Book by rural women to inspire enterprise

BERRINGA copywriter and marketing professional Sarah Walkerden is curating an upcoming book, Rural Business Women – Advice and inspiration to grow your business from regional Australia.

The production will feature ideas, suggestions, stories and experiences from at least 20 rural and regional Australian businesswomen.

Aimed at empowering other women living in similar areas and situations, the publication will provide encouraging tips for those persevering with an enterprise, and help aspiring or fresh businesswomen to grow their brand and confidence.

Ms Walkderden said rural women face “unique challenges,” often based in areas where job opportunities are slim, and customer and business advocacy support is lacking.

“Women in rural areas have, in the past, been somewhat limited financially by the traditional employment options available to them locally, and even more so if they have young families to care for,” she said.

“In my previous corporate life, and living 40 kilometres south-west of Ballarat, I was forced to travel two-and-a-half to three hours each way to work every day, to earn enough to pay the mortgage on our property and keep us afloat financially.

“Once I had my first child, and then my second, it soon became a living nightmare.”

Unable to sustain both the commute and her family responsibilities, Ms Walkerden launched her own business from home, The Rural Copywriter.

“It’s been a bumpy road with lots of highs and lows, and trial and error, but I now have the freedom and flexibility I craved for myself and my two kids.

“I work from home around school hours and activities, so I’m there for them when they need me. It’s also given us a far greater income potential as a family,” she said.

With many stories like hers around the country, and plenty of those in the book, Ms Walkerden said there “aren’t any limits” for a businesswoman and her brand if she’s “smart” about time management and operations.

Through this written collaboration, she wants to inspire rural women to build a business that suits them, their lifestyle and location.

“Some live and work in larger regional centres, and simply want more flexibility to do something they love on their own terms.

“Others live on huge farms and stations… and want to create something else for themselves financially and creatively,” she said.

Each businesswoman that contributes to the book, set to be released later in the year, will write a chapter and can be considered a published author, which Ms Walkerden said may also boost their brand and credibility.

“Ideally we’d love to… ensure we capture a broad range of backgrounds, locations, experiences, types of business and skillsets, to create a powerful book that can cover everything from mindset, to finances, marketing and more.”

If you are interested in being involved, email [email protected].