REVEALED: 10 local women inspiring the Mid North Coast

From volunteering in environmental conservation, to outstanding academic and industry achievements, check out the 10 women who are leading the way in Port Macquarie and surrounds.

There are tons of inspiring women on the Mid North Coast, with important work being done in every corner of the region, across every industry and by women of all ages.

The Mid North Coast News wants to celebrate these local champions.

This list names the first 10, but there’s plenty more deserving women out there and we’d love for you to let us know who’s doing great work and should be recognised.

Matilda and Hannah Stewart | Hastings Secondary College

Sisters Matilda (Year 9) and Hannah (Year 11) Stewart have done Hastings Secondary College proud in the recent International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) assessments.

The young students were each awarded a gold medal for their marks in their respective English assessment.

This award is an exceptional achievement and academic recognition for these two students.

Students from over 20 countries sat last year’s assessments – including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States – and only the top one per cent of these participants received a high distinction mark.

Not only did the local girls achieve this prestigious rank, but they also topped each of their cohorts with the highest scores.

Elder sister Hannah says she was shocked to find out she’d won a medal for her test results.

“When I found out, I was like ‘wow, I didn’t realise I could do that’ – it really showed me that I have the ability to do well,” she said.

Younger sister Matilda encourages other young women to follow suit and put their academic abilities in exams to the test.

“Just go for it – nothing bad can happen and these kinds of exams can help improve your skills,” she said.

“You do the ICAS assessments for yourself, to see where you sit at a global level.”

Georgia Ryan | Go Red for Dyslexia, Dyslexia Mid-North Coast

Georgia was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia in her final year of primary school and has used her unique experience to advocate for other people living with learning difficulties.

She has been a committed youth ambassador for Dyslexia Mid-North Coast for the past three years and spearheaded the Go Red for Dyslexia awareness campaign the past two years.

A current Year 11 student at Port Macquarie’s Mackillop College, Georgia has been called a trailblazer, dyslexia warrior and truly amazing young lady for her work over the years.

Dyslexia Mid North Coast has praised their loyal youth ambassador, saying they’ve watched her go from strength to strength.

“When you struggle to learn in an education system that isn’t set up to teach in the way your brain is wired to learn, you quickly realise how important it is that students with dyslexia, and any other learning difference, are identified early and are exposed to interventions based on the science of reading,” Georgia told the Mid North Coast News.

“I managed to get to the end of primary school without a single teacher realising I had dyslexia, which sadly doesn’t make my story unique, but I also know it wasn’t the teacher‘s fault: how can we expect teachers to know about it if they aren’t given the tools to not only identity dyslexia but to support those students who struggle with it?”

“I want to show people what dyslexia really is, outside of the myths and misconceptions – I also want to show people that dyslexia wasn’t going to stop me from doing anything.”

Georgia encourages meaningful conversations by openly sharing her experiences on her social media platforms, but she sees herself as more of a helping hand than a young leader.

“It’s funny that I often get asked about being a young leader, as I don’t see myself as a leader, but rather somebody that just wants to help others,” she said.

“Each year we get more and more awareness recognition and slowly the ripples of knowledge are spreading further and further.”

Georgia has been a keynote speaker at events, published brochures and magazine articles, secured over 4,300 signatures on her Learning Difficulties education petition to-date, and petitioned both state and federal governments to improve teacher training surrounding learning difficulties.

Her work as been acknowledged through a variety of accolades in recent years, including Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s 2022 Young Citizen of the Year, Young Australian Writers’ Award in Poetry in 2017, and the International Tournament of Minds in 2021.

Candice Pearson | EAS Flight Training Port Macquarie

Candice Pearson is a dedicated and enthusiastic student who completed her entire pilot training and licence with EAS Flight Training Port Macquarie in just two years.

She juggled full-time work, as an optometrist, and part-time study over 18 months to become a commercial pilot.

Ms Pearson hopes to work as a flying optometrist, pursuing the aviation qualification so she can one day provide eye care services to remote communities.

After achieving her pilot’s licence last year, EAS Flight Training have labelled Ms Pearson “a valuable asset to the aviation industry”.

This year, the group unveiled a new scholarship after the inspiring local woman.

The ‘Candice Pearson, Woman in Aviation Scholarship’ is designed to help woman aged between 15 and 30 with a $1500 injection into their flight training.

It was launched on International Women’s Day this year, with EAS Flight Training saying they were proud to offer the assistance to future pilots.

“What a huge honour,” Ms Pearson said.

“Thank you to all the team at EAS and I hope an aspiring young pilot gets a little further with the help of this scholarship.”

Sue Ashton | Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and Koala Conservation Australia

Being home to the eastern seaboard’s largest remaining koala population is no easy feat, and it’s an accomplishment that is only possible because of dedicated locals.

Koala populations across the state have declined by at least 60 per cent over the last two decades, yet Port Macquarie is known for the creatures.

This is thanks to the hard work of people like Sue Ashton, who is chair of the only koala hospital in the world – Port Macquarie Koala Hospital – and president of Koala Conservation Australia.

Thanks to her commitment to wildlife conservation, the local volunteer hospital is growing into a small business and popular tourist attraction.

“I’ve always loved animals and when I moved to Port Macquarie I had the opportunity to work closely with koalas,” she explained.

“Our work at the Koala Hospital ensures these iconic creatures will be preserved for future generations.”

The Koala Hospital team are set to begin the fourth year of their koala food tree giveaway, with the initiative set to hit a milestone of 100,000 plants handed out to local landowners.

“It’s a wonderful feeling, knowing there’s so many trees out there for the local koala population,” Ms Ashton said.

“And the local community’s response has just been inspiring, they have shown great support.”

Ms Ashton’s hard work has been recognised through accolades such as last year’s Local Tourism Hero Awards.

Rebecca Corner | Discovery Early Education & Care Centre

Rebecca Corner, full-time educator at Discovery Early Education & Care Centre in Thrumster, is set to benefit from a $20,000 scholarship from the state government.

The local is one of over 100 budding educators to receive the NSW State Government Early Childhood Education Scholarship, designed to increase the number of qualified educators in the sector in regional NSW.

Ms Corner said she’s looking forward to using the support to complete her degree through the University of New England, motivated by a passion for education.

“I have a strong desire to educate myself on the latest ideas and practices and I want to be able to bring those skills to a regional area like Port Macquarie,” Ms Corner said.

“The scholarship program is great because not only does it ease the financial pressure of study, but it also gives me access to mentoring resources if I need them.

“But, so far, my biggest supporters have been right here at Discovery – the wealth of support and knowledge my team offer is a huge motivator.”

But Ms Corner’s passion for childcare runs deeper than her job.

“Knowing that children are the future, and that they’re at a stage in which their brain is learning so much, encourages me to do my best for them,” she said.

“Helping shape the generation of tomorrow is just so rewarding.”

Kate Wood-Foye | Charles Sturt University, Luminosity Youth Summit

Kate Wood-Foye is the director of external engagement at Charles Sturt University, and volunteer co-founder and chair of the Luminosity Youth Summit.

Her passion for education is rooted in equal access for regional students.

She said the youth-focused event is all about getting young people in Port Macquarie inspired by speakers from across the country and world.

“Luminosity began ten years ago when a passionate group of locals came together with the goal of providing something really exciting for young regional people, and it has since inspired almost 3000 regional attendees” Ms Wood-Foye said.

“If you live in the city, you have access to these sorts of events and inspiring speakers regularly - that’s really not the case when you’re in the regions.”

Ms Wood-Foye is driven by her own personal background, having grown up in the Manning Valley.

“The original passion came from being a regional kid myself,” she said.

“I was really aware that there weren’t as many opportunities for regional kids as there were for city kids.”

It was through her career in events and hotels that Ms Wood-Foye’s passion for regional access deepened.

“I got to travel the world, attending amazing events and hearing amazing speakers,” she said.

“That really lit a fire in me to want to start something here in Port Macquarie - I was lucky there were a number of other like-minded people and businesses in the area that were on board with the idea and willing to help make it happen.

“Luminosity really is a team effort, powered by incredible, passionate volunteers from a variety of industries - I’m incredibly grateful to work with this amazing crew.”

Her workplace, Charles Sturt University, is one of the many loyal community partners that have continued supporting Ms Wood-Foye and the Luminosity team’s decade-old passion project.

“I’ve had so many mentors in my time with the university - amazing women and men - but one of the most influential was the head of campus at the time Luminosity began,” she said.

“I was blown away by Dr Muyesser Durur’s story of education, triumphing over a society that didn’t encourage women to pursue education at the time, to go on to complete her PhD - she’s just really inspirational.

“And since then, there’s been a steady stream of other people within the network who have continued to inspire me, I just really resonate with what the institution stands for as a regional university becoming an integral anchor in each of their campus communities all over NSW.

“When Charles Sturt came to Port Macquarie, it really changed the city in a positive way in terms of providing more opportunities and boosting the local economy - I feel so lucky to be part of an organisation that works to make the world one worth living in, right here on the Mid North Coast.”

Ms Wood-Foye said she’s also motivated by the diverse, dedicated and resilient students she sees at the university, from all walks of life.

Susan Baker | Dunbogan Bushcare Group, Clean Up Australia Day

Susan Baker formed the Dunbogan Bushcare Group in 1999 and has co-ordinated its weekly bush regeneration activities ever since.

Supplied Editorial 2022 Environmental Citizen of the Year, Susan Baker.

She has organised a significant renewal program in the Diamond Head-Kylie’s Beach area and has worked closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to plan and execute a large scale restoration of Crowdy Bay National Park.

Ms Baker has also co-ordinated ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ activities along Laurieton Foreshore for almost two decades.

She initiated a koala food tree corridor in the Pilot Beach-Gogleys Lagoon area in 2018, and has overseen erosion control measures along the lagoon edge.

Ms Baker has also been successful in obtaining various environmental grants, and was named Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s 2022 Environmental Citizen of the Year.

Natalie Deeks | The Wellness Collective

Natalie Deeks is a local mother, wife, friend, naturopath, yoga/fitness instructor and the founder of The Wellness Collective.

She’s passionate about all things health, saying “I love hearing stories of how my clients have improved their health and quality of life. ⁠”

As owner/operator of the business, Ms Deeks offers wellness consultations and yoga classes in Wauchope.

Ms Deeks also runs The Wellness Cafe on the corner of Hastings River Dr and Gordon St.

The Port Macquarie shop opened just last year, with Ms Deeks doing plenty of the prep work including painting.

Ms Deeks is currently working seven days a week and has been moving house this month too.

But that hasn’t stopped her from going out of her way to deliver care packages of eggs, bread and cake to people like Jessica Caitlin and her mother while they were in Covid isolation.

Ms Deeks has truly embodied the “locals supporting locals” mindset.

“Small businesses are run by the very best of people who go above and beyond in supporting us when the chips our down,” Ms Caitlin said.

“So make sure you support small business in return – the Wellness Cafe is a place to go and take time out from the world, just kick back and be.

“I know where I‘ll be going the moment I get out isolation.”

Peta Pinson | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

Mayor Peta Pinson has been re-elected to the local council again this year, and is serving with the region’s first ever women-majority of councillors.

“This is such a happy day,” she said at her affirmation and oath of office ceremony in January.

Team Pinson: Deputy Mayor Adam Roberts, Cr Josh Slade, Mayor Peta Pinson, Cr Sharon Griffiths and Cr Danielle Maltman, at the 2022 swearing in ceremony. Picture: Team Pinson 2021

“It shows young women that it’s possible, so I hope we inspire ladies across the local area and beyond.”

Ms Pinson decided to run for the position again when she realised there was more she wanted to accomplish.

Port Macquarie mayor Peta Pinson.

“I had so much I wanted to achieve, but didn’t get the chance to in my last term,” she said.

“I have the numbers this time around and I want to use that full support to satisfy my commitment to the community.

“My story isn’t finished yet.”

Her top priority for the current term is water security in the region.

“In 2019, we almost ran out of water – that can’t happen again, especially in a growing community like ours,” Ms Pinson said.

“I’m aware things can take time, so I want to get started on (water security) projects soon and make sure the planning for this infrastructure is well underway.

“Our region deserves to know that their water is secure.”