A former TV journalist who became a trailblazer for rural women across the country, a farmer, podcaster and author has been named the 2024 Tasmanian Australian of the Year.
Stephanie Trethewey set up national charity Motherland in 2019 to connect mothers raising children on the land after experiencing crippling isolation when she moved from Melbourne to a cattle farm near Deloraine in Tasmania’s Central North with her husband and first baby.
A former commercial television news and current affairs journalist, Ms Trethewey began her popular podcast, Motherland Australia to share “real and raw” stories and in 2021 she created Australia’s first online rural mothers group program – Motherland Village.
It is a six- week online program matching rural mums to their own small support group to relieve isolation and improve wellbeing and in less than two years it had 20 virtual villages and was supporting over 200 rural women.
Ms Trethewey, who last year won the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, met her husband Sam when he was guest speaker at a rural conference in 2013 and she interviewed him for TV.
She said she started Motherland to share “real and raw stories” from other rural mothers.
“It really came off the back of my own struggles as a new rural mum,” she said.
“Motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks.
“While I’d spent my career fearlessly confronting criminals and chasing conman after conman, those encounters had nothing on the challenges I faced as a new mum. In the early months I spent many hours on the bathroom floor sobbing as I struggled to connect with my inconsolable, colicky newborn.”
The now mother of two has also written a book titled Motherland which brings together the stories of 14 rural mothers across Australia, offering an unfiltered insight into the tragedies and triumphs that have shaped their lives on the land.
Also nominated for Tasmanian Australian of the Year were: forensic pathology expert Professor Roger Byard AO PSM, global advocate for human rights, Dr Alice Edwards and autism and disability advocate, Kathryn Fordyce.
Tasmanian young Australian of the year
A “proud underdog’ who failed music is college and is now studying at one of the top music schools in the world has been named Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year.
Hobart actor, musician and Indigenous activist Naarah is a Gija woman currently studying musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London, after winning an Aurora Foundation Roberta Sykes Scholarship.
“I literally did not get an ATAR and I failed the music course in college and flash forward six years, I’ve won almost $100,000 to go to one of the top music schools in the world,” she said.
Naarah has toured in musicals The Sunshine Club and The Sapphires and played supporting lead Sharelle in the Amazon Prime series, Deadloch.
She co-created a TikTok series Bad Locals, with friend and fellow Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year nominee Ella Watkins.
The other nominees were surfer, medical registrar and mental health advocate Dr Brooke Mason and Joanna Smart, a marine scientist and underwater photographer.
Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year
A priest who, 50 years ago set up Colony 47, helping thousands of people struggling with rejection, has been named Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year.
In 1973, Reverend Jim Colville AM, of Bagdad, rented an old church at 47 Davey Street, Hobart and opened a coffee shop where help was provided when requested to young and old, Indigenous Australians, the lonely, hungry and unemployed.
His passion for young Tasmanians helped generations navigate a difficult and sometimes dangerous time.
“By 1974 we were open seven days a week for anyone who needed help,” he said “And I worked seven days a week on the front line,” he said.
“But it wasn’t just me. I was always part of a team.”
Not for profit Colony 47 continues to deliver programs for Tasmanians in need, particularly with housing.
The other finalists were Aboriginal advocate Rodney Dillon, breastfeeding educator Rosalind Escott AM and migrant advocate Sajini Sumar.
Tasmanian Australia’s Local Hero
A mother who believes no child should go without, and established a charity to help families with essentials, is the 2024 Tasmanian Australian Local Hero.
Clair Harris of Blackmans Bay started Tassie Mums at her kitchen table in 2018 and now helps 1800 children each year with clothing bundles, nappy packs, activity packs, prams and car seats.
Tassie Mums supplies items to 70 social service organisations across the state working with refugees, families escaping domestic violence or affected by mental health issues and financial stress.
Supporters describe Ms Harris as “incredibly humble” and say, her efforts have made a real difference and inspired a large group of regular volunteers.
Tassie Mums’ winter coat and pyjama drive collected more than 800 coats and vests and 600 pairs of pyjamas for Tasmanian children.
The other nominees were refugee advocate Robyn Flittner, co-founders of Albert St Gang surfers Natalie Potter and Emily Versluys and founder of Farm it Forward Tasmania Michelle Williamson.
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