Tragedy inspires hope for WA Rural Women’s Award winner Michelle Moriarty as she supports widowed people

A South West mother with a mission to provide comfort, support and community to widowed women and men facing the harsh reality of living life without their partner has won this year’s 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Eaton social worker and businesswoman Michelle Moriarty hopes to reduce social isolation for widowed people by providing support groups that offer a safe and non-judgemental space where widows can have honest discussions. She wants to bring a sense that “I am not alone, there are others like me and there is hope”. It was this mission that resonated with the judges of this year’s award, who selected Ms Moriarty to receive the accolade at a prestigious ceremony at Perth’s State Theatre on March 16. The mother-of-two is founder of the WA Young Widowed Support Group and the Grief Connect Over 55s Widowed Support Group, two online communities formed to support men and women in WA who has experienced the death of a partner. She plans to develop the operational structure and expand the two groups, by developing an online, real-time interactive peer support groups and create events that promote physical wellbeing and mental health. During the awards, her voice trembled as she bravely spoke about how “every single aspect” of her life changed when her partner Nathan died suddenly in 2018, and how she found it difficult to access the support she needed. When Nathan died, Ms Moriarty became a single mother to the couple’s son Cody and Nathan’s stepson, Aodhan. She has since has been working to reduce social isolation for widowed women and men, by providing support groups that offer a safe space for honest discussions about the harsh realities of losing a partner. “I couldn’t see through each day at that point, but speaking to other people meant I could see the next day,” Ms Moriarty said. “The power is around connection. “This award process has really made me believe in what I am doing and what I am doing is important.” Ms Moriarty, Joy Sherlock of Dongara, and Kate Mitchell of Narrikup, were last year announced as finalists for the annual award that aims to acknowledge and support the role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities. Ms Moriarty will receive a $15,000 business development bursary to broaden her business in collaboration with local government and community groups, and she will represent WA at the national AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. The other two finalists for the award were: Kate Mitchell, Narrikup Kate aims to create first aid programs and resources aimed at youngsters from kindergarten to Year 10, which are relevant to country life that teach young people to be confident when learning and administering first aid. She also hopes to establish a rural paediatric health hub that parents and caregivers can access if they need support and information for a range of health topics, particularly for families that need support when a child has been newly diagnosed with a condition. Joy Sherlock, Dongara Joy hopes to use unique tools to increase the understanding of farmers’ individual property/paddock soil nutrient balance and associated factors and to assess the way this impacts the uptake of nutrients by crops or pasture. Her project will include a pilot program that can be used to leverage and add value to other projects. It seeks to illustrate the benefits and ease with which producers can be drought-resilient and mitigate risk across all facets of their business. All three pitched their ideas to AgriFutures Australia and were in contention to be named the WA winner, with the State representative Ms Moriarty now in the running for the national Rural Women’s Award. The accolade was presented by WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis, a past recipient of the WA Rural Women’s Award. Ms Jarvis said the judging panel was impressed by the calibre of all the finalists who were already making a difference in regional Western Australia and would “continue to grow as community leaders”. “I congratulate Michelle on her dedication to drive programs which support and connect people who have suffered the profound loss of a partner,” she said. “She is a worthy winner of this year’s WA Rural Women’s Award.” WA Regional Development Minister Don Punch said this year’s finalists should all be commended for their contributions to their regional and rural communities and industries, along with their “passion for positive change”. “While her own story is compelling, Ms Moriarty highlighted she is one of over one million widowed people in Australia, with her project focused on raising awareness and providing support,” he said. Denmark-based farmer and online business operator Louise O’Neill, who is committed to improving the mental and physical wellbeing of rural communities, took out the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for WA. She travelled to Canberra for the national awards at Parliament House on September 6, with Tasmanian rural motherhood advocate Stephanie Trethewey taking out the national gong and Victorian editor Kimberley Furness, from Bendigo, named national runner-up. Speaking at the awards, Ms O’Neill urged finalists and other women in the room to remember the awards were “about connection, more than competition”. “There is space for everyone in this room... to create better regional and rural regions,” she said. “And the three women on this stage, are all winners and will change the face of regional and rural life.” WA’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards are supported by DPIRD, the Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network of WA, CBH Group and Westpac. Applications for next year’s award open in September.