Michelle Moriarty has won an award for establishing groups for widowed people in rural Australia to support each other.  But Michelle is not going to stop there, because she would like us all to be able to support young people who have been widowed.  Reflecting on her own experience, Michelle realised that the reason she didn’t receive the help she needed was not that people didn’t want to help.  It was a language problem.  Michelle wants us all to be fluent in talking about grief.

Michelle’s award:

https://agrifutures.com.au/news/grief-advocate-takes-home-top-honour-2023-wa-agrifutures-rural-womens-award-winner-announced/

https://agrifutures.com.au/opportunities/rural-womens-award/

The themes in this episode are also discussed in other episodes:

Women ‘s contribution to rural Australia is discussed by Prof Margaret Alston OAM:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dtb0G1LB1QBfkku1LkrxH?si=33b7a82101ea43e4

Bereavement is discussed by Julie Kulikoski OAM:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZigGWtr0sk9zk19vDVQBP?si=03167b20491d4d8e

Other Resources

Any ordinary Day: Leigh Sales, Penguin Books

Till Death Do Us Part: Fenella Souter, The Age Good Weekend, 20/05/23

Online version;

https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-takes-two-years-to-rewire-the-brain-remaking-life-as-a-widow-20230405-p5cyfr.html?collection=p5cyg3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The AASW respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and on-going custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded.  We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and families, and to Elders of other communities who may be listening.