Dubbo's Ruth Shanks will use her elevation to a top post to reach out to rural women battling some of the lowest standards of living across the globe.
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Mrs Shanks was elected president of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) at the weekend.
The leadership was decided at the ACWW's triennial conference in Chennai, India.
It took a second round of voting to get a result in the contest between Mrs Shanks, a candidate from the United States of America and a candidate from South Africa.
Mrs Shanks, who joined the Terramungamine branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA) in 1969, went to the conference as one of nine ACWW area presidents.
Husband Greg, children Warwick, Jack and Lyndal and their families were yesterday proud to talk about Mrs Shanks and her achievements and looked forward to sharing her new experiences in the coming three years.
Daughter Lyndal Thomas reported receiving a call from India late on Sunday night, shortly after the election result was known.
"I personally have always thought if I can be half the woman my mother is I'll be happy," Ms Thomas said.
"She has done an amazing job during the previous three years holding the position of South Pacific area president, and we have no doubt she will fulfill her role as world president to the best of her ability."
Mr Shanks is looking forward to travelling alongside the president and experiencing first hand the incredible work the ACWW does.
"We couldn't be more proud of wife, mother and the role model she is for us and our children, her grand children," Ms Thomas said.
The ACWW was formed in 1933 as an umbrella group for the many organisations with a similar mission to that of the CWA in Australia.
It aims to raise the standard of living of rural women and families through education, training and community development programs and provide practical support to its members and help them set up income-generating schemes.
It also gives rural women a voice at the international level.
Weeks before her departure, Mrs Shanks was honoured with a life membership of the CWA.
"The CWA is very important, it's the little things behind the scenes like scholarships to primary schools and cushions for breast cancer patients," Mrs Shanks said then.
"The ACWW ...represents nine million country women around the world.
"We have a UN (United Nations) voice and we give funding around the globe."
