Toowoomba’s Petria Cumner finalist for two Women Changing the World Awards
A Toowoomba entrepreneur is off to London this month after being selected as a finalist for two global awards, recognising her work in sustainability and regional and rural impact. Find out why it’s important to her.
Business
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When Petria Cumner noticed a growing mountain of plastic bottles piling up beside her newborn son during her family’s move to Toowoomba in 2020, she thought: is this the environmental inheritance I am leaving for my son?
The thought was the spark which brought Stirling and Truffles to life, starting with a handmade water bottle harness, and her creation is propelling her into the spotlight as a finalist in two categories in Women Changing the World awards.
The humble water bottle carrier straps ignited a much bigger passion inside the founder and designer.
“I don’t want him (my son) to partake in this mindless consumerism,” Ms Cumner said.
“I want him to pick up seashells from the beach, not microplastics.”
Now she is going beyond the Australian, vegetable-tanned leather carrying harnesses and advocates for sustainable change in businesses, working particularly at building awareness around single-use plastics in regional and rural areas.
“I’m wanting to not just highlight the problem but also offer real solutions,” she said.
Earlier this year she worked closely with Toowoomba Fashion Festival to encourage sustainable practices both in fashion, and during the event.
She’s got her eye on continuing this kind of work, and is in conversation with the Toowoomba Regional Council over ways to make events, such as the Carnival of Flowers, a “poster child” of sustainability, she said.
Ms Cumner formally launched the business in July 2022, in three months she had already been recognised and won the sole trader of the year at the Business Excellence Awards.
In May she will be heading to London for the global Women Changing the World Awards which recognises women throughout the world making a positive difference in a range of industries and areas.
She admitted she felt a bit like she had “impostor syndrome”, and was unsure as to how she was nominated, but that winning one of either awards would be “priceless”.
The awards will be presented by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Dr Tererai Trent on May 25, 2024.
Ms Cumner has been selected as a finalist in the categories of Woman in Sustainability and Rural and Regional Areas Impact.
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