What’s Happening?
Rural Women’s Day returns to Rockhampton for its third annual local lunch on Friday, 21 August 2026. The event runs from 11am to 3pm at the Upper Level of Headricks Lane, 189 East Street.
It will bring rural and regional women together for lunch, personal stories, conversation, and support for small businesses. Scenic Rim community leader Jenny Jenner and Central Queensland business founder Lauren Barlow will speak.
Returning host Helen Connick will guide the program after recently relocating to North Queensland. Guests will receive a two-course lunch during the four-hour event.
Why It Matters
Rural and regional women do not always have regular opportunities to meet people who understand their lives and work. This lunch creates a shared space for honest stories, new contacts and practical support.
The program also puts regional businesses, farming, tourism, finance and community fundraising before a local audience. Guests may attend alone or bring their mother, daughter, sister, friends or neighbours.
Organisers will help solo attendees meet others. The lunch also gives groups a reason to move long-planned catch-ups beyond the group chat. All ages are welcome, but guests under 18 must attend with an adult.
Local Impact
The event links Rockhampton residents with speakers connected to communities across Queensland. Barlow runs Dusty Wattle from her family’s cattle property west of Emerald.
Julie-Anne Boto, who lives near Yeppoon, will photograph the event. Local attendees can also support small businesses and form regional working relationships. Together, these local links give Central Queensland women a clear place in the program.
By the Numbers
- More than $600,000 has been raised since 2022 for cancer and palliative care through the Kalbar Sunflower Festival.
- 10 cuddle beds were donated to South East Queensland hospitals across three years. They support patient and family comfort and dignity during end-of-life care.
- Seven years have passed since Lauren Barlow started Dusty Wattle at 14. She is now 21 and runs a nationally recognised brand.
Zoom In
Jenny Jenner
Jenny Jenner founded the Kalbar Sunflower Festival in the Scenic Rim. She is also a farmer, community advocate and tourism leader.
Her late husband Russell’s cancer experience inspired the festival’s charitable purpose. Jenner has continued its #sunflowersforgood work, bringing people together while raising money for care.
The funds have bought important equipment and supported hospitals, charities and palliative care services. She received Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Australian of the Year honour for her community contribution.
Her festival then won the council’s 2025 Business Excellence Award for Tourism. It recognised the festival’s contribution to tourism, community involvement and the regional economy.
Her work shows how agriculture, tourism and community action can create lasting change. A two-part Beyond the Farm Gate interview offers an early look at the story she will share.
Lauren Barlow
Barlow is the founder and chief executive of Dusty Wattle, a colourful, size-inclusive clothing label. She draws its exclusive designs and runs the company from her family’s cattle property.
She said, “Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m 21 years old and the founder and CEO of my own company, Dusty Wattle.
“I started the business when I was 14 years old with a big idea and absolutely no clue what I was doing. I was willing to figure it out as I went. Fast forward seven years, and that little idea has grown into a nationally recognised brand. I run it from my family’s cattle property west of Emerald, Queensland.”
“Dusty Wattle is a colourful, size-inclusive clothing brand featuring exclusive hand-drawn designs that I illustrate myself. I never studied fashion or design. I just learnt in real time, one collection, and plenty of mistakes, at a time.At the heart of everything I do is one simple goal. That is to create clothes that help women feel confident, comfortable and completely themselves.I can’t wait to share the good, the bad and the ugly. This story has never been told in full.”
Barlow said guests would hear a behind-the-scenes account of how Dusty Wattle became the brand it is today.
Helen Connick
Returning master of ceremonies Helen Connick is an Irish-born Australian who has lived here for the past 16 years. She recently relocated to North Queensland.
As Queensland and Northern Territory State Manager for Equipment Finance at Bendigo Bank, she connects people, ideas and opportunities. Her work covers many industries.
Connick also hosts Beyond the Farm Gate, which shares stories and resilience from rural Australians. The podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Her interest in rural life, collaboration and humour brings warmth and insight to conversations. She helps people feel seen, heard and inspired. Connick is returning to host Rockhampton’s 2026 event.
Julie-Anne Boto
The event will be photographed by Julie-Anne Boto, who runs Julie-Anne Photography. Event photos may be used for promotion and social media.
She said, “My name is Julie-Anne. I am a mum, wife and business owner. I love my chaotic family. They are the very reason Julie-Anne Photography exists. “I have been married for 23 years to my best friend. We are parents to five energetic, hungry boys. My early life was among cattle and horses on my parents’ property. I am now a pineapple farmer’s wife on the coast near Yeppoon.
“You’ll find me with a cup of Bushell’s tea at most meal times. My guilty food pleasure is Old Gold Roast Almond Chocolate. My favourite thing to do in my own time is exercise, including running, resistance training and Pilates. I also quietly work on my next venture for my growing photography business. I would describe myself as energetic and enthusiastic, and someone who cares too much about perfecting her job.”
Zoom Out
The wider Rural Women’s Day program connects women through community and collaboration. Rockhampton’s event brings agriculture, fashion, banking, media, photography, tourism and fundraising into one room.
That mix reflects the varied work led by rural women across Queensland. The focus also reaches beyond careers to friendship, confidence, community care and honest business stories.
What To Look For Next?
Bookings are nearing closure, and organisers are encouraging interested guests to secure tickets through the official Humanitix page. Seating is unreserved, so guests can choose any table and meet someone new.
Through OKtoSayNo, non-alcoholic ETCH Sparkling will be available with the two-course lunch. Other beverages will be sold at bar prices.
