Walcha has been officially declared the host town for the 2019 NSW Rural Women’s Gathering.
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A weekend filled with workshops, local tours and friendship is scheduled for November 1-3 next year – and more than 130 women from across the State are expected to attend.
The Rural Women’s Gathering is an annual event that has been running since 1993 and takes place in a different NSW rural location each year.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) sponsors the event and says its purpose is to provide rural women with support, information and skills to enable them to address the myriad of challenges they face as a result of living in a rural location in Australia. It also aims to recognise the importance of women in agriculture and provide a focus on social and community issues within DPI.
Last Friday, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said that the event could be life changing for participants – particularly in times of stress and $30,000 is to be given to the organising committee to put Walcha in the spotlight.
Especially during drought, rural women are facing increased stress and pressures at home and tend not to prioritise their own wellbeing
- MP Kevin Anderson
“This year we’ve seen an unprecedented drought and tremendous pressure on our farming and rural families,” Mr Anderson said.
“For many women, attending the Rural Women’s Gathering is one of the few times they take time for them to recharge, regroup and re-energise. Especially during drought, rural women are facing increased stress and pressures at home and tend not to prioritise their own wellbeing.
“These women do an awesome job all year round in all sorts of seasonal circumstances, and one of the worst droughts since 1964 has added a great deal more pressure to family life on the land.”
Mr Anderson also said hosting a gathering allows regional towns to showcase their local talent, produce and environment.
We can’t wait to add the soil from Walcha to the ceremonial vase containing wonderful memories from previous Gatherings, and lighting the gathering candle on November 1, 2019
- Dale Webber - Walcha Rural Women's Gathering organising committee chair
Walcha Rural Women’s Gathering organising committee chair, Dale Webber and secretary Karen Brown, recently attended the 2018 event in Merimbula on the New South Wales south coast where Walcha was announced as the 2019 host location.
“The theme for the Walcha gathering, ‘Creating a Natural High’ truly reflects the culture, environment and location of the Walcha region,” said Ms Webber.
“Our organising committee has already secured several guest speakers, workshop facilitators and entertainers.”
Ms Webber said the Walcha organising committee consists of seven dynamic members, from a variety of backgrounds.
“We are all so excited for Walcha to be part of such a well established, annual statewide community-hosted event,” she said.
“We will continue to work hard to make the Walcha event the best gathering possible for all local women, as well as women from rural areas around New South Wales, and to be economically and socially beneficial to the Walcha community.”
If you are interested in being part of the gathering committee contact Dale Webber on 6777 8191 for more information.