Shine Awards 2020 winners in the spotlight

In honour of International Women's Day on March 8, we take a look back at the winners of the 2020 Shine Awards, including a mother who lost her son in an on-farm accident and bravely shared his life story to inspire others.  Meet them now.

GRAZIER and author Carmel Beresford is the 2020 Shine Awards winner.

Now in its fourth year, the The Weekly Times Shine Awards, in collaboration with Harvey Norman, celebrates the achievements and contribution of women across rural and regional Australia.

A special souvenir Shine magazine announcing the winners and sharing the stories of all 18 finalists is available now as a

digital edition and in the November 18 issue of The Weekly Times.

Nominees’ stories have appeared in The Weekly Times over the past year, with a dedicated campaign that put rural women in the spotlight for the past 12 weeks.

From a record-breaking field of almost 300 remarkable nominees, 18 finalists were announced last week.

Today, winners are revealed in six categories: Belief, Courage, Dedication, Grace, Passion, Spirit.

All six winners have overcome obstacles, shown huge dedication and bright spirit, but there is one woman who has pulled herself out of the darkest place to offer light for others.

Carmel Beresford has endured the heartache of losing a child. It’s every mother’s greatest fear; an anguish impossible to imagine.

Carmel Beresford from Eulo, Queensland, is the 2020 Shine Awards Courage and Overall winner.

Yet the brave Eulo woman has shared the story of her son’s life and death in the hope wider Australia will come to understand the skills, tenacity, passion and risk involved in working in rural industries, and the human cost of feeding the nation.

It was a freak gyrocopter accident on the family’s southwest Queensland cattle station that claimed the life of Carmel’s youngest son, Sam.

Sam Beresford died when he was 21 in a shock gyrocopter accident.

Struggling to come to terms with his death, she wrote the story of his love for adventure and hard work on the station, and the unforgiving circumstances that took him too early.

Her book, Unforgiving: The Story of the Life and Death of Sam, has touched the hearts of readers across the nation and offered solidarity to other families navigating grief.

The courage to work through her agony, continued passion for an industry that claimed her son and grace to share her experience with others make Carmel Beresford the deserving Overall Winner of the 2020 Shine Awards.

Shine Awards stories are available online at shineawards.com.au and in the Shine digital edition, and in the printed magazine, free with The Weekly Times out today.

FULL LIST OF 2020 SHINE AWARDS WINNERS

COURAGE AND OVERALL:

Carmel Beresford, grazier and author, Eulo, Queensland

BELIEF:

Simone Dudley, occupational therapist and co-founder of Therapy Connect, Deniliquin, NSW

GRACE:

Georgia Foster Eyles, fire recovery volunteer, Nymboida, NSW

DEDICATION:

Lauwana Blackley, dialysis nurse, Palm Island, Queensland

PASSION:

Kate Davis, food events organiser, Ballarat, Victoria

SPIRIT:

Meg Clothier, farm caretaker, Orroroo, South Australia

MORE ABOUT THE SHINE AWARDS

The Shine Awards is a campaign led by The Weekly Times, in partnership with Harvey Norman.

Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page says the women who have brought the 2020 Shine Awards to life illustrate the depth of contribution made by those living and working in rural and regional Australia.

“Against the devastating backdrop of drought and bushfires then travel restrictions and lockdowns, the women of the 2020 Shine Awards set the example in how to prevail,” she says.

“Each of the finalists and winners demonstrate what can be achieved through invention, courage and hard work.

“If you want to know our country is in the very best hands, take some time to read these women’s stories.

“Congratulations to each of the nominees, finalists and winners of the 2020 Shine Awards.”

Herald and Weekly Times chairman Penny Fowler says the company is honoured to have again collaborated on Shine to share these women’s stories with a national audience.

“Judging this year’s Shine Awards was inspiring and humbling,” Mrs Fowler says.

“Reading the incredible stories of rural and regional women who have done so much to improve the lives of others is an honour.

“Congratulations to all involved in the Shine Awards which really do shine a light on extraordinary women, and thank you to Katie Page and Harvey Norman for their enduring commitment to the awards.”

MORE SHINE AWARDS

2020 SHINE AWARDS WINNERS AND FINALISTS: BELIEF, COURAGE, DEDICATION, GRACE, PASSION, SPIRIT

MEET THE 290 RURAL WOMEN NOMINATED FOR THE 2020 SHINE AWARDS