Ladies in Agriculture participants gathered at TYTO Wetlands to build connections and strengthen disaster resilience. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

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Women from across North Queensland’s agricultural sector came together in Ingham for a day of connection, conversation and practical learning, exploring how to better prepare themselves, their families and their farms for future disasters.  

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The Ladies in Agriculture workshop, held at TYTO Wetlands, looked beyond emergency planning to consider the personal and community challenges that can follow difficult weather events.  

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Exploring The Human Side Of Disaster Recovery

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By Victoria Velton

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From building stronger support networks to understanding the emotional toll of disaster, women across North Queensland's agricultural sector gathered in Ingham to explore what it really takes to prepare, respond and recover.

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Disaster preparedness is often measured in practical terms: securing equipment, protecting property, preparing evacuation plans and getting businesses ready for the wet season.

But what happens to the people behind those preparations?

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That was the focus of a Ladies in Agriculture workshop held at the TYTO Wetlands on Monday, 9th November, bringing together women from the sugarcane industry and other agricultural sectors for a day of learning, reflection and shared experiences.

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Led by Elizabeth McNaughton, founder of disaster recovery and training organisation Disastrous, alongside Canegrowers Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer Sarah Stevens, the workshop looked beyond the immediate response to disaster and explored the often complicated process of rebuilding lives, businesses and communities.

Through group discussions, practical activities, card games and thought-provoking exercises, participants were encouraged to consider not only how they prepare for disaster, but how they support themselves and others through the aftermath.

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One of the strongest themes throughout the day was the importance of relationships. When disaster strikes, communities often come together quickly, with neighbours helping neighbours and people stepping forward wherever they are needed.

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However, Ms McNaughton explained that those connections are just as important long before an emergency occurs.

"It's our connections, it's our relationships that get us through difficult times," she said.

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Encouraging participants to build what she described as a 'resilient address book', Ms McNaughton highlighted the value of knowing who to turn to, having trusted people around you and maintaining relationships that can provide support when circumstances become difficult.

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She also spoke about how quickly new relationships can form when people are brought together through shared challenges, and how different perspectives can help communities find their way forward.

A significant part of the workshop explored the emotional stages people can experience following a disaster.

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Ms McNaughton described the initial response as the 'heroic phase', when people rally together, work tirelessly and put enormous energy into protecting others and restoring essential services.

It is often a period of extraordinary community spirit, but there is a catch: recovery is rarely a sprint.

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The initial surge of energy can give way to exhaustion as the reality of a long recovery becomes apparent. As frustration, conflict, blame and disillusionment emerges as people grapple with ongoing uncertainty, delays and the sheer amount of work still ahead.

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Ms McNaughton encouraged participants to understand that these reactions are not necessarily signs of personal failure or weakness, but can be normal responses to prolonged stress.

Recognising these stages can help people better understand their own reactions and show greater patience towards others who may be navigating the same experience differently.

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She also explored the idea of 'liminal space', describing the uncomfortable period between what life was before a disaster and what comes next.

Using the natural environment of the TYTO Wetlands as an example, she explained how wetlands and mangroves exist between land and water, much like people can find themselves in an uncertain period between two stages of life.

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These transitional periods can be difficult, particularly when the future is unclear, but recognising them can help people give themselves time and space to adjust.

Another important discussion focused on how people communicate with someone experiencing hardship. Ms McNaughton challenged the instinct to immediately offer solutions whenever someone shares a problem.

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While advice is often well-intentioned, it is not always what someone needs.

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Sometimes, the most valuable thing a person can offer is the opportunity for someone else to feel heard and understood. She encouraged participants to ask a simple but powerful question when offering support: what would you like from me?

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Whether someone needs to vent, receive advice, work through a plan or simply have someone listen, understanding that need can make a significant difference.

The group also explored how this approach can strengthen personal and professional relationships, particularly within close-knit agricultural communities where people often rely on one another.

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The workshop also turned attention to personal expectations and the pressure people place on themselves.

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Ms McNaughton discussed how individuals can gradually take on responsibilities and identities that become difficult to put down, such as always being the person who fixes problems, listens to everyone else or keeps everything moving.

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When disaster adds another layer of responsibility, that existing load can become overwhelming. Participants were encouraged to consider what they were carrying, which expectations they could change and where they could make room for their own wellbeing.

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Ms McNaughton shared her own experience of recognising the importance of exercise and making it a protected part of her routine.

She explained that recognising a need for change is only the beginning. People must also plan for it, protect the time needed to make it happen and allow others to adjust to those new boundaries before the habit becomes part of everyday life.

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The discussion reinforced that looking after oneself is not separate from looking after a family, business or community. It is part of being able to continue supporting those around you.

The day provided women across the agricultural sector with an opportunity to share knowledge that extends beyond individual farms and businesses.

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While the wet season was an important part of the workshop's focus, the conversations highlighted that resilience is built through everyday relationships, communication, preparation and the willingness to support one another.

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Reflecting on the connections formed throughout the day, Ms McNaughton said she was encouraged by the wisdom shared between participants.

"I've just loved seeing how quickly relationships have formed, and the wisdom that has been shared in the room is really powerful," she said.

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"And it's a beautiful thing to see the new tools, and I'm thinking about how they can be applied so that, yeah, Ingham and this area can be stronger for whatever comes next."

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For the women who attended, the workshop provided an opportunity to consider the people, relationships and community connections that can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.

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