Shine Awards 2021: Rural copywriter Sarah Walkerden nominated
Sarah Walkerden is determined to elevate the profile of rural female entrepreneurs by publishing a book that shares 16 inspiring stories.
Sarah Walkerden is a nominee in The Weekly Times 2021 Shine Awards, supported by Harvey Norman. Nominate a rural woman whose achievements deserve to be celebrated.
Sarah Walkerden understands the power of sharing stories.
The writer from Berringa, near Ballarat, is a website expert who helps agriculture and rural businesses tell their stories well, to reach wide audiences online.
She has also turned her skills to championing rural business women, by compiling a book that showcases 16 female entrepreneurs from across rural Australia.
“I know what it’s like to be in the middle of nowhere running a business with no support,” said Sarah, who founded her own one-woman company, The Rural Copywriter, about 18 months ago.
Between helping her clients finetune their corporate messages and websites, Sarah has devoted much time to the book, which will include chapters from Pinnaroo Farms founder Phillipa Lawson, PharmOnline founder Anna Barwick and Ballarat psychologist Gillian Hehir.
Sarah said the idea formed when she took part in a similar project that showcased entrepreneurial mums. “I did some research and found there was nothing in the rural business space, and nothing for rural business women,” she said.
She hopes the collection of stories will provide advice and inspiration.
Sarah knows from personal experience just how much effort it takes for rural women to turn enterprising dreams into reality.
She has built not just one rural small business, but two, previously running a retail operation selling horse products, all while also raising her two young children, Oliver, 9, and Sophie, 6.
These days she works with clients including Elders and irrigation specialist Padman Stops, with plans to scale up her copywriting and marketing services in the future.
“It is my one and only mission to build this business into a real driving force within agriculture and rural,” she said.
Sarah Walkerden is a nominee in the Shine Awards, supported by Harvey Norman.
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