Rural, Remote and Regional Women’s Network of WA bounces back stronger than ever after COVID ‘rollercoaster’

The future of one of WA’s leading organisations championing rural women is looking to the future with confidence after a year on shaky ground where they feared the end was just around the corner. After a “rollercoaster” of a year in 2020-21, the Rural, Remote and Regional Women’s Network of WA is back and better than ever, securing major funding deals for the year ahead. The group — which formed in 1996 and is followed by a WA community of 12,000 — just months ago met for crisis talks as a lack of funding, coupled with a pandemic-induced event hiatus, thrust its future into jeopardy. Chief executive Kendall Galbraith credited the “tireless” and “disciplined” efforts by the board — made up of trailblazing women across WA — that saw them emerge the other side and “get straight back into it”. “It was only in February that we were preparing to close our doors as of July 1,” she said. “We had a morale boost in March when we secured our first significant corporate partnership with CBH under a three-year term, but unless we had WA State funding to support this, we would ultimately have to withdraw from the opportunity.” As the regions were locked down to reduce community transmission of COVID-19, Ms Galbraith said the board decided to not hold any in-person events from January to July. The decision was made “out of respect” for the regions and RRR members, but increased the level of difficulty in communicating with stakeholders to demonstrate the group’s value and secure memberships and funding. “By April we were sitting on the edge of our seats,” Ms Galbraith said. “It was a very, very difficult time. “And even with an existential crisis looming over the organisation, the board remained steadfast and developed a new strategic plan.” One of the major focuses of the plan was having strong partnerships to grow the network’s presence throughout the regions and secure funding for its future. Their spirits were buoyed with the securing partnerships with Curtin University and Value Creators — run by Ann Maree O’Callaghan and Maree Gooch — to deliver upskilling workshops across the regions. The advocacy group’s future was then solidified with a major boost from the State Government. In May, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced $150,000 would be set aside in this year’s budget, followed by a further $100,000 in next year’s budget. Ms Galbraith said it gave the organisation another year. “This was the most amazing outcome for us,” she said. Chair Sarah Lang said they were “extremely grateful” for the support provided from partners and members, who she said “came to the rescue” during the challenging and uncertain period. “You were critical to our success and a vital cog in our future success as a key metric for future funding,” she said. “I continue to be amazed by the volume of incredible and inspiring rural and regional, rural, regional and remote women doing amazing things in our local communities. “We are really looking forward to continuing our service and highlighting our rural regional and remote women and their communities into 2022-2023. “I can’t wait to see what we can deliver for the RRR Network in the next 12 months.” Ms Galbraith said membership was “critical” to secure government funding and encouraged women across the State to become members and be part of the organisation’s future. “It was touch and go up until June 30,” she said. “This year coming we should be in a surplus. It’s a very exciting year ahead. “This is a great reminder that while we’ve managed to keep the doors open, that a sustainable future is not yet achieved, but not yet lost.”