Shine Awards nomination shines light on true local heroine Kathy Duff

Nominations have opened for the 2023 Shine Awards. Among them is Kathy Duff, who has served her community through tragedy and triumph.

Local councillor and cattle farmer Kathy Duff works tirelessly for her local Queensland community.

A lifelong love of horses, cattle and her community have sustained Kathy Duff through the good times and the bad.

It’s not only the trademark bright pink outfits that make her instantly recognisable in any street in Queensland’s rural South Burnett region, northwest of Brisbane. After almost 20 years as a councillor, Ms Duff attended so many community events and presented so many awards, cheques and trophies that she’s shaken just about every hand in the district.

The rest of the time she has spent working on her family’s remote 6000ha cattle station, DiDi.

Her community spirit and resilience through hardships and tragedy have led to Ms Duff being nominated for the Shine Awards, which celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across rural and regional Australia, recognising unsung leaders and innovators making a real difference to their communities.

“I’m very passionate about the importance of rural communities and making sure they are sustainable and have a voice,” Ms Duff said. “At the end of the day, the people here produce the food that feeds our nation, and I think they’re usually undersold.

“I’m always batting for rural communities and rural people.”

Ms Duff took over the management of DiDi Station when her father, who she had cared for during his struggle with diabetes, died in 2019. With the help of family members, she runs a herd of Poll Herefords in the same paddocks her family has held for 100 years.

Taking over management of the station came a year after the suicide of her longtime partner. She has become a vocal advocate of improving mental health services and awareness in the bush.

Kathy Duff. Picture: Keagan Elder / South Burnett Times

“I didn’t speak about it for a long time but I decided to talk about it because I think we need to get the word out and keep an eye out for each other,” she said.

“Sometimes it’s the person you’d least expect that is the one you’ve got to look out for.”

The tragedy inspired her to donate $88,000 to build a Men’s Shed in her hometown of Proston and to renovate empty shops.

Ms Duff said the love of her community helped her through the challenges. That passion led to successful campaigns to stop the closure of the Proston Catholic Church, to build a bridge to help farmers move machinery, and to establish a program aimed at helping Indigenous youths.

Ms Duff was nominated for a Shine Award by South Burnett mayor Brett Otto, who praised his colleague’s dedication and “tireless” work for her community.

The Shine Awards are a joint initiative between rural newspaper The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman and the winners will be revealed on November 22.

To nominate: shineawards.com.au