HAMILTON local, Georgina Morrison, who founded The Creative’s Toolkit, is one of four women who have been named finalists for the Victoria Rural Women’s Award with the winner to be announced in April - receiving $15,000 towards their project.

The Award celebrates Australia’s rural women leaders from across a range of industries, including Victoria’s $20.2 billion agriculture sector, who use their skills to benefit their communities and rural Australia, and inspire others.

They will also go on to represent Victoria at the National Award, a gala event at Parliament House in September - the national winner will receive a further $20,000 towards their project, and the runner-up $15,000.

Ms Morrison is a multi-creative photographer, editorial writer, artist and educator.

“In less than three years I went from a hobby photographer to being published in top national magazines and working with international clients – all while being based here in Hamilton,” she said.

“I’m incredibly passionate about supporting other creatives, breaking down gatekeeping in creative industries, and ditching the ‘starving artist’ myth.

“This led me to launching the Courageous Creatives Podcast (2021) and its sister, The Creative’s Toolkit, with my fiancé Haavard, in 2023.

“Our learning platform aims to empower rural creatives with the battle-ready ‘toolkit’ they need to succeed; teaching profitable skill sets, so they can forge modern careers that aren’t limited by postcodes.

“One third of small businesses in Australia are based in rural/regional areas, and per population Australia has more people engaged in small businesses than the USA.

“Yet universities and higher education don’t prepare people to be small business owners or creative entrepreneurs – I saw a huge need to support them, so we can lower the 60 per cent fail-rate in their first three years.”

Ms Morrison said The Creative’s Toolkit was launched in April 2023 as a platform to educate, up-skill, and empower creatives across rural and regional Australia (and beyond, with students also enrolled in the USA, India and the UK).

“We provide online courses in photography, social media, and small business – with additional courses in personal branding, videography, web design, self-publishing and more to be launched mid-2024 onwards,” she said.

“In addition to this, we provide tailored group and one-to-one coaching for students across creative industries, primarily in photography businesses – this year we’re also launching in-person workshops and day-courses with Victoria and interstate.”

Ms Morrison said that being a finalist for the award is such an honour and something she hopes to give other creatives in the region a lot of hope.

“Nothing about my career has been ‘traditional’ or ‘by the book’, but I have followed my heart professionally,” she said.

“Regardless of the outcome, to be a creative and to be recognised up against other finalists in big industries like environmental conservation, health, and technology, is something I’m very proud of and thankful for.

“When I look at AgriFutures alumni like locals Kelly Barnes (2020 Vic State Winner) and Jackie Elliot (2020 Finalist), to national winners Steph Trethewey, Kimberly Furness (2022) and Nikki Davis (2023), I’m very inspired by all these women who have done such phenomenal work in their industries, and feel incredibly lucky to be part of the same alumni now.”

Ms Morrison said she was completely surprised when they called her to say she was a finalist.

“We creatives are the first to underestimate what we can achieve, so I had released all expectations and just enjoyed the process of applying and being interviewed – it was so incredibly special, and I called my mum immediately,” she said.

“I had the most amazing couple of days meeting the other finalists, and they’re all such worthy candidates and beautiful women.

“Ultimately, the entire experience of being a finalist has given me such clarity and confidence with The Creative’s Toolkit, so whatever the outcome, I know there’s a very exciting future ahead.

“To win this award would support The Creative’s Toolkit in our mission to empower more creative and small business owners, and help us change the trajectory of their careers – ultimately my hope is that rural and regional Australia can be recognised as being a powerhouse for creative skills.”

Ms Morrison said she is forever grateful to her Mum and Dad, Sarah and Peter, for creating all the foundations for her to succeed in what she does.

“My mum is the original ‘Courageous Creative’ and I have been able to achieve what I have, because she carved the path before me – my fiancé Haavard is my business partner and so phenomenal in his support, patience and passion for The Creative’s Toolkit,” she said.

“My sister, Skye, and grandmother, Sue, and all the rest of my family and friends who cheer me on – they’re the village I couldn’t do this without.

“Having people who believe in you so much is an incredibly powerful thing, and I’m very lucky.”

Ms Morrison said when we’re young, in school, we’re always led to believe that careers are made in the city.

“While I learnt a lot of lessons there, moving home to Hamilton in 2019 was the best choice I ever made – living here has given me all the space and opportunities to become who I was meant to be,” she said.