Shining A Light On The Women Of Mackay

Local Author Captures The Untold Stories Of Instrumental Regional Women

With a historian’s lens and storyteller’s soul, local author Kaaren Sephton shines a light on Mackay’s unsung heroines in her self-published book, Shining a Light: Women of Mackay.

Spanning over 160 years, the book celebrates 37 remarkable women who shaped the Mackay region from the 1860s to 2023. From settlers and midwives to artists, entrepreneurs, and a former convict, the collection reveals the evolving roles of women in regional Queensland.

“This book is about visibility,” Dr Sephton said. “So many women played vital roles, yet without documentation, their stories risk being lost. It felt as if they were invisible.”

The project began when Yvonne, a key member of the Pioneer Valley Museum, invited Dr Sephton to explore historical posters. What started as a nod to archives became a passionate, years-long labour of love to preserve local women’s legacies.

Using research from the Pioneer Valley Museum and Mackay Family History Society, along with death certificates, oral histories, and interviews, Dr Sephton uncovered stories of Indigenous women, farmers, educators, and a Jamaican-born trailblazer who founded an early private school.

“I grew up here, so I knew some of these women personally or through community,” she said.

“That connection made it important to get their stories right.”

Available through www.inspiringbookshop.com, the book is a vivid tribute to the women who helped build Mackay, inviting readers to reconnect with the past and honour their legacy.

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