Growing up I have felt extremely privileged and blessed to be surrounded by a community of incredibly strong-willed and remarkable women. Whether it was my amazing older sisters, school teachers, friends, dance teachers or mentors. From a young age, I have always been inspired by their intelligence, compassion and determination. As Rory Gilmore said “but my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life’s blood, [Natasha Gillan]. My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn’t do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be.” My mum is a leader in many ways. In her role as Deputy Principal of Support and Inclusion in our regional town, she leads our community by helping students with their wellbeing and reaching their goals. She also leads school staff members by setting an example, assisting, listening and providing advice. However, what I cherish most is how she leads in her everyday life. My mum treats everyone with respect. She gives everything a go and always sets time aside for her family and friends, regardless of her busy schedule. My mum has instilled in me the importance of showing up no matter what, despite any and all reasons not to, and the importance of striving to be the best version of myself. She has taught me to always practice gratitude, because you never really know what tomorrow may bring.

My mum inspires me to instigate change by demonstrating that we can all make a positive difference. At her school, she has made significant changes to enhance student care by introducing a structure focused on holistic development. Councillors, social workers, career advisors, psychologists, and learning support staff are now in a centralised hub, ensuring quick access for students. This has benefited the entire school community, as it centralises wellbeing needs in one place. Her dedication was recognised recently when she received the ‘Innovation in Public Education’ state award and was mentioned in State Parliament. Mum has modelled for my sisters and I, to be proud of our achievements and successes, but to always stay humble and kind.

I believe leaders decide what legacy they leave behind. My focus is on improving mental health support for young people and addressing statistics related to youth suicide. In Australia, the loss of nine lives to suicide daily is a heartbreaking reality that I am dedicated to changing. Watching how devoted my mum is to improving wellbeing for young people, it motivates me to follow in her footsteps. She encourages me to use leadership skills positively to be the change you want to see.  My mum was a huge inspiration for me in running for years 7-9 School Captain in 2023. Through this role, I had the chance to organise student-led R-U-OK? events at our school, which was a rewarding experience to see the impact the event had on students and the community. I am passionate to continue promoting wellbeing, both at school and in our rural town.

Within my community, I witness our amazing country women leading every day, encouraging one another, and caring for our wonderful town and land. It is important that we have inspiring figures, like my mum, to motivate our country youth. They play a crucial role in advocating for young people and creating lasting community change. My mum has demonstrated that while leadership can be challenging, it is incredibly worthwhile. I hope that everyone can be inspired by our country women, the women of the land, and the heart of this beautiful country we call home.