The role of rural women in driving change in their communities is one of persistence, tirelessness and determination. Traditionally, a rural woman’s role was seen as a caregiver who supported men and children through domestic tasks and provided stability to the family unit. To an outsider, rural women did not appear to be change makers because they didn’t hold established positions of power, but the reality is that women have always had the courage to challenge and fuel change in their communities.

There are so many incredible rural women who have been instrumental in implementing change, many of whom have gone unnoticed because they have not been recorded in our history books. However, one woman, often referred to as a wife, mother and revolutionist has made the history books in Tasmania. In the late 1800’s, Ida McAulay challenged the boxes women were pushed into. Described as a “radical free-thinker and spokeswoman for women’s rights who strove to challenge the misconceptions regarding gender differences” (University of Tasmania, N/A), Ida fuelled change not from a position of power but from her sheer belief that women were much more than the boxes made for us. She was an early pioneer who advocated for woman’s voting rights and was a strong advocate for the education of girls. Even though she did not hold a position of power, her advocacy of free-thinking and equality, both in education and society is directly referenced by the University of Tasmania to this day.
The reason that women have been so instrumental in enabling change in rural communities is because they not only have the courage to challenge, but they also embody many qualities that great leaders need. Effective leaders demonstrate a calm level headedness that enables them to explore solutions. They listen and communicate well and are able to organise, delegate and prioritise so that change not only happens but is sustainable. What is amazing is that rural women have demonstrated these qualities of leadership while still meeting the traditional expectations that others held of them. 

A quote from the UN Women Watch says, “Rural women are active drivers of economic and social change, however they are still, in many ways and to various degrees, constrained in their roles as producers, caregivers and consumers.” (UN Women Watch, 2012). A prime example of a local rural woman who was one such powerful driver of economic and social change is Nell Williams. Born in the remote township of Lorinna, Nell Williams became an active member of the Australian Labor Party after taking on the role of state president of the Royal Derwent Hospital’s Employee Federation. Nell was committed to achieving social change and a better Tasmania for workers, fighting hard for equal pay for women. Throughout this time she was also an unwavering Red Cross volunteer and a cook at the Royal Derwent Hospital. Her commitment to exploring long term solutions still benefits Tasmanian women today.

As a rural women myself who is committed to bringing about change in my community, I understand the determination needed to have the courage to challenge and fuel change. I have spent the last 3 years striving to educate my community to grow its knowledge and attitude towards climate action, so I can understand that leaders need a calm level headedness when driving change. I can understand that the ability to organise, delegate and prioritise so that sustainable change can happen is not easy. I draw on the strength of the rural women who have come before me, women who have not given up and who have had the courage to challenge outdated ideas.

Bibliography
1. University of Tasmania, Wife Mother Revolutionist, last viewed on 23/7/21, https://125timeline.utas.edu.au/timeline/1940/wife-mother-revolutionist/
2. Department of Communities Tasmania, Ida McAulay, last viewed 21/7/21, https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/information_and_resources/significant_tasmanian_women/significant_tasmanian_women_-_research_listing/ida_mcaulay
3. Department of Communities Tasmania, Nell Williams OAM, last viewed on 21/7/21, https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/information_and_resources/significant_tasmanian_women/significant_tasmanian_women_-_research_listing/nell_williams_oam
4. Women Watch, The UN System: Working Together to Empower Rural Women, last viewed on 20/7/21, https://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/ruralwomen/index.html