Ladies gather to celebrate WA Rural Women’s Awards

Women from far-flung corners of WA gathered at the State Theatre Centre of WA for a night of fun and festivities at this year’s WA Rural Women’s Awards, with Eaton’s Michelle Moriarty named the winner of the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

The March 16 event was a celebration of all things female, rural and regional, with a stunning setting upstairs

Speaking at the awards, WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis — a former winner — said she was incredibly proud of the three finalists, which included Kate Mitchell, of Narrikup, and Joy Sherlock, of Dongara.

The annual award provides a way to support and recognise women, showing regional women are attractive places to live and invest.

“I am excited about the projects put forward by the three finalists . . . they are three outstanding and inspiring women who demonstrate a high calibre of female leaders in WA,” Ms Jarvis said.

“The judges were impressed by your projects and the difference you are making in regional WA.”

A social worker of 17 years, Ms Moriarty’s life changed suddenly when her partner Nathan died in 2018.

“At that time, every single aspect of my life changed . . . despite having a lot of family, friends and community support, I still felt very isolated in my grief,” she said.

“I realised I needed to connect with other people who had been through something similar to me.

“It is about the connection, to know there are other people going through the same thing and surviving.”

Ms Mitchell is creating first aid programs and resources relevant to country life, teaching young people to be confident and to administer first aid.

Ms Sherlock hopes to boost understanding of soil nutrient balance and associated factors on farmers’ properties and how this impacts on the uptake of nutrients by crops or pasture.

Ms Moriarty will receive a $15,000 business development bursary to broaden her business in collaboration with local government and community groups, and will represent WA at the national AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Applications for next year’s award open in September.