September 25, 2018
South Burnett councillor Ros Heit was named winner of the 2018 Leadership Award at the recent Queensland Regional and Remote Women’s Network (QRRRWN) Conference held in Kingaroy.
Ros told southburnett.com.au it had been “very exciting” to have been one of the two finalists for the award, which had earlier been whittled down from six nominations.
And she felt “humbled and honoured” to have won.
Originally from Salisbury in England, Ros has lived in the South Burnett for more than 30 years.
She has worked in a variety of roles over the years … as an employment consultant, a youth worker and a manager of women’s refuges before being elected to Division 6 at the South Burnett Regional Council.
She has also raised a family with her husband, Kerry, at Wooroolin.
Another South Burnett winner was Nanango State High School vice-captain Gabby De Weers who was named “Young Woman with a Vision”.
Gabby is not only a keen sportswoman – she has represented Wide Bay in cross country four times – she is also a Duke of Edinburgh gold award winner and has also been campaigning for tobacco to be made a prescription drug.
The annual Strong Women Leadership Awards were announced by ABC Wide Bay senior reporter Brad Marsellos at a gala dinner for 150 people in Kingaroy Town Hall on the Friday night of the conference (September 14).
Cilla Pershouse, from Ban Ban Springs – who created Blue Gum Farm TV – took out the main award, QRRRWN Woman of the Year.
Other winners were Story Teller of the Year, ABC journalist Nicole Bond; Inspirational Woman Jeanette Summerville, from Charleville; Small Business Owner of the Year Jayne McKenzie, from Kilcoy; and Volunteer of the Year Kylee Lyon, from Bracken Ridge, who founded “Drought Angels”.
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The local Barambah Branch of QRRRWN also announced the winner of its second annual $1000 bursary at the conference.
Belinda Ryan, 37, from Nanango, is studying a Bachelor of Education through Swinburne University.
The aim of the bursary is to provide financial assistance to a South Burnett woman aged over 30 to help support her to gain extra skills via training and personal or business development.
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The QRRRWN Conference, from September 13-15, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the organisation which was founded to support rural women, their families and communities.
QRRRWN began life as “Queensland Rural Women” in 1993 when nine women got together in the Central Burnett area.
The group decided to return to the Burnett for this important anniversary conference as many of its early members came from the South Burnett region.
Displays of memorabilia, including videos, photographs and news clippings, filled an alcove at the main entrance to the conference venue, Kingaroy Town Hall.
QRRRWN president Melissa Barnett said she was pleased with the turnout, which included 130 registrations from across Queensland.
The theme for the conference was “Growing Women for the Future” which a string of inspirational guest speakers addressed with gusto.
These included Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Charysse Pond, the Saturday keynote speaker, who described both the personal and professional challenges she had faced throughout her life.
Husbands and partners weren’t forgotten as the women were networking and being inspired at the conference.
Barambah branch QRRRWN members Karen Seiler and Rebecca Cross organised a Partner Tour to keep husbands entertained on Friday.
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Georgie Somerset, from Durong
Among the familiar faces at the conference was early QRRWN member, ABC Board member, incoming AgForce Queensland president, Red Earth Community Foundation founder and Durong grazier Georgie Somerset.
It was a big conference for Georgie and her sister Juliet Robinson.
Their late mother, Jane Robinson – a founding member of QRRWN – was remembered at the Jane’s Prayer Breakfast held at Mt Wooroolin on the Saturday morning of the conference.
Local Catholic priest Father Chukwudi Chinaka led the prayer service and spoke about empowering women farmers in his home country of Nigeria.
A second speaker was Ros Heit, who shared the story of her journey with breast cancer, her trip to Machu Picchu and the importance of living each day to the full.
The Firepit Youth Band from St Mary’s Catholic Parish provided the music.
The Prayer Breakfast has been held at the QRWWN conference every year since 1997 and was named after Jane in 2001.
Juliet was also a guest speaker at the conference, leading the Personal Development workshop on Saturday afternoon.
Georgie went on to win the major raffle prize, donated by PandaPearls Australia.
Julia Telford, from Goondiwindi, won the other major raffle prize, the 25th anniversary patchwork quilt.
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Other highlights of the conference included:
- VIP afternoon at Burtons Shoes in Kingaroy on Thursday to explore the Spring collection of shoes and accessories (accompanied by champagne and canapes)
- The official welcome function in the Kingaroy Town Hall forecourt on the Thursday night, which featured music by the string ensemble from the South Burnett Community Orchestra and a display of whipcracking
- Guest speaker at the Westpac Agribusiness Business Breakfast on Friday morning, RIRDC 2018 Queensland winner Krista Watkins, co-inventor of Natural Evolution Banana Flour
- Welcome to Country ceremony on Friday morning which included Indigenous dancers from Kingaroy State High School
- The official opening on Friday morning by Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and the lighting of the Conference candle
- Friday’s keynote speech delivered by Dr Kirstin Ferguson, creator of the #CelebratingWomen campaign, who also launched her latest book, “Women Kind”, at the conference
- Youth Stream session for young female students from Kingaroy, Nanango, Murgon and Dalby State High Schools and St Mary’s Catholic College, held in the Uniting Church Hall in Kingaroy on Friday afternoon
Workshop sessions on Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon focussed on professional, personal and creative development.
[Photos: southburnett.com.au., Nanango Electorate Office and Cr Ros Heit]
