Who rules the town? Girls! Beyonce may be nowhere in sight but her song lyrics are a reality in Woomera.
It’s 6 a.m., as the sunrise starts to glow across the red dirt horizon 500 km north of Adelaide, April Taylor is already at work, preparing for her Housekeeping team’s daily safety pre-start meeting in the Jazza building. Each morning, the team gathers to ensure everyone is doing ok, discuss safety, key risks, hazards, and actions before stepping outside to stretch to music together as the sun rises behind them.
April is one of ten female leaders running the remote outback community of Woomera for Defence. Alongside her teammates, she is shaping the everyday lives of those who live and work in this unique outback town.
In Woomera a quiet but powerful transformation is underway. Women are stepping up as leaders, innovators, and role models. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate them as they accelerate change and inclusivity.
On this occasion, Cheryle Irvin, has also joined April’s safety pre-start on one of her regular visits to her remote outback team. Cheryle’s the dynamic and admired Estate Management and Operations Services (EMOS) Manager for Woomera. With an impressive 70% female leadership team, Cheryle oversees a diverse portfolio, including land management, housekeeping, accommodation, estate upkeep, food and beverage management, and the iconic Eldo Hotel. Cheryle works tirelessly to ensure that her multicultural employees and their families feel welcome in their new environment, helping us embed a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect at site.
“The catering team is a great example,” says Cheryle.