Trailblazing Women of the Regions

Alison McLean on Community Resilience and Shaping Hay’s Future

ALISON MCLEAN ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND SHAPING HAY’S FUTURE In this episode of Regional Trailblazers, host Charlotte Prouse from The Destination Store sits down with Alison McLean  Executive Manager of Economic Development, Tourism and Energy at Hay Shire Council, property owner, and passionate regional advocate. Alison shares her journey from growing up in Orange to spending years in Sydney before returning to regional NSW, where she found a deep sense of belonging, resilience, and connection to community life. The conversation explores the realities of living in regional Australia, from navigating the Millennium Drought to the ongoing challenge of advocating for services, infrastructure and long-term opportunities for country communities. The episode also dives into Alison’s work in tourism and regional development, including the success of the Long Paddock touring route and the important role collaboration plays in building local pride and economic outcomes. A major focus of the conversation centres around Hay’s involvement in the Southwest Renewable Energy Zone and the opportunities and challenges that come with large-scale regional change. Alison speaks thoughtfully about the importance of community consultation, respectful conversations, education and ensuring local communities remain connected and informed throughout periods of transition. The discussion highlights the importance of balancing growth, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, and long-term legacy outcomes in a way that supports the future of regional communities. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome to Regional Trailblazers 00:41 – Meet Alison McLean 01:52 – From Orange to Sydney 03:23 – Why the Country Calls 06:19 – Living Through the Millennium Drought 08:05 – Fighting for Regional Services 11:41 – A Career Built Around Community 14:28 – The Long Paddock Tourism Route 16:55 – Alison’s Role at Hay Shire Council 18:36 – Understanding Renewable Energy Zones 21:16 – Supporting Community Connection During Change 26:35 – Creating Positive Local Outcomes 27:39 – Building Long-Term Legacy Opportunities 29:52 – Diversifying Regional Economies Beyond Agriculture 32:23 – Navigating Different Community Perspectives 35:14 – Farmers and Regional Conversations 38:15 – The Ripple Effects of Growth 39:45 – Lessons for Other Regional Communities 42:00 – Why Genuine Consultation Matters 45:02 – Building Trust Through Clear Planning 46:47 – Industry and Community Collaboration 48:45 – Advocating for Regional Australia 52:00 – Trailblazing Women Closing Listen now and discover a thoughtful conversation about leadership, resilience, regional identity and the future of country communities.

Jacinda Barry - Building Carinya Station (Extending the Table)

Episode Title: Extending the Table: Jacinda Barry on Building Carinya Station in Lightning Ridge Episode Description: In this episode of Regional Trailblazers, host Charlotte Prouse from The Destination Store sits down with Jacinda Barry of Carinya Station, just outside Lightning Ridge, NSW. Jacinda’s journey into agritourism began towards the end of the Millennium drought, on her family’s remote property 20 kilometres out of town. While still working off-farm, she slowly started building something new — a tourism offering grounded in real outback experiences. What began as a simple, barter-style camping setup has grown into a thriving farm stay and glamping business that now welcomes visitors from across Australia and beyond. This conversation explores what it really takes to start and grow a tourism business in regional Australia — especially in challenging conditions. Jacinda shares the early days of cleaning up the property with the help of visitors, navigating drought, refining her offering, and building a business model centred on connection, authenticity and what she calls “making the table longer.” Charlotte and Jacinda also dive into the importance of knowing your audience, backing your pricing, and leaning into networks and mentoring programs to build confidence and capability as a regional operator. One of the most powerful parts of this episode is Jacinda’s commitment to her community. Over the years, she has employed and mentored local high school students, helping guide them into their next chapters. From supporting a young woman into nursing to encouraging another to pursue agritourism studies overseas, Jacinda’s impact extends far beyond her business. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and the opportunities that can grow when you decide to give something a go even in the most remote parts of the country. Whether you’re interested in agritourism, small business, regional life or simply love hearing stories of people making a difference in their communities, this episode is not to be missed. ---------------------------------------- Key Topics: * Building an agritourism business in regional NSW * Starting during drought and overcoming early challenges * From barter camping to a successful farm stay * The importance of customer personas and pricing confidence * Mentoring young people and supporting the next generation * Creating meaningful, connection-led visitor experiences TIME STAMPS 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:37 Meet Jacinda Barry 01:32 Buying Carinya Station 03:02 Barter Camping Beginnings 04:49 From Free Camp to Farmstay 06:05 Launching on Hipcamp 07:39 Make the Table Longer 11:43 Drought and Early Hardships 13:41 Networks and Coaching Support 15:15 Know Your Persona 17:41 Pricing and Value Mindset 20:05 Joyful Connection Experience 21:07 Loving the Work 22:22 Hiring Local Youth 23:02 Opal’s Growth Story 24:44 Izzy and Succession 27:21 Let Them Leave Return 28:52 Support Programs Reality 30:08 Buggy Tours Next 31:56 Designing Tour Offerings 33:55 Tourism Outlook Identity 37:54 Empathy on Farm Life 38:41 Advice Use Support 40:43 Community Network Thanks 41:47 Website Long Table Dreams 43:02 Final Thanks Wrap

Clare Lee - Windy Sation

What does it take to turn a 120-year-old wool shed into a thriving agritourism destination? In this episode of Regional Trailblazers, Clare Lee of Windy Station shares how rural heritage, community and courage came together on the Liverpool Plains