Rural Women's Shine Awards: Celebrating outstanding rural women

Find out more about the premier awards celebrating the incredible achievements of women across rural and regional Australia.

The Shine Awards is a campaign by The Weekly Times, supported by Harvey Norman, celebrating the passion, dedication, spirit, belief, grace and courage of women across rural and regional Australia.

Use the form below to nominate a rural woman making a real difference in her community or industry, so we can share her story as part of the 2025 Shine Awards.

Or send an email to [e-mail]

Nominations close October 24, 2025.

ABOUT THE SHINE AWARDS

Rural and regional women of Australia, please step forward – it’s your time in the spotlight.

Now in its ninth year, Shine – a campaign by The Weekly Times, supported by Harvey Norman – has featured hundreds of women advocating for their communities, triumphing against the odds, leading the way for future generations, or tirelessly working to make a difference.

Often, those efforts can go unnoticed – and that’s where the Shine Awards come in. By nominating the women you know, we can inspire others with their stories.

We’re looking for women from all walks of life: leaders and community champions, volunteers and sporting stars, entrepreneurs and innovators, or the dedicated quiet achievers.

Women such as Merrijig’s Cass McCormack, the high country cattlewoman who dedicates her time to make sure a 190-year-old cattle grazing heritage is not lost.

Or Celia Scott from Poolaijelo, who devotes countless hours to the community groups that keep her small town ticking, including serving as CFA captain.

And then there’s Georgia Lillie, the Camperdown farmer and accidental author who has turned a family tragedy into a powerful tool to help young children everywhere.

Over the next three months, The Weekly Times will highlight more stories from remarkable regional women, in print and online.

From your nominations, and stories that have appeared throughout 2025, finalists will be chosen in six categories: Belief, Courage, Dedication, Grace, Passion and Spirit.

There is also a special Youth award to a short-listed nominee under the age of 30 who shows great potential to be a leader in her rural community or industry.

Finalists in each category will be announced on November 19, with the winners revealed in a special Shine magazine on November 26.

Each category winner and the Youth winner will receive a $2500 Harvey Norman voucher, while the overall Shine winner will receive a further $5000.

If you know someone who deserves to take their moment in the spotlight, nominate them today. Nominations close October 24, 2025.