#SheCan proudly sponsored by the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award

“A long way from home, I am from Katherine in the Northern Territory, where I grew up on the outskirts of town with my younger brother and parents. 

Growing up in the Territory was extremely special, the lifestyle, the country and the people really are something I believe you just cannot find anywhere else. 

My family own and operates a mechanical business that services a large scale of the pastoralists throughout the Northern Territory. 

My weekends and school holidays would often consist of visiting stations across the north with my Dad, even though I never made a very good mechanic apprentice.

These are some of my favourite memories growing up and it was also where I was able to gain exposure and make some lifelong connections in the northern agricultural industry, I did not realise at the time how important these would be to me in the near future.

I actually had my heart set on becoming a physiotherapist for quite some time before graduating from Katherine High School in 2018. Quite a journey from where I am today and definitely not the mechanic my Dad might have hoped I’d be (sorry Dad haha!). 

I decided to take a gap year before going off to complete my studies to become a physio, and it was my first job out of school that changed it all in an instant. 

A family friend offered me some short-term work at the Katherine Livestock Export Yards. I was 17 fresh out of school and did not know very much at all about cattle or export or anything in between for that matter.

However, I realised very quickly that I had an undeniable passion for agriculture, and this was the industry I wanted to be immersed in, and that gap year sure didn’t last just the one year. 

Although I was very out of my comfort zone in the beginning, I was fortunate to have many connections in our small community who offered guidance and mentorship, and for the past four years, I have worked in numerous roles throughout the industry. 

Sleeping under the stars contract mustering across the north, as a station hand on numerous family-owned and company properties throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory.

As station management support at Victoria River Downs for Heytesbury Cattle Co, at Elders as marketing and administration support for pastoral property sales and even had the opportunity to work on a ranch in America.

Not coming from an agricultural background I was determined to say yes to as many opportunities as I could and to experience as much as I was able to.

The opportunities and experience agriculture has given me are something I never imagined possible and I feel extremely privileged to be a young person within this industry.

In January this year, I made the move to Geelong in Victoria where I am a first-year Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) student at Marcus Oldham College.

To briefly overview the course, it is for two years and is designed for those driven towards management positions within businesses that deal with the products of primary production and focuses on the skills in; business management systems, agricultural production and sustainable resource systems, human resource management, marketing, information management, finance and law. 

It has always been a dream of mine to pursue higher education although when I found myself immersed in agriculture, I wasn’t quite sure what form it would be in. 

I was fortunate to have connections to some past graduates and current students at Marcus Oldham, and after my own research and speaking with them, I decided that I believed this would be the perfect fit for me.

I have always been passionate about personal and professional development, I think it is so important to invest in yourself. As much as it is a big step away from being in the cattle yards, after four years working in the industry, I felt ready to take this next leap in my career.

What continues to motivate me to pursue a long-term career in the agriculture industry would have to be for the following reasons: 

The people, thus far in my career I have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful people involved in this industry from all walks of life, one of my biggest aspirations is to be able to give back to the community that has given and taught me so much.

The lifestyle and the opportunities this industry provides me.

And finally, knowing I am a part of something much greater than anything I could ever imagine, so vitally important globally and to our community.”

-Isabella

Our #SheCan Campaign is proudly sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, Rural Women’s Award.

AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia's leading prize celebrating the courageous leadership and entrepreneurial drive of women involved in Australia's rural and emerging industries, businesses and communities.

For over 20 years, the Award has garnered a significant and respected status among parliamentarians, industry, media and Award alumni. Each State and Territory Winner receives a $15,000 Westpac grant for their project, business or program, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

AgriFutures Australia is committed to the future growth and advancement of the Rural Women’s Award as a means of identifying, celebrating and empowering women to make decisions that ensure our rural industries prosper now, and into the future.

Find out more about the Rural Women’s Awards!