LOUISA Gilmour from Warialda has been crowned 2026 Acciona Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman.

Madison Luke from Hawkesbury was crowned runner-up, with 14 finalists from across New South Wales representing their regions at the gala Easter event.

Finalists, selected through local and zone competitions, take part in a six-day program at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, culminating in the prestigious public speaking event at the Showground Amphitheatre.

Ms Gilmour is a creative professional from Warialda working as a post-production assistant at Spectrum Films.

She said she is incredibly honoured to be selected to carry the title of the Acciona Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman for 2026.

“I truly hope to make not only Warialda and my family proud, but the wider RAS community as well,” she said.

“This recognition means so much to me, particularly because it reflects the values of service, community, and connection that I was raised with.”

Ms Gilmour said her time in Sydney for the Royal Easter Show has been inspiring.

“The past week has already presented so many incredible opportunities, from meeting inspiring leaders within the agricultural and rural sectors to forming connections that I know will last well beyond the show itself,” she said.

“It has been such a privilege to represent my community on a stage like this and to see firsthand the strength and spirit of the agricultural industry.”

Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman Louisa Gilmour (left) from Warialda with runner-up Madison Luke, from Hawkesbury (Image: Royal Agricultural Society of NSW).

As a graduate of Macquarie University with a double degree in Arts, Media and Communications, Ms Gilmour is passionate about telling authentic rural stories through film and media.

“As someone passionate about filmmaking, I strongly believe storytelling plays a vital role in bridging the gap between rural and urban communities,” Ms Gilmour said.

“Film allows people to step into the lives and footsteps of others. Often, the only way to truly understand something you haven’t lived is to be shown.

“Storytelling has always been central to Australia’s history, from the sharing of experiences across generations to preserving the voices and knowledge that shape our communities, and I feel incredibly privileged to be part of that tradition,” she said.

Ms Gilmour co-founded the Gwydir Youth Committee to support rural mental health and mentors senior students in visual arts, aligning with her goals to empower rural creatives to tell their own stories.

She remains actively involved in agricultural shows through photography, judging competitions and event support, and was a finalist in the 2026 JB Fairfax Award for Rural and Regional Journalism.

Ms Gilmour was runner-up to Faith Green from Quirindi in the Zone 4 final held at Warialda in February before being crowned AgShows NSW Young Woman at the weekend.

.She said the event created friendships that will last a lifetime.

“One of the most special parts of this experience has been sharing it alongside 13 other phenomenal, strong, intelligent, and ambitious young women,” Ms Gilmour said.

“I feel deeply privileged to have stood beside them throughout this journey. We have walked side by side, supported one another, and sought to make positive waves of change within our industries and communities.

“These women have become friends for life, and that is something I will always treasure,” she said.