Transgender woman Holly Conroy in running for Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year
Transgender truckie Holly Conroy is a finalist in the NSW Women of the Year awards after blazing her own trail in a regional city.
The Wagga News
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When Holly Conroy strutted her stuff in Wagga’s first ever Mardi Gras Festival, she never would have imagined she’d be up for a prize at the NSW Women of the Year Awards.
But that’s exactly where the trailblazer finds herself today, a finalist for Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year.
Ms Conroy, a transgender truck driver, said the nomination was a welcome surprise amongst the hustle and bustle of organising the second Wagga Mardi Gras.
“I knew I’d been nominated, but to find out that I was announced as a finalist, that just absolutely blew me away,” she said.
Having struggled with accepting her trans identity for many years - at one point even detransitioning and going back in the closet - Ms Conroy said it was “extremely special” to be publicly celebrated as a woman.
She is the first trans woman to be nominated for the awards.
“I think it’s really special to acknowledge the work that I do, but to also be acknowledged as a woman alongside other amazing women, to me that’s the most special part,” Ms Conroy said.
“I’m just absolutely ecstatic and so proud that I can show other trans women, you know, you can be accepted as a woman.”
Ms Conroy’s very public transition and gender reassignment surgery, documented in the SBS series Untold Australia, has made her an influential role model for LGBTQI youth in the Riverina - a responsibility Ms Conroy said she was happy to bear.
“The reason that I was so public with my transition was to help people and to show that life’s not so scary once you transition,” she said.
“Young trans people can now see a strong trans woman in their community who hasn’t taken a backwards step and has respect from other people.”
Following the release of Untold Australia: Country Town Pride, Ms Conroy was contacted by a mother in Wagga whose daughter came out as a trans man, and had been rejected by their father.
“The father straight out said ‘No daughter of mine is doing this’, and disowned this poor child,” Ms Conroy said.
“But after my documentary came out both parents sat down and watched it. The mother told me that because of the documentary, her now son and his father have a relationship, and both parents have done a complete 180 and accepted him for who he is.”
Stories like this have spurred Ms Conroy to independently organise Wagga Mardi Gras all over again - this year’s festival will feature a performance by RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Aja at Que Bar, as well as a Sesame Street themed drag show in Memorial Park.
The Wagga Mardi Gras Parade will take place on March 14, down Wagga’s main strip, Baylis Street at 5pm.
Former Australian Defence Force naval officer Dianna Somerville is also a finalist in the awards.
Nominated for her tireless work designing and delivering over 70 startup events for regional entrepreneurs, Ms Somerville has dedicated her post-defence force career to nurturing the growth of businesses in regional Australia.
Fellow finalists include Krystaal Hinds, who volunteers as the Captain of the Gunning Fish River Rural Fire Brigade, and Shana Whan, the founder of Sober in the Country.
The winner of this award will be selected by the Minister for Women, Regional Youth and Mental Health, and will be announced at a ceremony in Sydney on March 5.