Community members celebrated Wee Waa’s wonderful Young Woman competition entrants for 2025 at the show society’s inaugural cotton cocktail evening, held at the showground on July 12.
“We have two senior entrants this year: Amelia Kiem and Sophie Sendall,” said steward Nikita Hessel.
Nikita praised the entrants for throwing their hats in the ring and supporting the Wee Waa district by taking part in this year’s competition. It definitely takes a lot to enter,” she said. “But entering gives the ladies experience in interviewing and dressing up for the occasion. It gives them skills in thinking about how to answer a question that they may not fully have the answer for – these things are all part of life, and I think doing it in a relaxed setting like the Young Woman’s (competition) gives them a one up should they go for a job interview in the future. The opportunities it can also lead to should they be selected to go from Zone to the Royal Easter Show are huge and such a big experience,” said Nikita.
Born and bred in Wee Waa, Amelia Kiem said she entered the competition because “having the opportunity to develop interview and public speaking skills is one that I will never turn down.”
“I also think that it requires community involvement to ensure these opportunities keep running into the future, allowing more locals to participate,” 21-year-old Amelia Kiem added.
“I participated in the junior version of this competition twice and the skills developed from this opportunity, I believe, are unmatched,” said Amelia who was awarded the 2021 Wee Waa Show Society Junior Showgirl title.
Burren Junction’s Sophie Sendall said taking part in the competition was ‘a great opportunity to reconnect with the community’ after being away at boarding school and to deepen her understanding of local issues.
The 19-year-old, who grew up on her family’s farm ‘Rossmore’ said it was a good chance ‘to represent and promote both the agricultural show movement and our district more broadly’.
Passionate about health and wellbeing, Sophie is currently studying medicine at Charles Stuart University in Orange. She completed high school at St Hilda’s in Queensland and primary school at Burren Junction. During her university holidays she has worked at Graincorp in Burren.
While study has seen Sophie leave the area, it’s clear her country roots and the future of her hometown remain close to her heart.
“My goals include helping to bring more doctors back to rural areas and helping to implement renowned suburban community programs into rural areas,” she said.
Equally passionate about ensuring country communities thrive, Wee Waa High School graduate Amelia Kiem said, “Next year, once my degree is complete, I wish to return to the Wee Waa community and work at a primary school in town.”
Amelia is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the University of Newcastle.
“I endeavour to settle down in Wee Waa, close to my family and friends and the place I feel honoured to call my home. Throughout my career in a primary school, I would like to attain my accreditation to then work my way through roles perhaps into a head teacher role, in the future.”
A familiar face to many in town, Amelia has volunteered and worked with different Wee Waa groups and businesses during her university holidays including Wee Waa OOSH.
“I truly love being involved in the Wee Waa and Newcastle communities alike,” she said.
Both entrants highlighted their love of sport and socialising with friends. The pair have also contributed to local community organisations and volunteered their time to make a difference.
Throughout the years Sophie has been part of Wee Waa pony camp, netball and swim club, a CWA member and has volunteered with ‘Rosie’s – Friends on the Street and Rize Up.
“At home I spend my time being involved with the rugby league and soccer clubs, helping where I can,” said Amelia.
Community members showed their support for the two impressive entrants and their love for the Wee Waa Show by attending the show society’s inaugural cotton cocktail evening, which has been hailed a success.
“The cocktail night was great,” added Nikita.
“Gilly Goddard and Steve Druce did a fantastic job of keeping everyone entertained.
“Annie and Peta Miguel’s catering supplied so much yummy food for everyone, and the terrific bar staff did a great job at mixing drinks and pouring cocktails from Sip and Chill’s tap bar.
“The cocktail ball committee did such a wonderful job in decorating and setting everything up.”
This year’s Wee Waa Show will be held on August 15 and 16, with the Young Woman of the Year competition always drawing a supportive crowd on the Friday night.
Formerly known as the Showgirl competition, the youth development program was re-branded with a name change in recent years to better reflect the spirit of the event in honouring young rural women and to ensure the relevance of the competition into the future.
The program has a fantastic track record when it comes to boosting the confidence of entrants and helping to refine skills in interviewing, public speaking, presentation and networking.
The Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman competition has a long and popular history in the bush of finding and fostering talented, passionate, kind, capable, committed and resourceful rural ambassadors.
With entrants required to demonstrate a genuine interest in, and knowledge of regional communities and their issues.
In 2024, Nikita stepped up to take on the role of steward for the Young Woman competition, driven by a strong sense of community spirit and desire to provide for future generations of Wee Wee Waarians. Like many locals, the Wee Waa show is something she looks forward to attending with her family every year.
“The show this year is shaping up to be a good weekend,” Nikita said. “As a mum taking my kids to the show, I’m enjoying it a lot more again seeing the boy’s faces as we walk around the showground watching them looking at the rides or getting excited seeing the games like the floating ducks and jumping up and down in excitement wanting a go is really special.”
