The woman helping 5,000 others find female friends in rural communities

Key points

• Jackie Elliott founded Rural Women's Day after struggling for nine years to find women her own age in rural Victoria. The non-profit holds social events for women working in agriculture and living in isolated areas.
• The first event, held in Dunkeld in 2019, was meant to be a one-off. It has since grown to 50 events across mainland Australia, connecting more than 5,000 women.
• Ms Elliott says the events also support mental health by giving women a chance to talk with others facing similar challenges.