General News
23 March, 2026
Support fills industry gaps
MORE than 70 women from across the Cassowary Coast gathered for an afternoon of sharing stories and information about farming, agribusiness and industry support, as part of a new group formed to support women in agriculture.
President of the Tully Women in Ag group Kymberley Teelow said the enthusiasm for the meeting had reaffirmed the need for such a group.
“It really showed just how strong and diverse the female agricultural community is in our region,” she said.
“The enthusiasm and turnout reinforced the need for a dedicated space where women in agriculture can connect, learn, and support one another.”
Tully Women in Ag was created by three local women who met at a Canegrowers business workshop.
With very low attendance to that free workshop, despite the valuable insights it offered, they talked about how poorly advertised many industry initiatives were, how disconnected people could feel and how limiting it was to have lots of small, separate industry groups, Ms Teelow explained.
“From that discussion, the idea for Tully Women in Ag was born – a space to bring together women across all sectors of our local agricultural community,” she said.
“Whether you grow bananas, pawpaws, sugarcane or raise livestock, we are all facing similar challenges, and we wanted to break down those barriers and silos.”
In September last year the group became incorporated as a not-for-profit organisation and in November held its first major event to celebrate International Rural Women’s Day.
“Around 60 women attended, along with representatives from AgForce and the National Farmers’ Federation and a very insightful presentation from Kelly at FNQ Growers,” Ms Teelow said.
“It was a fantastic night of connection, laughter and community and really confirmed that there was a need for this group.
“Since then, our committee has grown and we are full steam ahead with what is shaping up to be a strong and much needed initiative for the region.”
On 21 February the group hosted an afternoon soiree at Elandra, Mission Beach.
“Although the weather was a little on the damp side, Mission Beach still turned on the sunshine and stunning views,” Ms Teelow said.
The event was kept deliberately low-key, aiming to increase the connection between women from across the Cassowary Coast and the attendance of 70 women was a welcome surprise.
“The women, they came together to meet others in agriculture, share stories and experiences and talk about what they would like to see from Tully Women in Ag going forward,” she said.
As a result of the meeting Tully Women in Ag is creating a calendar of events for the year, including workshops, networking opportunities, and skill building sessions designed to strengthen both personal and professional connections within the industry.
Some already formulated are the ‘Brewed in the Paddock’ catch ups from April, a leadership workshop (date TBC) for women in agriculture, with the hope of also supporting places for senior students from Tully State High School who are interested in agricultural careers or leadership in regional communities, and a flagship event, the GrowHER long lunch in early November.
“Our vision is that strong communities are built on connection. By bringing like minded women from across the Cassowary Coast together, we believe we can help create a stronger and more resilient community,” Ms Teelow said.
“Isolation and primary production often go hand in hand, so personal wellbeing is a core focus for us,” she said.
“We want to reduce that sense of being ‘on your own’ on the farm and create a safe, welcoming space where women can turn up, be themselves and feel supported.”
In short, she continued, the group existed to unite, break down industry and commodity silos, promote connection, wellbeing and resilience and provide opportunities for learning, leadership and community contribution.
The group is open to anyone “whether they are in the boardroom, the paddock, the packing shed or supporting a family farming enterprise”.
You can find out more and keep up to date with events by following Tully Women in Ag on Facebook and Instagram.
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