around Australia were nominated for the 2011 Casella Wines Rural Women’s Award.

Choosing our winners was extremely difficult – there were so many inspiring stories about women who selflessly give their time and energy to ensure the well-being of their regional communities.

Congratulations to the following six women - our new champions of the bush who foster strength, nurture progress and empower others amid difficult times.

 

First place – prize $10,000

Lindsay Tuckwell, with her husband Grant, owns and runs a grain farm of 3,700 hectares in Kondinin, a small town in the West Australian wheat belt south east of Perth.

She is a pillar of strength within the local community and is a member of many rural groups including Roe Tourism, the Central Wheatbelt Visitor’s Centre and the Wheatbelt Business Network which is designed to ensure the local businesses are supporting each other and the wider community. Last year, she helped to organise some events for the local community that would help keep their spirits up during the worst drought on record.

Lindsay’s strength extends beyond the farming community and into that of the local Aboriginal community. She was part of an inaugural healing bush camp to support descendants of the stolen generation within the Kondinin community; runs regular meet-ups for the local Nyungar ladies so that they can seek assistance if they need it, or just enjoy each other’s company. She is also part of the local effort to encourage Aboriginal children to stay in the education system and practice their traditional culture.

Lindsay is a councillor for the shire of Kondinin and volunteers for the local St John Ambulance. Lindsay also runs her own business as a Civil Celebrant, a role that brings her much joy and happiness.

Lindsay is a mother, step-mother, wife and grandmother and when asked why she devotes so much time to others, she suggests it is because of the great sense of achievement that comes with doing something worthwhile for someone else.

You can read Lindsay's full story in the December 2011 issue of the Australian Womens Weekly magazine. 

Second place - prize $2,000 each

Babs Donaldson – Griffith, New South Wales

Babs is a dedicated worker for many varied charities in the Griffith and wider District area.

In 2003, Babs expanded her generosity by co-founding a charity group called Country Hope.  The group is dedicated to supporting families from Southern NSW and Northeast Victoria including the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area where children are suffering Cancer and other life threatening illnesses. As Deputy Chairman of Country Hope, Babs is responsible for raising funds that provide families with financial assistance to pay accounts and travel to the Sydney and Melbourne children's hospitals. Babs and her fellow Country Hope members support entire families throughout the duration of a child’s illness, which can sometimes last three years or more. 

Babs is known in her community for going above and beyond for families in need. 

Fay Lorraine Linnett – Ivanhoe, New South Wales

For the past 21 years, Fay has been the principal organiser of the ‘Kilfera Field Day’ which is held annually on her family property, to raise money for the Ivanhoe Hospital and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A total of $210,000 has been raised from these events.

In addition to her commitment to the health services of the local community, Fay devotes her time to more than 13 community services, including the Ivanhoe Youth Centre and Senior Citizens Week, for which she coordinates many enjoyable fundraising events.

Helen Dawson – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Helen suffered incredible injuries in a farming accident on her property last year and, despite the doctor’s doubts, she made a full recovery. Helen cares for her husband who is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and runs her berry farm. Despite her extensive internal injuries last year, Helen harvested her crop and delivered her produce to her suppliers.

Prior to Helen’s accident, she tutored young people with learning difficulties, and to this day, Helen is always willing to make time for others.

Joan Sandford – Meriwagga, New South Wales

At 84 years of age, Joan is committed to a wide range of charitable groups for the benefit of her local community. She is a member of the Country Women’s Association and a member of Tidy Towns Far-West, and she can often be found selling raffle tickets to help raise money for these worthwhile organisations.

Joan was a driving force in erecting a monument in honour of the Pioneer Women of Merriwagga.

Tamara Nixon – Oaklands, New South Wales

Tamara is celebrating the birth of her third child. While some would excuse her for having her hands full with her young and vivacious family, she has recently managed to transform the health and wellbeing of the Oaklands community.

In 2009, when drought affected the local farmers, Tamara wanted to introduce something that would lift people’s spirits. She set up a small not-for-profit gym where people could attend classes or exercise any time it suited them. Within two months she formed a committee, became the president and wrote a proposal that became the basis for a Rural Preventative Health initiative funding application. Tamara studied to become a fitness instructor, negotiated the lease of an old shop and oversaw the building and installation of the gym. 30% of the Oaklands community have signed on to be members since the gym opened in March 2011.