2020: a period ravaged with unprecedented circumstances, a span some would sooner forget. Through devastating natural disasters, a raging pandemic and lockdowns that caused heart-breaking economic downfall. One thing prevailed through utter uncertainty: the unbreakable passion and pride to be a part of a community. A sense of belonging that was unwavering through the changeability of the world we are living in.

Defined, a community is a group of people living in the same place or sharing characteristics, but simply stating this does not do justice to the vibrancy and resilience communities harbour and display.

However, what if a community displayed a trait or characteristic that was undesirable, unwanted or unequal? Whose responsibility is it to create positive change?

More often than not, the gut-wrenching responsibility falls to those discriminated against. These groups of people must hold the courage to defy the powerful and bigoted, as well as daring to challenge those that stand in the way of an evolving society. These changemakers are amongst a growing collective of trailblazers that are rebelling against the chauvinism and partisanship that has plagued the ability for all voices to be heard equally.

Women as a unified whole have displayed their readiness to pursue change even if it requires challenging the most dominant and established institutions. As a nation we were shocked and disgusted with the allegations brought against our very own Parliament House; the horrifying unveiling of a discriminatory and misogynistic culture in such a trusted body shocked many women to the core. However, a sense of reassurance was found as we witnessed teams of courageous and unstoppable women from far and wide taking to the streets, lobbying for long overdue reform in support of those let down by their work communities. The sense of embodiment that these troupes of women harboured highlighted the importance of striving for change even in the most intimidating of circumstances. It depicted the diversity of a community brimming with driven women who were the changemakers of their society. It was demonstrated how the courage of one voice can multiply out into a sea of daring, selfless individuals.

Not all need for change is seen on such large scale, but nevertheless the importance for change remains the same. The place and rurality of where one lives does not define how major one’s pursuit of progression is. Women in rural areas now, more than ever, are fighting for change, not only for themselves but for the benefit of a whole community. Ruth Bader Ginsburg once famously remarked, ‘Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.’ This quote embodies the behaviour our motivated, rural, female changemakers are showing in their communities. It depicts the sense of shared commitment at the forefront of their actions that our female trail makers are fighting for when they pursue change, whether it be breaking the stereotypes of women in agriculture, the CWA donating their time to create a more caring environment or simply volunteering at the local parkrun for the greater health of their community. Female changemakers across the world, no matter their differences or place they call home, are improving the communities they live in, not only for themselves, but so generations that are still to come can reap the rewards of their toils.

The path to change is all bar an easy one, one filled with challenges, hardships and annoyances, but through it all nothing can break the surreal feeling of being a part of a community.