The Power of Showing Up in Small Towns

On Wednesday June 18th, in the small country town of Numurkah, something quietly powerful happened.

Seventeen women, many of them walking in alone, chose to show up for our first Brave Not Perfect Social Event, inspired by Reshma Saujani's call for courage over perfection. (I highly recommend her book, Brave, Not Perfect or her Ted Talk, which completely changed my life and sent me on this journey)

And what unfolded was far more than just an evening out. It was a collective exhale. A moment of shared truth. A room where masks could come off and real stories could be told.

Moving forward with these events, I want women to gather and to explore what it means to be brave, not perfect – a message that resonates deeply in rural communities where women often carry more than their share of pressure to keep it all together. In a place where support networks can be few and far between, simply turning up is an act of rebellion. A quiet, courageous “I’m here too.”

In Numurkah, we talked openly about isolation. About the heavy silence that often surrounds mental health in regional areas. We wrote down the fears we rarely give voice to – the self-doubt, the shame, the stories we’ve long buried. And in those honest moments, we found connection.

Each story shared, whether painful or powerful, will be honoured on our Bravery Wall – a growing display of lived experiences that will be unveiled at our end-of-year celebration.

Inspired by Reshma Saujani’s words and her Brave, Not Perfect movement, we are reminded that perfection isn’t the goal. Bravery is. Especially in communities like ours, where resilience is worn quietly and vulnerability can feel risky.

But here’s what we learned that night: Real growth starts with showing up – imperfectly, honestly, and wholeheartedly it starts with admitting that we’re not always okay, and that we don’t have to be. It starts with choosing connection over comparison, community over silence.

To every woman who came: Thank you. Your presence mattered. Your story matters. You are not alone, and your courage is the kind that inspires others to take that first step too.

Next stop: Cobram.

Let’s keep the movement going — one brave conversation at a time.

Stay tuned for the dates and tickets released.

#BraveNotPerfect #WomenOfTheMurray #RuralMentalHealth #LeadershipInCommunity #ConnectionMatters #RegionalWomen #Confidence #CommunityLeadership #SocialImpact