This is a special episode of A Friend of Mine to celebrate International Rural Women's Day. This is a day to honour the incredible strength, resilience, and creativity of women in rural communities across Australia.
We asked some of our OAK community to share their thoughts and stories about what this day means to them—and today, you’ll hear their voices, their reflections and their celebrations.
Rural life is often defined by its strong sense of togetherness. For many, this is what makes living in rural areas so special—the people, the shared experiences, and the support we give each other.
Tracy from Mind Stretchers based in Central West New South Wales, has been living rural with her family of five for just over three years.
"The thing I love most about living rural is the friendliness of the communities. There's always community events and I just find people are very welcoming and friendly," says Tracy.
"This year I'm looking forward to celebrating Rural Women's Day with some online events as part of HERRD, which is a group for homeschooling families and it connects families all over Australia. So I'm looking forward to a couple of fun events."
Jillina (pictured above), from Home Education Rural and Remote Discussion (HERRD), also shared how being a rural woman connects her not just locally, but across Australia.
"I love being a rural woman because there's such a sense of community, not only in my local rural community, but also really across Australia," says Jillina.
"I've made so many friends in the rural space through the different platforms, the different podcasts and rural businesses. There's such a sense of community and I really feel like I belong to it. I'm not just a number."
Community isn’t just about where you live—it’s about the connections you form, the way people come together to support each other. Artist Jess Keeli (pictured above) also shared her thoughts on the strong appreciation for local businesses and handmade goods that is unique to rural communities.
"My favourite part about living in a rural or regional community is there's just so much more appreciation and support by the community for small business, for local business and for handmade. The support and the appreciation for these is unmatched in the metropolitan areas," says Jess.
Sarah from Enviro EDU Mildura (pictured above), sharing why she loves running a small business in her rural setting.
"I love running a small business in a rural setting because of the opportunities it provides and because of the incredible people within that community," says Sarah.
It’s clear that community is at the core of rural life—whether it’s supporting small businesses or finding belonging in unexpected places, the connections we build are what make rural living so special.
For Julie from Urthly Organics based in Bendigo, it’s about not just the support, but also the sense of safety and connection that comes from being part of a rural community."
"I'm a maker of palm free and plastic free soap, skincare and cleaning products in Bendigo and have done so for the last 28 years," says Julie.
"Rural Women's Day for me means empowering women in the rural areas whom are most often lost among the agriculture, large cities and generally have less recognition for the many hats that we wear.
"I've many favourite businesses run by rural women and I can't really single one out. But please do support your local rural businesses as we generally like to go the extra mile for our customers.
"I love being a rural woman as I grew up on the land in Cohuna in Victoria, and I moved to the big smoke down to Melbourne and found myself back in the rural community of Bendigo, which I love. The hustle and bustle was hectic in the city. I love being able to drive into town and park outside the business that I want to enter.
"It also feels safer in the country for a woman and friendships are easier to make. And for my children growing up, it was just a better place to raise them up.
"This year, I'm going to be celebrating Rural Women's Day by making over 1000 toilet bombs. Not a job I particularly like, but they sell fantastically well. So it's just one of those things that we just have to do."
Empowerment is a key theme of Rural Women's Day. It's a celebration of the strength and resilience of women in our communities—women who lift each other up and pave the way for future generations.
Amy from Bush Biz Boost in Cohuna (pictured above), knows this well, as she dedicates her time to mentoring and supporting other rural women entrepreneurs.
"To me, Rural Women's Day means empowerment because it celebrates the incredible strength and resilience of women in our communities. I'm a rural business mentor and I have the privilege of supporting rural women in their entrepreneurial journeys with their businesses," says Amy.
"I just love being part of a movement that not only uplifts individual business owners, but also that means it strengthens our entire community.
"This year I'm celebrating by encouraging every rural woman to pursue her dreams, connect with others, get out there and talk to people who inspire you, because together we can build such a great future in rural areas."
As Amy reminds us, empowerment isn’t just about individual success—it’s about strengthening our entire community. Pursuing dreams, connecting with others, and building a future together. This is what Rural Women's Day is all about.
We celebrate the achievements of rural women, the milestones they’ve reached, and the communities they’ve built.
And what better way to celebrate than by acknowledging the incredible work of Jackie Elliott, founder of Rural Women’s Day events. Hannah McNulty, (pictured above), a content creator based in Goondiwindi, Queensland, shares a special message of gratitude.
"I'd love to do a big shout out to Jackie Elliott. She is the founder of Rural Women's Day and what she has created is nothing short of absolutely special," says Hannah.
"And if anyone has attended a rural Women's Day event, especially in the last few weeks, they will agree with me that she is an absolute powerhouse in creating a community that is both safe and special for all of us.
"So thank you, Jackie, for paving the way and showing us the power of being part of a community and being part of something that is so much bigger than all of us. We are so grateful for you."
Well done Jackie for creating a space where rural women can come together and celebrate what it means to be part of a community that is so much bigger than any one of us.
Life in rural areas often comes with unique challenges, but the women we’re celebrating today face those challenges with courage and determination. Julie captured this spirit when she shared her experience of running a business in Bendigo for nearly 30 years. Resilience, as she says, is what drives us to keep going, no matter what comes our way.
"Rural women that inspire me are the go-getters, the ones that don't sit still and are proactive in their business and their lives," says Julie.
Resilience. I know that word is tired. But resilience is what keeps us moving forward. It’s what allows us to overcome obstacles and continue to thrive, both in business and in life.
As we wrap up this unique Rural Women's Day episode, I first want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared an audio message with us today on such short notice.
Rural women are the backbone of our regions, and today we celebrate each and every one of you.