In this podcast Gail Crimmins chats with Robin McConchie.  Robin is a professional storyteller with over three decades as a rural reporter with the ABC Country Hour, was a Director of the National Press Club, and is a member of the Queensland Rural Press Club’s Hall of Fame. Her journey has taken her across Australia telling stories from back of a ute in the middle of drought to the corridors of the Federal Parliament.

Robin very generously discusses her career journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, she offers her advice to women on leadership, and the importance of integrity in all that you do.

More specifically, Robin discusses rural reporting/rural journalism, and oral history where she muses about how people like to ‘sticky beak’ over the fence to see what challenges people faced, and how they managed them; the importance of being open to audiences, to give a little bit about yourself, to be personal but not private.

Regarding career success and advice to women leaders, or women aspiring to be leaders, Robin attributes her career success to staying curious: “I’ve always been interested in asking questions, always interested, always curious, wanting to know why things the way they are”. She also identifies that career success requires determination, being competitive, hard work, and commitment.

Finally, in the face of discrimination – whether it be gendered or based on country/city divides… Robin soundly articulates to always ‘play the issue, not the person’.

In this interview, Dr Amanda Gearing explains what drew her to rural and regional journalism. She discusses some of the key stories she has investigated in rural and regional areas and the contribution her journalism has made to those communities. We discuss a different sort of leadership enmeshed in her approach to journalism.

Podcast highlights include:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-gearing-phd-5ab76134/?originalSubdomain=au

Twitter: @AmandaGearing

Barb has held many service and community leadership roles in rural Queensland.  In this podcast she discusses some of the projects she has helped to lead, including collating beautiful hand-made quilts for members of the homeless community, survivors of domestic and family violence and elderly community members; the creation of home-made mother’s day cards and bookmarks; and collecting kits for kids packages which provide school resources to children without books and pens etc.  These ‘love’ projects are all designed to support people to feel ‘seen’ and cared for.

Barb also discusses the benefits of volunteering to communities but also to the volunteers.  She talks about how her community work allows her to engage with a diversity of women, establish relationships, and supports a sense of belonging.

Barb shares her perspectives on women’s leadership, teamwork, and her respect for women leader’s generosity.   

We hope you enjoy Barb’s insights😊

This podcast features Emily Martin, a St. George local. Emily is the Human Resource Manager for Maranoa Mechanical, but also the author of the inspirational book, titled: “The Gift”. After her cycling accident left her with a brain injury, she wrote this book as a message of hope and a reminder that life is short and to make the most of it. The podcast focuses on Emily’s connection with her family, friends, employees, and the local community. Emily is a support system’ for so many, but especially her family. She is a powerful example of a woman in the region who is entrepreneurial and resilient in her approach and in supporting others in everything she does. A special interview and we hope you enjoy this special overview of what matters most.

Emily Watts is the 22-year-old behind Catlok Goat Stud, a venture currently working on cross-breeding goats for the Western Qld Conditions. At the time of our podcast, Emily is studying a Diploma of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong where she is advancing her knowledge of animal fertility and optimal growth, and the business skills to support a dynamic, grown industry. Emily is also the force behind Catlok Goat Stud’s Facebook page which uses photography,  updates on sales and a little bit of motivation to provide an insight into stud life and build the profile of the Australian Goat Industry. Yeah The Goats!

*Emily’s hashtag on Facebook is #YTG or #Yeahthegoats

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Catlok-Goats-105235398339011

In this conversation, Sarah Southern joins Dr Sarah Casey in a chat about rural life. Sarah Southern has lived in St George Qld for over a decade after growing up in rural NSW and travelling around with her family. She  is a woman who wears many hats. Sarah is a wife, a mother of five sons, she works in community development with Care Balonne St George, and she also works with her husband doing work on the land.

Sarah  discusses the housing issues facing rural Australia, victim blaming culture, the values she shares as a mother of sons, and the community and closeness of the rural world and the idea of checking on one’s mates and helping each other out.

Connecting Communities

Liz Hill has worked has a bush nurse, radiographer, arts worker, community development coordinator and a grazier in the Thallon region in South West Queensland. In 2005 she established Connect South West, an online portal advertising jobs, events, and local businesses as a way of mediating the tyranny of distance and the technological divide. Liz taught herself the skills to build the initial website, and has been growing her skills and networks through Connect South West ever since. In this podcast she discusses the importance of technology in rural areas as an important aspect of community building.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-hill-8a486340/

Web: https://connectsouthwest.com.au

In this conversation Dr Sarah Casey is joined by Donna Stewart. If you mention the South West of Queensland, someone will mention Donna Stewart’s name.

She spent thirty-four years in local government as a Mayor and Councillor, and an extra three years as a Local Government Grants Commissioner. Born and bred in the South West of Qld,  Donna was inspired to enter local government to make change.

Donna talks about making very tough decisions while trying to do the best for people in her role, about digital connectivity in the bush, women who inspire her, what she misses and what she doesn’t about being in the government.

In this conversation, Dr Sarah Casey is joined by Sally Rigney, a strong, articulate, and seriously clever rural woman. Sally lives on a property called Myall Plains which is eight kms from Nindigully in the Balonne Shire. Nindigully is a name synonymous with the South West. It’s the home of an iconic pub. And film featuring Hugh Jackman!

Sally and her family live on grazing country with Angus cows and they have a feedlot. Sally spent her earlier life in Goondiwindi and Texas. Later she spent many years away from her beloved Southern Qld, working with ABC as a journalist in the beef capital, Rockhampton among other places. Then Sally went to the national capital, Canberra, to continue her career before returning north.

Sally chats with Sarah about the loss of media outlets and the difficulty for rural voices and rural stories to be heard. This is one story you don’t want to miss.

In this episode, Dr Sarah Casey chats with Robyn Fuhrmeister.

Robyn Fuhrmeister is the Chairperson and Manager at Care Balonne, St George. Care Balonne Association Inc. is primarily an information and referral service covering the whole of the Balonne Shire. Care Balonne was established by Balonne Shire Council in 1994 in the middle of a drought. Within the first twelve months management was offered to the community. The first program that was established was Rural Family Support which aided families who could not afford to come to town. Care Balonne has since assisted the shire during floods and long periods of drought as well as administering its other programs.  Cr Robyn Fuhrmeister is also a Balonne Shire Councillor. 2022 marks almost three decades of service to the Balonne Shire. She is passionate about preserving her community’s history.

Robyn leads this project with Care Balonne.  Robyn is a force. She’s a woman of determination and courage.  In this conversation we talk about rural housing, domestic violence, connectivity, the towns of the Balonne Shire, local businesses, Robyn’s pride in family, and how people can connect with those in positions of power. Robyn Furhmeister is a mother, a grandmother, a friend to many, a survivor, a worker, a giver, and a community conduit. Her story is nothing short of inspiring.

Website: https://www.carebalonne.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carebalonne

In this chat, Sarah mentions a previous project with links to interviews: Real Rural Digital Solutions . Also discussed are: https://www.tina-mareejewellery.com/, https://nullawokka.com.au/,  Handmade St George https://www.facebook.com/Handmade-St-George-370271823086193/ and Liz Hill’s Connect SouthWest https://connectsouthwest.com.au/ and Bec Steer Catering (for more information see https://www.facebook.com/thebollonhotel)