Shine Awards 2023: Looking back on the best former finalists from Tasmania

Some of the top Shine Awards finalists from the Apple Isle include a flying councillor and cider brewer. Meet them here.

With the launch of the 2023 Shine Awards, it’s time to take a look back on past finalists — rural women who go above and beyond for their communities and are deserving of extra recognition.

Here are some of the top finalists and winners from Tasmania over the years:

MEAGAN CHIVERS, MOUNT SEYMOUR

Eager barrel racer Meagan Chivers was nominated for a 2022 Shine Award for her work as a youth mental health worker in rural Tasmania. Picture: Jazz Hutchins

Megan, as a youth mental health worker for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, travels all across her home state of Tasmania to help rural kids in need, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

After working different jobs through her 20s, Megan enrolled in university as a part-time, mature-age student to get her counselling degree and now does what she loves: talking to often-reticent rural people as someone who grew up on the land herself.

CAROLINE BROWN, TAMAR VALLEY

Caroline Brown of Brady’s Lookout Cider. Picture: Rob Burnett

Co-founder of Brady’s Lookout Cider, Caroline uses a sustainable approach to managing her land and her heritage variety apple orchard, determined to build the business using practices that are environmentally sustainable.

Along with her husband Chris, Caroline has transformed a run-down patch of land into a hub of climate-conscious agriculture by using traditional methods of cider-craft in order to help build a better tomorrow.

ANDY JACKMAN, OLDINA

Andy Jackman with an Aussie Red cow and Hereford cross Aussie Red calf at Oldina. Picture: Chris Kidd

Andy Jackman and her family made an impossible choice in the late 2000s, moving their Aussie Red dairy herd from Appin South to the Apple Isle, but came out the better for it on the other side.

Their organic operation expanded rapidly due to their focus on efficiency and improving the irrigation on their Oldina property, and now produce dairy and dairy products at an impressive scale.

ROBYN LEWIS, CAMBRIDGE

Robyn Lewis takes a stroll with Bindi the Corgi-Kelpie cross along the beach. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

Robyn Lewis, once curator of the world-famous MOMA museum, shifted her focus to making wine, having to close down her partner’s ancestral sheep stud after he died such was her determination.

But with the advent of her digital travel and wine guide, she saw huge success and her wine has now won numerous awards and accolades.

These women were nominees in the Shine Awards, a partnership between The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman that celebrates Australia’s rural women. If you know a woman who makes a real difference to her rural community or industry, nominate her in the form below. Find out more about the Shine Awards here.