Shine Awards 2023 nomination form: Celebrating Australia’s rural women

Know a remarkable rural woman? Nominate her for the Shine Awards, a partnership between The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman that puts Australia’s rural women in the spotlight.

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 who makes a real difference in her community or industry, so we can share her story as part of the Shine Awards 2023 campaign.

Or send an email to [e-mail].

SHINE AWARDS 2023 NOMINATION FORM

ABOUT THE SHINE AWARDS

This is the seventh year of the Shine Awards, which grows brighter every year as The Weekly Times puts the spotlight on regional and rural women across Australia who are holding communities, businesses and industries together.

Launched in 2017, Shine celebrates women who make a real difference to our nation. This campaign, supported by Harvey Norman, has shared stories of female achievement, entrepreneurship, dedication, leadership and triumph — as well as stories of hardship and heartache.

The winners and finalists over the past six years have all achieved great things individually while also inspiring others.

“The Shine Awards was a fabulous experience from start to finish,” said last year’s winner, Emily Riggs, who was honoured for founding Merino wool fashion brand Iris and Wool, which showcases Australia’s finest fibre while raising awareness and support for families fighting cancers.

This year, Shine will cast a bright light on equally inspiring rural women from across the nation, starting with Viv Philpotts, Claire Harrison and Jordan Hoban.

Community-minded mover and shaker Viv Philpotts is as dedicated as they come. The 61-year-old has worked as Lancefield’s Neighbourhood House co-ordinator for 21 years, spearheading a host of community projects over three decades, including “plastic bag-free Lancefield”.

Bridgewater on Loddon's Claire Harrison is on a mission to improve the mental and physical health of her whole community. And in the process, she’s attracting people from across the state to visit her region, northwest of Bendigo on the fringe of the Mallee.

Wodonga's Jordan Hoban has established a cattle club and now a goat club for primary school students, to help them develop a love of animals as great as her own.

Over the next 14 weeks, The Weekly Times will highlight more powerhouse rural women, on farms and off them, in rural towns, community groups, sporting clubs, businesses and schools.

Their stories will appear in The Weekly Times, attheweeklytimes.com.au and in our magazines.

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

We will also present a special Youth award to a shortlisted nominee who is under the age of 30 and shows great potential to become a leader in her rural community or industry.

On November 22, winners will be announced.Each category winner and the Youth winner will be awarded a $2500 voucher from Harvey Norman.

One of the 18 finalists will also be named the overall Shine winner and receive a further $5000.

Shine is a forum for readers to nominate women whose stories deserve to be told.

If you know women like Viv, Claire and Jordan, nominate them today so we can share their stories.