THE RURAL ROOM MEDIA STRINGERS
A NETWORK OF THE TOP MEDIA MAKERS FROM REGIONAL AUSTRALIA.
SHARING STORIES FROM THE STICKS FROM THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY
ENGAGE LOCAL CREATIVES ON THE GROUND!
MEDIA STRINGERS 2021
KUSH BOURKE
PRODUCER
Kush Bourke started working with Channel 31, Melbourne’s community television station, in 2003. In the 4yrs she was there she gained valuable experience producing, shooting and editing news segments for the nightly news and working as camera and AD on ‘The Union Show’ which was broadcast live across Melbourne and Geelong. This experience led to a career as a freelance journalist writing for Screen Hub, InTheMix and Live Loud Mag and to production work on short films, documentaries and more recently as a 3rd AD on a feature film. Kush is also an actor, gourmet mushroom grower and single mum to 4 young children.
KLAE McGUINNESS
PHOTOGRAPHER
Born in Far West NSW I did my schooling in Nyngan and after finishing school I completed an apprenticeship as a Carpenter and Joiner. A workplace accident leading to multiple back operations left me unable to continue in my chosen field and uncertain as to what my future would hold, after several months in hospital recovering from multiple operations, I found that I was addicted to prescription pain killers. It was in those dark times that I picked up my fathers’ camera and for the first time in a long time I had found a purpose again. I found myself wanting to learn everything I could about photography and was desperate to be the best that I could.
ANGIE WHITE
PHOTOGRAPHY
Angie White is passionate about rural Australia. Passionate about the land and its people – showcasing them in her photography, writing and creatively through her Dance Studios in the Bush.
NATALIE ATKINS
PHOTOGRAPHER, QLD
I’m a professional photographer based in the wheatbelt town of Brookton. I came from a farming background and wouldn’t live anywhere else. I love being able to practice a broad range of photography within my business and also taking landscapes around the wheatbelt and beyond.
JOSH BALL
PHOTOGRAPHER, WA
Hi My name is Josh Ball and I am a photographer Filmmaker based in Yallingup Western Australia. I come from a small town called Dumbleyung where I grew up loving the outdoors and nature.
I picked up a camera 3 years ago and fell in love with the art of storytelling. I love being outdoors and filming weddings, lifestyle, adventure and portraits.
ESMAE BARRY
ARTIST, NSW
I am an artist from the Yass Valley in NSW. Over the past few years, I have discovered my love for the industry and have found myself enjoying the simple pleasures of painting! My paintings are created from acrylic impasto medium on canvas, which allows me to harbour a sense of depth within the textures of my creations.
NICOLE BOND
JOURNALIST
Director • Consultant/Bond Media
Freelance Journalist, Freelance Shooter/Producer, Videography, Media Liaison, Strategic Storytelling, Corporate Communications, MC/Facilitator
RUBY CANNING
PHOTOGRAPHER, VIC
My name is Ruby Canning and I am the photographer behind Mavstar Photography, specialising in livestock, and rural family photography. I am inspired by the rich emotion shared between loved ones, their individual stories and how farmers share a connection with their land and livestock.
REBECCA COLLIS
ARTIST/FASHION DESIGNER, NSW
I consider myself an emerging artist I have always been creative dabbling in Graphic Design & Product Design, it wasn’t until a couple of years ago I discovered my love for watercolour & gouache!
Last year I launched my shop Lolli & Pop where I pop my wonderful characters onto canvas shoes, this has been an exciting wonderful challenge and am absolutely thrilled to have people wearing my designs on their feet.
JAYNE CUDDIHY
JOURNALISM, PODCASTER, QLD
Jayne Cuddihy is a multi- award-winning professional communicator with almost 20 years’ experience reporting, writing and broadcasting across Australia and overseas.
She comes from- and is deeply committed to- regional Australia and its people and has worked tirelessly to bridge the city-country divide through engaging storytelling. Jayne has worked for RuralPress, News Ltd and the ABC. Now running her own media company with her husband Martin, she has a diverse portfolio in freelance writing, public speaking, broadcasting, communications consulting, producing, editing and project management.
STACEY DAVIDSON
JOURNALIST, BLOGGER, SA
I am a freelance journalist passionate about sharing regional stories to celebrate and highlight the wonderful people, communities, initiatives and landscapes.
I grew up on a sheep and cattle station in outback South Australia and now live in the small agricultural town, Kapunda, which sits between the Barossa and Clare valleys.
JESSICA HOWARD
PHOTOGRAPHER, QLD
Jessica Howard lived in the UK for almost a decade making television programs, before coming home and restarting her career as a photographer. From the bush originally, her work primarily focuses on documenting rural women and their contribution to their communities. She lives in South East Queensland with her two boys and husband.
GEORGIE JAMES
PHOTOGRAPHER
LISA KENNEDY
ARTIST, NSW
I am a self-taught pencil artist localised to the Mudgee region. I specialise in drawing highly detailed and realistic depictions of our natural world, specifically our native birds and wildlife. Although when deciding on my university pathway, I chose not to study Fine Art at university (instead studying Veterinary Science), my art has always remained a resounding passion and an integral part of my being throughout my life.
MARLEE LANGFIELD
PHOTOGRAPHER, NSW
Marlee Langfield is a third-generation graingrower, farming over 740 hectares of grains and oilseeds in Cowra, NSW. As CEO of her own farm, Wallaringa, Marlee spends her days balancing office duties and pitching in with the manual work working side by side with her fiancé Andrew. At 25 years old, Marlee is an advocate for her industry and is a shining example of a young, dedicated and driven woman in agriculture, who is proud to be just that.
SANDRA LORDING
PHOTOGRAPHER, VIC
I’m an AIPP accredited professional photographer based in Mansfield, Victoria. My career began in Melbourne shooting sports and evolved to portraiture and weddings before a tree change in 2017. Since then I have added shooting for the local paper and my new love - photographing farms and family families.
GEORGIE MANN
PHOTOGRAPHER
Georgie Mann is a professional freelance photographer, specialising in rural and outback Australia.
Through her beautiful imagery and story-telling abilities (formerly a journalist), Georgie possesses unique skill at showcasing the magic and appeal of destinations, and inspiring potential travel planners. Georgie has worked extensively as a commercial photographer, providing clients with high quality imagery for their marketing purposes.
MANDY McKEESICK
WRITER, QLD
An adaptable writer and photographer who brings strength and intelligence to her work. Whether that be concise, client-driven, corporate content or features celebrating the diversity of rural Australia, Mandy has the empathy and innate ability to give subjects the confidence to share their stories.
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE
SAMANTHA NOON
WRITER, EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, QLD
Sam’s love and respect for rural Australia originated through growing up on her parent’s cattle property in Central Western New South Wales, where she spent the majority of her childhood on the back of a horse, in the cattle yards or on a fence line.
She was awarded the Vincent Fairfax Memorial Scholarship in 2007, and completed a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Western Sydney.
KERRY SHARP
PHOTOGRAPHER, JOURNALIST, NT
Kerry Sharp swapped Western Australia’s deep south for the Northern Territory’s tropical Top End 40 years ago on a journey that unleashed boundless opportunities to capture and share the unique character of the North. After a long career in news reporting, media liaison and public relations, she opted for a freelancing life with its glorious flexibility to further explore and unearth inspiring tales from rural, regional and remote Australia.
KIM STOREY
PHOTOGRAPHER, NSW
Kim grew up on a sheep and wool property near Bathurst NSW. She graduated with a Ba. Farm management from University of Sydney, Orange and spent the next twelve years in farm supplies with Elders Limited. In 2015, Kim purchased a small farm near Eugowra in Central West NSW and started working fulltime in her photography business.
She is an accredited professional photographer with the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP) and runs her photography business from the farm.
MERREN TURNBULL
ARTIST, NSW
Not knowing what to do with myself, I have never found a qualification that tickled my fancy. From a farming background myself, I ended up moving to Bourke NSW in 2007 for my own farmer, Tim. Going on to have our two daughters, I still struggled to find my direction and contribution.
I had been asking our local pastel artist, Jenny Greentree, to do some lessons, eventually in 2017 she found the time. I was so excited and amazed by what I was capable of that I decided to try my hand more seriously at pastel painting. I have always loved the outback colours and contrast, not only in its vibrancy, but the feast and famine seasons we endure year in, year out. My backyard is my endless inspiration. So here I am... living the dream and doing what I love.
DEAN WHITING
PHOTOGRAPHER, NSW
I am looking to further a hobby of photography into new and exciting opportunities as I grow from life changing trauma into an important part of my life in a more relaxed lifestyle travelling and exploring the things and places of rural NSW sharing it with new and interesting people and network with like minded rural people.
MARTHA BARNARD-RAE
SEO COPY
Catch me on Insta stories, and you’ll gather I’m a newbie in the sticks. Originally from Toronto, Canada, I now call Denmark WA home. Down here, I spend my days helping businesses tell their stories in memorable ways. As an SEO copywriter and digital marketer, I create compelling content that connects with audiences – I’m always looking for fun, left-of-centre ways to engage.
YOLA BAKER
FOUNDER
LANAH, is a creative-for-change passionate about pursuing actionable sustainability that serves the ongoing needs of humanity. Her gift for taking her practice into new spaces, using movement (dance techniques), language (poetic expression) and design (imagery) to shift change within individuals, teams and organisations offers unique and unconventional solutions for communication, planning, team building and confidence. Her connection to culture underpins how she works and plays in an Eastern Western context. The adversity of Yola’s lived experience feeds her aptitude to cut through and speak universally to the rawness of the human paradox in instinctual and powerful ways.
MEDIA STRINGERS 2017-2020
AMANDA BARLOW
PHOTOGRAPHY
I have always loved the power of photography and enjoy photographing my family and animals.
Instagram: @gulpha; @rural_worth | Facebook
ZOE CARTER
CONTENT CREATOR, AG AMBASSADOR
I’m a born and bred city kid who ended up in the country. My social media platforms and content creation is dedicated to encouraging young Australians to become a part of the Australian Agricultural Industry.
Instagram: zoecarter_australia @youngaussiefarmers | YouTube |
EMMA CROSS
PHOTOGRAPHER & PRODUCTION MANAGER
I'm an audio-visual production manager in Victoria. When I'm not managing events, I'm on the road travelling far and wide to capture in photographs my love for the land and the people who live there.
TIFFANY DAVEY
EVENT MANAGER, AUTHOR, WRITER, AG AMBASSADORI'm an author, assistant event coordinator, lover of regional Australia and an advocate for Australia’s agriculture industry. I have a fondness for adventure but have recently moved back to my family’s prime lamb and broad acre property in Konnongorring after travelling around Australia for over two and a half years.
Instagram: @fivethousandmoretogo
KATE DAVIES
ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, NSW
I can’t explain why I do the work I do – traveling around the countryside, taking photos, writing stories, collecting material for future artworks – I just know that is has become who I am, what I am known for.
Instagram: @kdpicturemaker1
NIC DUNCAN
PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m a professional photographer based in Denmark, WA. However, this year I’ve hitched up the camper and set off on an adventure through WA with my husband and cameras, through the small towns of the wheatbelt and goldfields, up into station country to photograph the characters I meet in out of the way places.
JACKIE ELLIOTT
SOCIAL MEDIA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR RURAL AND REGIONAL WOMEN
I’m passionate about connecting local rural and regional women with the wider community beyond the Western District.
DOROTHY HENDERSON
JOURNALIST, WA
The more work I do within rural communities the more I'm aware of the amazing stories that are hidden in the regions. Everyone has a story to tell, and those that are moulded by our sometimes challenging environment are fascinating and inspiring.
ROSIE HENDERSON
PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER, CONTENT MAKER
As a young person who has grown up in rural and regional Australia, I have seen first hand the importance of storytelling. It's through story that we gain and maintain a connection to our land, our country, our family, ourselves, and our heritage.
LEONIE KELLY
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, VIDEOGRAPHER
I believe a great story should be captured on film and I founded Farm Gate Production to show the world that Regional Film Makers are out there! We specialise in production of Short Films and Features and we’re branching out to Documentaries
CLAIRE LEAKE
CONTENT CREATOR, SOCIAL MEDIA
I grew up on a family farm in Borden in the Great Southern region of WA. I have worked in corporate advisory and worked in London for a tech incubator. I married a farmer and relocated to Kellerberrin, in the central wheatbelt, where we raise our two children.
Instagram: @countrywellnessclinic | @chasing_clare
JESS LEHMANN
CONTENT CREATOR, AG AMBASSADOR, SOCIAL MEDIA
I grew up on the family farm in Narrabri and I’m a passionate advocate for the Australian agricultural industry. I’m experienced in social media and enjoy my role creating content and community managing Rural Room social accounts.
ANNE MAREE LLOYD
PHOTOGRAPHER
I love to capture life in rural Australia and feel that photos can tell the real story of drought, hardship, the joy of rain, family life and work life.
EMMA MACDONALD
PHOTOGRAPHER
From running wild on the farm as a kid to a proud woolclasser, I'm now taking on the challenge of photographing historic woolsheds and country landscapes.
GABRIELLE MAJOR
WRITER, CONTENT MAKER, ARTS & CULTURAL ADMINISTRATOR
I grew up on a farm in Kellerberrin and studied a degree that spanned PR, Events and Journalism. I currently live in Ravensthorpe where I raise my family and manage the local Community Resource Centre.
TOM MOIR
EVENTS & COMMUNITY MANAGER, WRITER
I grew up on a family farm in Border where I cultivated a love of sport and developed a passion for sharing sports stories from the sticks to highlight the integral role that sport plays in regional communities.
PERIN MULCAHY
BRAND & MARKETING, ENTREPRENEUR, CONTENT CREATOR
I'm a city girl who has embraced the farming life with my partner and children in Cranbrook, WA. With a background in marketing, communications and the arts, I’ve channelled my creativity and love of handcrafted gifts into the farmer’s wife handpicked hampers.
GEORGINA POOLE
JOURNALIST, PHOTOGRAPHER, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
I am a Moree, NSW, based freelance journalist and photographer with a passion for promoting the contemporary culture, character and charm of rural Australia through the written word.
EMMA TAYLOR
I’m the product of the salt-lake country in Western Australia’s wheat belt; a farmer’s daughter, journalism student and self-taught photographer. I love to tell stories from the bush, with a particular focus on its resilient, warm, and spirited inhabitants that live there.
ASTRID VOLZKE
PHOTOGRAPHER
I was a full-time press photographer at the West Australian Newspaper and now live on a farm in Moodiarrup, WA. I also run photography workshops in regional communities across WA.
STRINGER SESSIONS
Every month we host exclusive video workshops to provide access to a range of highly specialised experts in the media, film, design, performance, arts, journalism, events and photography sectors.
Recent workshops have been led by;
Saffron Howden - Crinkling News & Media Literacy expert
Kaila Carroso - Social Media & Events specialist
Chum Ehelepola - Director, teacher and renowned Actor in upcoming Disney film ‘Mulan’
Gretchen Miller - Professional Podcaster
Gabrielle Chan - Journalist and author
Maggie Marshall - PR consultant
Bri Johnstone - Community specialist and service designer
WE RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THIS COUNTRY AND THEIR ANCESTORS OF IT'S LANDS AND WATERS. WE APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM OUR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND WE HOPE THIS PLATFORM CAN EXIST AS A PLACE OF CONNECTION AND UNDERSTANDING. WE PAY RESPECT TO ELDERS BOTH PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING.
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