Shine Award winner B Kinder Foundation’s Danny Mayson-Kinder
Rural and regional women were celebrated at the Shine Awards, with a Tasmanian Danny Mayson-Kinder picking up the overall win. She was recognised for her incredible work after heartbreak.
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A Tasmanian woman who founded a charity focused on emotional wellbeing programs for schoolkids has been honoured as the overall winner in the nation’s most prestigious awards recognising the achievements of rural and regional women.
When Danny Mayson-Kinder’s 12-year-old daughter died in a horse accident on the family farm in 2016, her world came crashing down.
But in time, the Primrose Sands resident was able to turn that tragedy into hope by creating the b kinder foundation — a play on her daughter Billie Kinder’s initials — that not only honours her daughter’s memory but is helping deliver messages of positivity and kindness to children across Australia.
For her efforts, she has been named the overall winner of the 2024 Shine Awards. Presented by the Weekly Times and Harvey Norman, the awards cast a light on the often unsung efforts of women across regional Australia, across seven categories.
Danny and her family gathered the poetry and stories of Billie, a prolific writer, after she died and published Hope. The book started important conversations between children and parents, and the project soon evolved.
Billie’s words and artwork are now used in b kinder’s interactive workbooks, which are in 58 schools, while 160 schools across Australia participate in b kinder day each year.
“It’s early intervention. There are so many things in the world set up for band-aiding and for people who have problems but why aren’t we targeting the cause and stopping them before they happen?” Danny said.
She hoped teaching kids empathy from a young age could be an antidote for rising mental health statistics and bullying.
“It is very humbling to make a difference. If I have to be here without her, then I have to do something worthwhile,” she said.
Other Shine category winners were Queensland cattle farmer and regional health advocate Felicity Burton, South Australian food waste entrepreneur and Woodlane Orchard founder Kelly Johnson, NSW agricultural researcher and innovator Tegan Nock, Victorian sheep farmer and community fundraiser Katrina Ogden, NSW horsewoman Sarah Wheeler, and Northern Territory rugby league player Bianca Scrymgour.
Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page said Danny’s story personified why the Shine Awards were first established eight years ago.
“Danny is helping parents and teachers to support children navigate bullying, loneliness and mental health issues, in the face of her own personal, immense loss,” she said.
“To have helped thousands of children in crisis and their families is extraordinary — her real contribution extends Australia-wide, far beyond her home town of Primrose Sands.”
Herald & Weekly Times chairman Penny Fowler said Danny’s story was emblematic of all nominees.
“For eight years now we have worked in partnership with Harvey Norman to shine a light on well over a thousand outstanding, resilient, generous women across rural and regional Australia who often overcome adversity to become beacons of their communities,” she said.
“The Shine Awards reflect our company’s belief in creating positive change through news and advocacy.”
For more details, visit shineawards.com.au
Originally published as Shine Award winner B Kinder Foundation’s Danny Mayson-Kinder
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