15.3 C
Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

An award for women with future-changing, bold ideas

Latest News

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Other News

Greens say NSW budget ‘locks in pokies misery’

Cate Faehrmann MLC says the NSW government has knocked any hope of gambling reform on the head in yesterday’s state budget, with tax concessions to clubs with poker machines totalling $1.252 billion, while revenue from taxes on poker machine losses have been revised upward by a whopping $638.2 million over the forward estimates.

Highwayman’s Winter Whisky Feast

Highwayman’s Dan Woolley has been working with whisky for over 20 years, and started to fill his own barrels...

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 24 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

local filmmaker Sinem Saban will be presenting back-to-back screenings in Murwillumbah of her two award-winning films that not only expose draconian Australian intervention policies, but also present the catastrophic fallout from these laws that have been unravelling in Aboriginal communities to this day.

What are we going to *DO* about it?

Israel is expediting legislation to plan and legalise 69 outposts, allocating over 100-million shekels (about US$34-million). Israel’s Defence Ministry is...

Floodland

Local filmmaker Darius Devas is bringing Floodland – winner of the Sustainable Futures Award at the Sydney Film Festival – to Mullumbimby, for one night only.

Do you know a woman with bold ideas and a drive to create positive change in rural and regional Australia? Then it’s time to nominate her for the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.

Now in its 25th year, the award is Australia’s leading platform for recognising and supporting the leadership of women across rural, regional and remote businesses, industries and communities.

The award champions those who are already making an impact and supports them to take their vision even further.

Celebrating and elevating women

AgriFutures Australia Chief Operating Officer Belinda Allitt said the award celebrates and elevates women whose ideas have the potential to shape the future. ‘Every year, we meet women who are challenging the status quo and finding new ways to strengthen their industries and communities,’ she said.

‘The Rural Women’s Award is about more than recognition – it’s about providing the tools, networks and confidence to turn ambition into action.

‘It is an opportunity for women from every corner of the country, whether they’re based on-farm, in a regional hub, or working from the city, to step forward with a project that can make a tangible difference to rural and regional Australia.

The potential for positive impact

Ms Allitt said what matters most is the potential for positive impact. ‘We’re looking for women who are ready to challenge the way things have always been done, who see opportunities where others see obstacles, and who are committed to building stronger, more resilient communities.

‘We’re proud of the legacy this Award has created, and we’re excited about seeing the next group of leaders bring their vision, energy and determination to the national stage.’

State and territory winners

State and Territory winners each receive a $15,000 grant from Westpac to progress their project, business or program, along with access to professional development and the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Alumni network. The national winner and runner up, announced at a Gala Dinner, will receive an additional $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.

Women with an established project, business or program that benefits rural industries, businesses or communities are encouraged to apply.

Applications close Friday, 7 November 2025 (Friday, 30 January 2026 for NT applicants). Find out more and apply at: agrifutures.com.au/opportunities/rural-womens-award.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.