Following Your Inner Compass
Does the path you’re on no longer feel like yours?
Susie Russell has watched Claire Dunn walk away from certainty more than once — leaving activism, living wild for a year and reshaping her work and family life. What Susie saw as reinvention, Claire experienced as simply following her inner compass.
Caring at the Limit
What happens when devotion outruns your capacity?
Martha Druery has spent 30 years running toward catastrophe, giving everything to families in their darkest moments. When her colleague Carolyn Betts nominated her for Finding Courage, Martha was grappling with a harder challenge — learning to care for herself.
Chasing dreams, Courage born of Passion
Is there a dream you haven’t dared to chase?
When the marine sanctuary where Tiga Cross had worked since she left school went into receivership, Rotarian Bob Carle watched her do something that astounded him — buy a failing zoo with a six-month-old baby and no business experience. She simply couldn’t walk away from the animals.
Walking Away (The Courage to Quit)
Feeling deep down that you’re on the wrong path?
Mentor Melissa Richardson watched Nadene Anderson pour years into a thriving family business — and quietly lose herself in the process. She doubted Nadene would ever leave. But Nadene surprised her – choosing herself over security.
Leading Social Change
Felt called to do something bigger than you think you can carry?
Pip Gordon has watched young Jawoyn man Lazarus Manbulloo drive for hours alone into remote communities, carrying his own grief, to talk to men about the hardest things — suicide, disconnection, despair. Lazarus just knew someone had to go find the men.
Finding Home
Longing to belong - even if it means letting go?
Debbie Martin encouraged her daughter Hannah to leave LA’s sunshine and certainty for a country she barely knew. She sensed Hannah’s need to find somewhere she truly belonged. Hannah had the courage to go looking.
Digging Your Heels In
Being pushed out for standing your ground?
Ann Duffy has been running with her friend Rhonda Millikin for more than 30 years, solving the world's problems on long trails through Vancouver. Over those miles, she heard the story of how Rhonda fought her own government all the way to court to complete research that changed the way we study bird migration.
Standing Up (Even When All Seems Lost)
How do you keep going when all seems lost?
Dailan Pugh has watched fellow activist Susie Russell stand up to loggers, politicians and angry rooms for more than 30 years. He nominated her for Finding Courage at a time when the fight, and the chainsaws, moved into her own backyard.
Discovering your self-worth
What would it take for you to believe you are enough?
Rachael MacLaren met Tara Parish at a market stall and slowly, over time, heard a story that left her wondering how one person could carry so much — domestic violence, the loss of a child, her daughter's cancer — and still find joy. The answer lies in the quiet, hard work of learning to believe you are enough.
Challenging the prevailing paradigm
What does it take to stand proud in what makes you different?
When Caz Heise nominated her long-time friend Dr Chels Marshall, she wanted to honour a Gumbaynggir woman who rose from poverty and racism to become a world-renowned scientist. Chels sees herself as a voice for Country — and for the knowledge systems the world urgently needs.