Gemma Fitzgerald, Rhiannah McBride and Ava McDowell stood gracefully on a trailer turned makeshift stage on Tuesday 26 May as they were announced the winners of the senior, junior and sub-junior Young Woman winners at this year’s Coonamble Show.
This year 13 girls entered in the competition, 11 of them in the junior category.
The committee decided to cut the junior competition into two divisions.
“Those are some really high numbers. We haven’t split it into two categories before.”
All of the entrants had participated in interviews a couple of weeks beforehand, with both the judges and co-ordinators of this year’s local Young Woman program, Tessa Parry and Maddy Strudwick, saying that choosing the winners was a tough decision to make.
“It was really difficult to judge,” Tessa said.
“We really saw all the girls’ personalities shine through.”
However a decision did have to be made.
As the entrants took turns standing in their categories on the stage, with Tessa Parry announcing the winners in turn, smiles grew and jaws dropped, especially amongst our winners.
Ava McDowell was excited to be named the Sub-Junior Young Woman, Rhiannah McBride looked positively shocked to hear her name called as the Junior Young Woman and Gemma Fitzgerald was beaming as she was announced the Coonamble Show Society’s Young Woman of 2026/2027.
The girls are judged based on their personality, ambition, community involvement, local and general knowledge, confidence and personal presentation.
Tessa said she was thrilled the winner of the Young Woman competition went to “such a pillar of the Coonamble community.”
“Gemma really loves Coonamble, and that was really impressive to us.”
Between studying an Honours of Phycology, working at Elephant in the Room and helping her family on the property, she juggles many commitments to the Coonamble community.
She has joined the Rams Rugby Union Committee, the Wanderers Tennis Committee, while also playing both sports, attends CrossFit and is a part of the ceramics group.
Gemma said she entered the competition because she saw it as an opportunity for personal growth, to develop new skills and learn from other inspirational young women.
“I want to promote the show and the young woman program and hopefully encourage more girls to get into it.
“I’m really excited to represent Coonamble.”
Coonamble Show Society’s 2025 Young Woman, Angie O’Connor, who passed the title to Gemma, said she is confident that she’ll represent the community and the show society well.
“She’s such a bright and passionate person, Gemma,” said Angie.
“I hope she gets as much from the experience as I did.”
Junior Young Lady Rhiannon said she looks up to the girls in the show society.
“Everyone is so nice and I like how you get to make friends with the older girls.
“I’m so happy and grateful that I got the opportunity.”
“Ri really blew them away,” Tessa said.
Angie said the competition brought ambitious Coonamble locals to the stage.
“Everyone had promising career goals and a lot of them are looking to stay in Coonamble.”
Gemma will go on to represent Coonamble at the Zone 6 finals early next year.