Presented by The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman, The Shine Awards are back for a seventh year of honouring and showcasing inspiring women in rural and regional communities.
Nominations for the 2023 Shine Awards are now open and we want you to tell us about the empowering women you know!
From farmers to educators and everyone in between, if you know a woman who makes a difference in her community or has overcome the odds, nominate her and share her story!
There are six categories – Belief, Courage, Dedication, Grace, Passion and Spirit – as well as an under 30s Youth Award.
Nominate now and don’t miss out on celebrating the women who are the backbone of rural and regional Australia.
Shine Awards: Recognising Inspiring Women
Since the first Shine Awards in 2017, Australians in rural and regional communities have faced drought, bushfires, Covid and floods.
“The brilliance of the women of Shine is that these collective challenges are not their stories; their stories are one of triumph, determination and camaraderie,” said Katie Page, Harvey Norman CEO and Shine Awards co-founder.
“Stories of Shine nominees have shown how vital women’s efforts are to helping rural communities through some of the toughest times,” said Penny Fowler, The Weekly Times Chairman and Shine Awards co-founder.
The Shine Awards are an opportunity to tell the stories of women who have stood up and made a big impact in their communities.
Looking Back at Last Year’s Shine Winners
The 2023 Shine Award winners will be announced in November. In the meantime, this is the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the incredible women who were recognised last year and their experience with the Shine Awards.
These women come from a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds but they all share the same determination and enthusiasm for their local communities.
Emily Riggs, 2022 Passion Shine Award Winner and Overall Shine Award Winner
Merino wool fashion designer Emily Riggs took home the highest honours at the 2022 Shine Awards for her inspiring story of overcoming hardship, championing Australia’s wool industry and helping others do the same.
The founder of fashion brand Iris & Wool, Emily survived both her own childhood cancer and the loss of her mother to breast cancer to become one of Australia’s leading wool designers.
She finds that winning the Shine Award has been a great professional development opportunity, as well as helping her spread awareness of the causes she holds dear.
“I can start to feel people in the industry are starting to take me seriously with what I am trying to achieve – being a global brand showcasing the fabulous qualities of Australian Merino wool along with shining a light on breast cancer and childhood cancer awareness,” Emily said.
Claire Harris and Kate Strong, 2022 Youth Shine Award Winners
Claire Harris and Kate Strong won the 2022 Youth Shine Award for bringing joy and much-needed support to farming communities on their nearly 50,000km trip across rural Australia in 2022.
On their “Hoedowns for Country Towns” journey, Claire and Kate taught line dancing in some of the nation’s most remote communities, bringing people together in areas that have been hit hard by floods, fires and droughts over the past few years.
The pair’s energy and enthusiasm raised over $30,000 for seven rural charities – one in every state and territory – and they say that the Shine Awards have been an incredible experience.
“At every step, the Shine Awards were a fortunate surprise in every possible way,” they said.
“We highly recommend being involved in the awards, the people you will meet as a result will be lifelong connections.”
Tanya-lee Holmes, 2022 Courage Shine Award Winner
Already a pillar of strength as the mother of children with cerebral palsy, Tanya-lee Holmes suffered a spinal cord injury in 2016 that left her a walking quadriplegic.
She turned to her love of baking to cope with her recovery, then turned her hobby into a business called Imperfectly Perfect Sugar Cookies.
Proving that disability is not a barrier to success and dedicated to raising awareness for businesswomen with disabilities and mental health, Tanya-lee is a deserving winner of the 2022 Courage Shine Award.
“We continue to uplift and encourage each other, which is truly heart-warming,” she said of the camaraderie she has developed with her fellow award winners.
“This experience has not only helped my professional growth but has also inspired me to pursue things that truly matter in life. And helped push me out of my comfort zone.”
Nominate now for this year’s Shine Awards
Nominations are open for the 2023 Shine Awards! Let us know about the regional and rural women you know, we want can’t wait to hear their inspiring stories!