Out of this world: South Australia’s best recognised in Woman of the Year Awards

A brave bride and a space guru are among seven of the state’s most inspiring women, who have been recognised in SA’s Woman of the Year Awards. Here are their stories.

The winners of the 2023 SA Woman of the Year Awards have been announced.

• Pictures: SA’s leading ladies

Courageous young mother Kellie Finlayson’s battle with bowel cancer and her determination to raise awareness has inspired countless South Australians to get checked.

For that, she was honoured with The Advertiser Foundation Inspiration Award at The Advertiser, Sunday Mail and SkyCity Woman of the Year Awards at SkyCity Adelaide on Monday night.

The cancer emerged after the birth of her first child Sophia, who she shares with Port Adelaide AFL player Jeremy Finlayson, in August 2021.

Ms Finlayson was just 25 when she was first diagnosed, but believed the cancer had been growing for three or four years before it was detected.

Gruelling months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries stole much of Ms Finlayson’s precious first year of motherhood.

Just over a year after her bowel cancer diagnosis came another crushing hit – she had stage four terminal lung cancer.

Tuesday morning, hours after the Woman of the Year Awards conclusion, Ms Finlayson will be “back in the chair” going through more rounds of chemotherapy.

“If I save one person’s life,” she said of what gives her the strength to tell her story.

“It’s easier spoken about than hidden away.”

Ms Finlayson, who just a week ago was Ms Kellie Gardner, married her fiancee Mr Finlayson on Sunday less than two months after her latest diagnosis.

Her husband said it was “special to marry such a strong woman”.

“She gets messages everyday from young girls who say she’s saved their lives.

“It’s truly amazing and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Advertiser editor Gemma Jones said in a speech at the awards that Ms Finlayson’s story would “save the lives of other people”.

“Sharing your story of awareness with our audience gives us purpose,” she said.

“The pages of our papers and our website are yours any time you want to occupy them with your lifesaving, inspiring message.”

Women of the Year: SA’s leading ladies recognised

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The sky was not the limit for the winner of the OCPSE Leader of the Year and overall winner, Katherine Bennell Pegg, who dreamt of being sent to space.

“When I realised that stars weren’t just tinkering lights but planets, galaxies and moons … I wanted to go there,” she said.

Ms Pegg said currently only 27 per cent of the STEM workforce was women.

“If you don’t have diversity in the workforce you don’t get the creativity,” she said.

She said for women there isn’t “just a place for them in these fields” but they can flourish.

On Monday night, two days before International Women’s Day, the awards recognised seven of South Australia’s most inspiring women from theoretical physicists to dynamic performers.

Managing director of News Corp South Australia Melissa Librandi said the stories shared throughout the night were “some of the most inspirational, heartwarming and trailblazing stories of women, South Australian women”.

“(These women) are making a real difference in people’s lives, in our community, all while supporting and encouraging a movement to build the future ecosystem of female leaders,” she said.

“This event is incredibly important as we celebrate equity and closing the gender pay gap by recognising incredible women.”

In total, 37 incredible women were celebrated, including winners across six categories – Leader, Inspiration, Innovator, Community Champion, Rising Star and Hospitality Hero.

The Rising Star Award went to Tour Down Under assistant race directors Annette Edmondson and Carlee Taylor, while winemaker and co-owner of Alkina Wines Amelia Nolan took out the SkyCity Hospitiality Hero accolade.

Proud LGBTGIA+ trailblazer Beccy Cole was recognised as the Hendercare Community Champion for her commitment to entertaining Australians.

“I haven’t even shaved my legs,” she said shocked she received the accolade.

Cole has spent her career entertaining country residents, boosting tourism to rural areas and walking to the beat of her own drum.

“I see women supporting women and that’s something we need to embrace,” she said.

Cole, who has been open about her struggles with mental health, lost her ability to speak and of course with that her ability to sing.

“I think sometimes we get ahead of ourselves in therapy....I realised recently with PTSD (you’ve) got to keep doing the work,” she said.

“It’s an ongoing thing.”

Theoretical physicist Phiala Shanahan won Innovator of the Year for her significant contributions to her field.

After completing her PhD in Adelaide aged 27, she was appointed the youngest professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the world’s number one STEM institution.

Prof Phiala Shanahan sent a video from the United States where the theoretical physicist currently lives and works as a professor at MIT.

The physicist said she was grateful for her “world class” South Australian education.

“My work is in theoretical physics and I get to prove the boundaries of our understanding of the way the universe works every day,” she said.

She said obtaining her undergraduate honours degree and her PhD from The University of Adelaide began her career in academia.

SkyCity’s chief operating officer David Christian said: “SkyCity’s (again) thrilled to be a supporting partner … the South Australian community is fortunate to have so many women who go to extraordinary lengths to advocate for and positively promote the advancement of gender equality. These awards are an opportunity to recognise these women, including many who have not been recognised before.”