Shine Awards 2024: Danny Mayson-Kinder wins national award
A Tasmanian woman who has found a way to inspire hope after the death of her daughter is this year’s overall winner of the Shine Awards. See all the category winners here.
A Tasmanian woman who founded a charity focused on emotional wellbeing programs for schoolkids has been honoured as the overall winner in the nation’s most prestigious awards recognising the achievements of rural and regional women.
When Danny Mayson-Kinder’s 12-year-old daughter died in a horse accident on the family farm in 2016, her world came crashing down.
But in time, the Primrose Sands resident was able to turn that tragedy into hope by creating the b kinder foundation – a play on her daughter Billie Kinder’s initials – that not only honours her daughter’s memory but is helping deliver messages of positivity and kindness to children across Australia.
For her efforts, she has been named the overall winner of the 2024 Shine Awards. Presented by the Weekly Times and Harvey Norman, the awards cast a light on the often unsung efforts of women across regional Australia, across seven categories.
There were 19 finalists in total, following a wide array of nominations from right across Australia.
Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page said Danny’s story personified why the Shine Awards were first established eight years ago.
“Danny is helping parents and teachers to support children navigate bullying, loneliness and mental health issues, in the face of her own personal, immense loss,” she said.
“To have helped thousands of children in crisis and their families is extraordinary – her real contribution extends Australia-wide, far beyond her home town of Primrose Sands.”
Herald & Weekly Times chairman Penny Fowler said Danny’s story was emblematic of all nominees.
“For eight years now we have worked in partnership with Harvey Norman to shine a light on well over a thousand outstanding, resilient, generous women across rural and regional Australia who often overcome adversity to become beacons of their communities,” she said.
“The Shine Awards reflect our company’s belief in creating positive change through news and advocacy.”
The winners for all seven Shine categories are:
Belief: Kelly Johnson, Wall Flat, South Australia
Launched Woodlane Orchards, a dried fruit snacks business using seconds fruit from local farmers in an effort to reduce food waste, after seeing just how much product was ending up in the bin.
Courage: Danny Mayson-Kinder, Primrose Sands, Tasmania
Founder of b kinder foundation, a charity focused on delivering anti-bullying and emotional wellbeing programs to schoolkids, in honour of her 12-year-old daughter, who died in a horse accident in 2016. The books are now in 58 schools.
Dedication: Katrina Ogden, Wanalta, Victoria
Sheep farmer and community fundraiser who has helped raise almost $500,000 over the past decade for kids with cancer and the Royal Children’s Hospital. The annual fundraisers have got bigger and better each year, with the whole community involved.
Grace: Felicity Burton, Cooranga North, Queensland
A cattle producer and founding member of the Common Ground Foundation, which actively raised funds to buy and run three units in Toowoomba for rural families needing accommodation while accessing healthcare.
Passion: Tegan Nock, Orange, NSW
Co-founder of LoamBio, which is changing the face of grain-growing in Australia through its newly developed seed biotechnology. The product can help reduce emissions while also increasing productivity.
Spirit: Bianca Scrymgour, Darwin, Northern Territory
The captain of the Darwin Brothers rugby league team – who led her team to a three-peat premiership victory this year – is also an under-18s coach and mentor to younger players, and tireless in her championing for growth of women’s sport.
Youth: Sarah Wheeler, Rowena, NSW
The photographer, farmer and horsewoman is currently undertaking a 5500km solo horse trek through outback NSW and Queensland, to raise funds and awareness for upper gastrointestinal cancers – a cause close to her heart following the death of her mother.
Congratulations to all the winners, finalists and nominees, and thank you for sharing your stories with us.
Darwin woman honoured in nation’s most prestigious awards
Presented by the Weekly Times and Harvey Norman, the awards cast a light on the often unsung efforts of women across regional Australia, across seven categories.
Shine Awards 2024: Meet the finalists
These 19 regional and rural women have been selected from an incredible field of nominees as finalists for the 2024 Shine Awards.