It’s no wonder the Crackup Sisters were on song for the 7000-strong crowd at Birdsville’s Big Red Bash this year – they were fresh from receiving formal recognition of their story-telling abilities by the Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women’s Network.
The pair – Alyssa Venning and Amanda-Lyn Pearson, aka Twiggs and S.T. Ruth – received the QRRRWN Strong Women Story Teller of the Year 2016 award but have been on the road almost continually since then.
According to QRRRWN president, Alison Mobbs, it was exciting to honour their work in person recently.
The pair has been telling stories for the past seven years, drawing on their own experiences and gathering stories from rural towns to retell them through comedy, acrobatics and whip-cracking.
“They promote women getting in and having a go,” Alison said. “Just look at the logistics of their show – towing a 20-foot trailer, putting up and pulling down an eight metre rig for each venue, and driving over 60,000 kilometres each year.”
S.T. Ruth said the award was the icing on the cake for the pair, who loved what they did.
“Being a part of the SWLA this last year has showed us how good it is to be acknowledged for the hard work we put in,” her on-stage sister, Twiggs, said. “It gives us the inspiration to keep going, come up with bigger and better ideas and spread the word of exceptional women beyond our own circles.”
The leadership program recognises women who hold their local communities together and connect them with the wider world.
In 2017, it has 10 categories, three that particularly identify and encourage leadership capacities in younger women.
“QRRRWN looks for inspirational professional women, business women, volunteers, community leaders and more terrific story tellers who have something to give and talents to develop,” Alison said.
“In 2016 we were thrilled with the participation in our new categories for young women.
“We are very excited to see who will come forward this year.
“There is such an astonishing depth and variety of capable and skilled women across our regional and remote communities.”
Alison said watching leadership capacities develop was incredibly rewarding.
“We encourage prospective applicants to visit the QRRRWN website to read more about the award categories,” she said.
Nominations for the 2017 awards close on July 20 and the winners in each category will be announced at the QRRRWN conference gala dinner in Capella on October 20.
More information about the awards is available from www.qrrrwn.org.au or by phoning 1300 795 571.