Young Woman of the Year Samantha Coppin arrived home from Sydney Royal Easter Show understandably breathless, completing her final sprint as Narrabri’s 2022 Senior Showgirl.
Along with an impressive run of achievements as Young Woman of Narrabri, including becoming a state finalist in February, the proficient horsewoman and Narrabri High School teacher is a remarkable example of what is possible for all of Narrabri’s young women.
“It’s only once that you get to go to Sydney Royal as a Young Woman, and you’ve got to take each moment as it comes, and for where I want to head in the future it felt like a steppingstone,” said Ms Coppin.
“Growing up in the horse industry, attending Sydney Royal was always a dream to me though I never imagined attending for my personal achievements, without a horse.”
Competing alongside 14 extraordinary young women across the region from Maclean, Rylestone-Kandos, Camden, West Wyalong, Nowra, Lismore, Lockhart, Dubbo, Cooma, Mudgee, Cowra, Moree and Canowindra, Ms Coppin is still in awe of the journey.
“The girls that I was up against were powerhouses. Every day I would pinch myself and think, gosh, I can’t believe I’m on the same playing field as all these other young women.”
Ms Coppin kept great company, being joined by Jessica Towns from neighbouring Moree who took runner up for the event.
“When Lindsay Douglas introduced each of us on stage at the presentation she asked the audience, ‘How ordinary do we feel when we see what these women have achieved in such a short time?’.”
“That’s how a lot of us felt as well,” said Ms Coppin.
The Royal Easter Young Woman event included a jam-packed six-day schedule attending events, mentoring sessions, stewarding in horse, sheep, cattle, and small animal pavilions, and doing interviews in the broadcast box with Lindsay Douglas.
“We attended many formal dinners including an AgShows NSW Dinner, The Land Sydney Royal AgShows NSW celebration dinner, where we were presented with a medallion, and the Sydney Royal official opening dinner with the Governor of NSW,” said Ms Coppin.
With her step count for a day of Showgirl activities being well in the 18000s, she swapped her high heels for RM Williams with only the grace that a Young Woman nominee could, and got the job done.
Feeling grounded in her boots, her competitive spirit came out in full force during the young farmers’ challenge against the rural achievers, which her team won.
The challenge included identifying grains, pregnancy scan simulation, plank walk, DRSABCD safety procedures, putting out a fire and rolling a wool bale.
For the Young Woman judging process, contestants were panel interviewed at the AgShows NSW Dinner, attended an interview with the judges where they were questioned about agriculture and politics, and during a final presentation on Sunday interviewed again by Lindsay Douglas.
“I had a mix of excitement and nerves for most events. I had many moments where I had to remember to sit back, look around, and just enjoy the experience,” said Ms Coppin.
While a lot of the experience is about developing personally and professionally, judging for the Young Woman competition combines many factors.
“It is interesting to note that the prerequisites have not changed since the inception of the Showgirl competition in 1962,” Ms Coppin said.
A standard point scoring system is used to assess entrants and determine the winner, demonstrating the weighting categories through a total of 100, including personality, confidence, ambitions and goals, local and rural knowledge, personal presentation, dictation and speech, and onstage interview.
Now, with her RMs planted firmly back in Narrabri soil, Ms Coppin has set her future priorities; firstly, her passion for horse riding, growing as a rural ambassador for the community, and maintaining the connections she’s made on her journey.
“In my teaching course, I focused a lot on rurality and wellbeing, and through the rural Young Woman experience I now have strategies and platforms to raise awareness and try to support my communities through the education and experiences I received,” said Ms Coppin.
“This competition has opened many doors for future opportunities and networks. For one, I would not have joined our Narrabri Rotaract Club when I did.”
“At a competition like this, I was never just introduced as Samantha Coppin. It was always Narrabri’s Samantha Coppin or Samantha Coppin from Narrabri.
“Every time I was given a platform to talk, it meant that I had opportunities to raise awareness around events in Narrabri, advertise our town, and convince people why it is one of the best towns to live in.
“I think one of my highlights was discussing in the Royal Easter Show broadcast box, how our Mt Kaputar Pink Slugs are on the endangered list.”
Ms Coppin was also able to speak about her passion for horses and poetry at the Royal Easter Show.
Government House reception, back, Lisa Horner, Jessica Towns, Jo Balcombe, Maree Pobje, Samantha Coppin, Rubey Williams, Sarah Wood, Florence McGufficke, front, Olivia McDonnell, Tara Coles, Kendall Goldspink, Mr Dennis Wilson, Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley, Hannah Messner, Shannon Moran and Peyton Ford.
“Working with thoroughbreds has been a family business and working with these intelligent animals and giving them careers after racing is something that I am most proud of,” said Ms Coppin.
“Eucalyptus is a poem I spoke about, the idea came about after thinking about Eucalyptus trees and how when they are seedlings, they are not sturdy and breakable, but then they are watered and nurtured, they grow into strong, unbreakable trees.
“I compared them to Narrabri, and how coming home has helped me become the person I wanted to be, just as when a Eucalyptus tree has grown its limbs and leaves and gives back to the land to which it came,” said Ms Coppin.
Public speaking to large crowds is an integral part of the rural ambassador responsibilities, in which Ms Coppin excelled, and practices daily as a Narrabri Rotaract mentor, teacher, and NHS girls’ advisor, crediting horse training for her approach to tackling challenging situations.
“With horses, if you’re nervous a horse can pick up on it, they feel what you feel. Because of this, I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to manage nerves or make it appear as if I am unfazed in certain situations,” said Ms Coppin.
“Speaking in front of a crowd of over a hundred I would be shaking and extremely nervous, however, people would come up to me afterward and ask how I spoke with such calmness and confidence.
“I think it’s because my mum always reminded me of the quote from Racing Stripes ‘Don’t look back, leave it all on the track.’”
Ms Coppin counts her mother; legendary horsewoman and champion Rhonda Haire as her inspiration, supporting her in all endeavours of her choosing, and teaching her to strive for greatness.
“My mother is a strong woman who has achieved so much in her life but is also extremely modest,” said Ms Coppin.
“She was the first woman in history, in the world, to ride and win every race at a horse race meeting.
“I have been told that I walk, talk, and sound like mum, and I think it’s an honour, and if I can be half the woman my mother is, I think I’ve succeeded in life.”
As the girls’ advisor at Narrabri High School and being involved in a competition that is about promoting and encouraging the success of rural young women, Ms Coppin hopes to inspire other girls from Narrabri to do the same, or to accomplish anything they put their minds to.
“A lot of my students have followed my progress throughout the entire competition. I remember after winning zone, some of my students knew via the AgShow Facebook before I had a chance to even text my Mum, which drove me 110 per cent,” said Ms Coppin.
“It’s easy to think that because we live in the country, we don’t always have the same opportunities as others in the city, but I wanted to show them that their experiences make them unique, and locality doesn’t dictate success.”
Now that the competing part has ended for Ms Coppin, she has set her sights on applying for the Rural Achiever competition.
“The program is a state-wide leadership program run by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW to recognise future young leaders who are working hard to make a significant contribution to their local community and to rural Australia,” said Ms Coppin.
“This would also be a great opportunity to continue to network but also promote and provide a state-wide platform for the work that I am involved in with other members of our community, such as the Rotaract Mentorship program at Narrabri High School.
“I am also hoping to prioritise horses, campaign, and compete in the Off the Track Championships in more than one discipline.”
She will also continue to cheer on future generations of Young Women, rural ambassadors and students who cross her path along the journey.
