Chances are, if you’re living in, or driving through regional and remote parts of Australia, you may have seen a blue tree in a paddock and wondered about it. That tree is one of over a thousand dotted across the countryside. The Blue Tree Project is a mental health charity that flourished from a grass roots movement in regional Western Australia. Kendall is the brains behind the initiative, which came from the tragic and unexpected loss of her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018. Hailing from small country town of Mukinbudin in the Central Wheatbelt in Western Australia, Kendall has achieved a lot in the space of rural mental health in the last four years and was crowed the 2022 WA Young Australian of the Year. 

Lori Pensini’s heart belongs to the Western Australian bush. From her Perth upbringing to following her new husband to the isolated expanse of a Kimberly cattle station and now championing regenerative farming in the State’s south- Lori’s devotion to the Australian landscape and it’s people is gorgeously depicted in her art. Her connection to the land runs deep, shaping not only her art, but also the very lens through which she views the world. You may recognise Lori’s name from the latest cover of Graziher. It’s our first ever illustrated cover, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her work showcased in our magazine.  

Nikki Davey is the 2023 National Winner of the Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award. This award celebrates and acknowledges the critical role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities and inspires the next generation.

Nikki is a co-founder of ‘Grown Not Flown', a digital platform that supports the slow flower movement by connecting flower consumers with local and sustainable producers.

The National Winner and Runner Up of the award was announced at a Gala Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra; a night where some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, come together to celebrate all that the agricultural industry has to offer.

Applications for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award are now open and will close on Wednesday, 25 October 2023 (Friday, 26 January 2024 for NT Applicants). See the AgriFutures website for more details.

Melissa Duniam is striving to ensure Australian workplaces are healthier and more productive through her design of facilitated equine workshops. The Tasmanian winner of the 2023 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award was shocked by statistics released by Australian mental health support organisation, Beyond Blue that say one in five Australians have taken time off work for anxiety, depression and mental health challenges - while an astonishing 46 per cent consider their work place to be mentally unhealthy.

Melissa is a dairy farmer, business consultant and an Equine Assisted Learning facilitator - helping companies and their employees communicate better whilst learning to work alongside horses through her business, Leading Rein.

It’s a passion that Melissa never knew could be a career – and was sparked by a transformative crossroads moment in 2016, after suffering a devastating farm accident. 

Emma-Louise Gibbons is on a mission to reshape Australia’s pet treat market, with her use of insect protein and local Queensland veggies in her treat business, Huds & Toke. And while she’s at it, she’s going to take on the US pet food market too — worth an estimated $57 billion.

Born and raised on a beef cattle and cropping property, the winner of the 2023 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award says growing up in the bush meant she learned to innovate early.

Ali Paulett speaks like her brain works – at a million miles a minute. The South Australian has a plethora of different degrees and diplomas that has seen her work as a horse-riding instructor, a vet nurse, a medical receptionist, a qualified draftswoman and designer, a wine marketer and now a manager at her family’s Clare Valley winery – Paulett’s Wines.

The winner of the 2023 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is working alongside local First Nations elders to preserve their history by using beautiful videography storytelling, which will be displayed throughout the bush tucker garden Ali has built next to the family’s cellar door.

The language around grief can be a conundrum- what to say, how to say it, when to say it? But Michelle Moriarty, the Western Australian winner of the AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year has dedicated herself to breaking down the barriers.

Unfortunately, it took the sudden death of her partner Nathan to spark the project, but it has blossomed into multifaceted widow support networks and resources.

At the forefront of her business, the accredited social worker has tailored her Grief Connect program and also her Grief Language Project into a national service that supports individuals personally. 

Michelle Leonard believes everyone can sing. A self-proclaimed ‘relentless optimist’, the founder of Moorambilla Voices and New South Wales finalist for the AgriFutures Australia Rural Woman’s Award is on a mission to electrify the arts in country Australia and bring music to all.

For the last 18 years, Michelle has left her home in Sydney for nearly six weeks, driving upwards of 4000 kilometres around New South Wales, across 21 Local Government areas to recruit for her various ensembles.

Of the thousands of kids that she coaxes music from, 350 are selected to learn to sing, play drums, to dance and read music – going on to perform throughout the year in venues like Dubbo’s Regional Theatre and Convention centre and this year, the Sydney Opera House. 

Eileen Breen is a woman of values, and no matter what curve balls life throws at her, she manages to find success in line with them.

Demolition is an interesting industry to work in for someone whose DNA is laced with sustainability – but it’s the inroads she and husband, Gerry are making when it comes to resource recovery and recycling that truly floats the boat of this nature loving business strategist. As the Northern Territory finalist in the AgriFutures Rural Woman’s Award, Eileen wears many hats, but at the core of all her commitments is a belief she can make the world a better place. 

Not all flowers are grown equal. Or at least not according to Nikki Davey, a truffle and flower producer from Victoria’s Glenmore.

The entrepreneur is the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award finalist for Victoria for her work co-founding Grown not Flown — a digital platform that supports the slow flower movement, connecting flower consumers with local and sustainable producers.

Yet, Nikki never thought she’d come back to the 300-acre property she grew up on — let alone work to make it a viable business.

For the last 21 years, the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award has empowered and celebrated the leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities. Equipped with a $15,000 Westpac grant, each of the state and territory winners are in the running for the national winner and runner up to be announced in September — awarded an additional $20,000 and $15,000 Westpac grant respectively.