I am lucky to be part of a community that is home to so many female leaders that inspire me every day. It is so important to see people like me achieving things I would not have otherwise imagined; to see women showing an example of what I could be or do one day. It’s crucial for young women to have female role models, leaders, teachers, peers, friends, and family in our lives to demonstrate the possibilities of our futures. We need to see people like us out there achieving success; to believe we have the capacity to do the same. 

At a national level, Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, is speaking up for women and representing our strength and resilience; after her win, she said ‘they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the world’. Using her spotlight to highlight gender inequality, labelling racing a ‘chauvinistic sport’ (Andrew McGarry, 2015), Michelle is showing young girls that we can excel in male-dominated fields. Australian of the Year for 2024, Professor Georgina Long is demonstrating how much we can contribute to groundbreaking research, specifically in medicine. She said ‘our society needs to change so that women and men are equally able to identify and build a life they truly want’ (MIA Media, 2024). 

Closer to home, in my rural community, my great aunt is the first female doctor to come out of my high school, going on to become a professor in medicine who is responsible for training new generations of doctors. She has been a champion of women in science, sponsoring a science award at my school for many years. She inspires me to reach my potential and make positive changes within my community. 

In grade 8, I was provided with the opportunity to start a branch of the Rotary Foundation. I am the first president of the Interact Club of Latrobe High School, and I have led a team to make our school a better place. I have immense pride in our achievements so far and I’m so grateful that our teacher was willing to facilitate this for us. This opportunity has allowed me to be a successful leader within our school community. I am constantly in awe of my teachers, their leadership, and their ability to create change in our classroom, school, and community. They have shown me that in a challenging, ever-changing environment women can grow and thrive. 

Hayley Carpenter, from Country to Canberra’s 2023 power trip, is a friend and peer of mine. She has taught me to make the most of every opportunity available, which I have watched her do since we first met. Seeing Hayley take this opportunity, and be successful in her application, resulting in a life changing experience, has inspired me to do the same. I look up to Hayley and have no doubt she will follow her biggest dreams and achieve everything she wants, making me dream to do the same. 

You can’t be what you can’t see. These women are all allowing me to see what I can be. They lead by example and with integrity, showing courage and perseverance to overcome obstacles to see that their visions are realised. From them, I have learnt to always challenge myself and to strive to be the best version of myself while working collaboratively to bring about change in my community.