The town’s new eatery, The Ten Mile, set a fitting contemporary vibe for a panel discussion about women’s “business” in the bush.

If there was an over-riding theme for the event it was that women needed to back themselves and the value of their contributions to whatever enterprise they’re involved with in rural and regional communities.

Whether it’s running their own business, as a partner in a farming or agricultural operation, or going about the “daily business” of getting kids up and dressed for school and doing the books for the family farm, a woman’s work is often never done and not always quantifiable, the gathering heard.

About 50 women attended the event organised by Jo Palmer, co-founder of Agri Alliance and founder of Pointer Remote Roles.

The panel of speakers for this event included: Fleur Anderson, from the central Queensland town of Theodore and founder of the Rural Business Collective; Julia Telford of the Goondiwindi Business Hub; and former Holbrook local Airlie Trescowthick, founder of “farmers’ online sidekick” Farm Table.

In addition to physically travelling thousands of miles to attend regional networking events in the region, these mums and self-confessed rural advocates have certainly done the hard yards in terms of pioneering innovative business ventures in rural Australia.

With the spectre of drought ever present, these women spoke of positivity and resilience and “being profitable in our communities”.

Home-grown Holbrook daughter Airlie Trescowthick, who now resides at Deniliquin with her partner, revealed how she had explored her options to “make a difference in the paddock at home”.

That involved wanting to be more than a “farmer’s daughter” and, with the encouragement of her parents, she set about studying and travelling to gain a wider perspective of the agricultural industry with a business operations focus.

“I didn’t do the jillaroo thing,” she told those gathered.

From meeting coffee traders in Mexico to an agribusiness opportunity in Orange, Airlie has refused to conform to the “narrowly defined opportunities” often afforded women in rural enterprises.

In Deniliquin she has embraced a rural co-working space to launch her online venture and she has urged women in similar circumstances to enjoy the journey.

“It’s hard,” she admitted.

“My confidence was tied to a pay cheque – a salary coming in.

“Sometimes when you lose that, you lose your sense of self but it’s not about the destination.”

The three presenters spoke of the importance of networking and seeking out a support group of like-minded others to nourish professional – and personal – development.

That is where technology and online connectivity can absolutely close the gap for those who live and work in isolation.

Julia told the group that she knew she needed to expand her horizons beyond the home office environment when she “threw a towel over the washing up because I knew it was just too intimate”  for the clients she was trying to cultivate.

Now she runs a successful consultancy business based out of a central hub concept she pioneered at Goondiwindi.

From mental health to managing the household finances, Julia said women were often the “lightning rod” for change and having the conversations that truly mattered.

And nowhere is that more important than in times of drought or severe hardship on the land.

“I’ve had men tell me they have been paralysed; that they cannot get out of their ute to open the gate,” she said.

“In the work that I do I’m not an expert in these matters but women are often the conduit to making the call that puts people on the path to getting the help they need.

“Women are the anchor holding the family together and that worth can never be under-estimated.”