To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we meet six inspiring women of the Illawarra, who all bring something special to our region

Words Erin Huckle @chucklecommunications

Is it something in the water, the natural beauty of our region or the innovative spirit of our people that means we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to women breaking the mould?

Stephanie Macleod, Director, Kind Hearts Illawarra

When the community outreach service Stephanie was volunteering for shut down, she saw the desperate need to keep offering a warm meal, friendly face, information and support to people doing it tough. Out of the kindness of the volunteers’ hearts, Kind Hearts Illawarra was born. Stephanie and her team started with zero funding, with everything coming out of their own back pockets at first.

Stephanie says the people are what motivate her to keep showing up, week after week:

“The gratitude that we receive from assisting those in need is very heart warming and the knowledge that we are making a difference makes me want to keep on going, keep doing more and to dream big.”

In her downtime, Stephanie’s passion is regenerative farming, and the family farm is where she goes to switch off from the world and tune into nature.

“I love nothing more than to sit with family, have a good glass of red and watch the sunset over the hills.”

Tegan Georgette, Artist

Local artist Tegan finds inspiration in everyday life, looking for the magic in the mundane and the extraordinary in the ordinary. She says creative expression is important for all people, especially women:

“All humans are innately creative. Creativity is the energy of the universe. It’s the way we came into existence. Creativity is a tool we can use in our lives to understand ourselves on a deeper level and also express our perspectives to others,” says Tegan.

This year Tegan has many projects coming up, including a documentary, a film clip collaboration, a collection of large-scale oil paintings for a solo show and another Archibald entry. She’s also exploring ways to bring her practice to the metaverse, with a collaborative photography/AI project.

Carly Ryan, Carly’s Helping Hearts

When Carly Ryan’s mum suffered a cardiac arrest at their family home, Carly was a first responder, providing CPR and using a defibrillator to save her mum’s life. The experience cemented for Carly that everyone needs to know these lifesaving skills, and Carly’s Helping Hearts was born.

Today, Carly and her team are trying to have an impact on all levels of the community, from primary school and high school programs, to delivering training in workplaces, for new parents, to sporting clubs, disability groups, carers and more.

“We’re trying to ensure defibrillators (AEDs) are prominent in our communities and people are confident in their use. Arming people with skills and knowledge to provide assistance when people need it most creates empowered individuals and safer environments,” says Carly.

Outside of work, Carly spends time with her family, enjoying sport and the great outdoors. “I love the lifestyle here. The coastal, calm vibe. The escarpment as a backdrop to our beautiful beaches, it’s just my favourite place to be.”

Michelle Glasgow, General Manager, Women Illawarra

Michelle and her team at Women Illawarra are passionate advocates for women and children’s safety, working closely with government and non-government agencies to advocate, inform, support and resource women with access to life changing and, in some cases, life-saving assistance.

Michelle says: “We are committed to meeting women where they are, in meaningful and practical ways. I want every woman that engages with Women Illawarra, whether a client, worker, volunteer, community member, business or other agency to walk away from the interaction feeling seen, heard, respected and elevated from their interaction.”

For Michelle, supporting women to achieve self-determination in their everyday lives is the ultimate feminist act.

“When you support a woman, you support a whole community. The Illawarra is full of amazing people that are committed to investing their resources, time, money and expertise into the betterment of the whole community. I love that I get to call this incredible place home.”

To unwind, Michelle loves the creative outlet of cooking, and says long walks are also a great for her mental wellbeing “with the added bonus of no one being able to reach me for a whole glorious hour!”

Ashleigh Wiseby, Seacliff Family Law

For Ashleigh Wiseby, the need for representation woven with support, empathy and sensitivity was the driver behind founding her own firm, based in a calm seaside office in Coledale.

Ashleigh focuses on providing women with legal support during a tough time, so they can begin their next chapter with confidence and clarity:

“We see clients as people first, and we take the time to understand the nuances that make a difference to each family and their circumstances.”

Legal problems are always entwined with deeply personal things such as relationships, children, finances, emotional stresses and social pressures. So Ashleigh takes a holistic approach and connects her clients with the right support.

As a young female founder, Ashleigh says the Illawarra is a growing business hub with great support, and she loves taking time to recharge outside of work with her husband and young son, exploring local beaches, parks and cafes.

“Hanging out with a two-year-old definitely helps me see the world with a fresh perspective. My son is so excited and curious, he really helps me appreciate simple things.”

Tess Allas, First Nations curator, artist and educator

Tess Allas’s work as a visual art curator has taken her around the world, curating exhibitions for the First People’s Festival in Montreal, the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia and many more, including Wollongong Art Gallery.

A curator of contemporary First Nations art exhibitions, Tess is also an artist working across disciplines including video, printmaking and ceramics, which have shown in the USA, Iceland, Japan, Canada and Australia.

Her involvement with the local creative community is both personal and professional:

“Many of my friends are artists who are fortunate enough to still call Wollongong home. I’ve helped artists have their works collected by local collecting institutions (Wollongong Art Gallery and the University of Wollongong Art Collection) and have donated works from my own collection to these institutions.”

While not currently living locally, Tess says her connection to the Illawarra has never been broken.

“I’m a ‘Gong Girl’ through and through. It’s such an inspiring region. The escarpment with all its rainforest beauty to the rock pools and the ocean provide an infinite source of inspiration. Where else can you feel so protected? Rocked to sleep each night by the sounds of the waves whilst having the mountains wrap around you like a warm blanket – it’s breathtaking.”

Last year Tess curated Coomaditchie: the art of place at Wollongong Art Gallery, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation. Later this year the exhibition will be hosted at the Museum of Sydney.