Gathering Background
The concept of a Rural Women's Gathering was born in 1989 by a group of women in Victoria.This informal group of women was a group who called themselves 'Women on Farms Discussion Group'. The general format for a "Discussion Group Day" is to firstly meet at a farm venue, usually a member's farm. The morning starts with a farm walk and a discussion on their particular enterprise, followed by a guest speaker on a farm related issue, such as finance, tree crops, fire prevention or safety. In this way the group can talk together about farming, seasonal problems, new ideas and generally gain confidence in farming.
At a Women on Farms Discussion Group day the feasibility and possibility of organising a gathering of farming women from all over Victoria for a weekend was discussed.
This discussion became a reality in Warragul in 1990 when 110 women attended the First Women on Farms Gathering.
The concept spread to New South Wales where the first Women of the Land Gathering was held in Orange in 1993. This is now an annual event attracting between 300 and 400 women from across the State.
Tasmania held their first Women in Agriculture Gathering in 1995, and is now held every two years. Queensland and Western Australia also hold Gatherings.
No matter what the title these are all rural women's Gatherings. They tend to have a farm and an agricultural focus because that is their heritage. They are for all rural women because it takes all rural women to make rural communities work.
South Australia held its first Rural Women's Gathering at Murray Bridge in 1996, attracting between 150 and 180 women from across the State.
1996 Murray Bridge (180)
1997 Kimba (180)
1998 Kadina (300)
1999 Bordertown (400)
2000 Kangaroo Island (180)
2001 Riverland (210)
2002 Tanunda (230)
2003 Cummins (160)
2004 Yorketown (200)
2005 Naracoorte (350)
2006 Goolwa (160)
2007 Clare (250)
2008 Mount Barker (230)
Gatherings are special..
Because they are community organised, developed, driven, owned and run. Each year a different community group organises the Gathering (not a formal/traditional group). No one organisation is responsible for the Gathering it is an opportunity for different groups, organisations and individuals to work together.The autonomy of each organising committee gives each Gathering its unique atmosphere and flavour. Each Gathering committee works on from the previous Gathering using the information; experience and intellectual capital built up by the previous organising committee. It is from this that some of the Gathering traditions stem.
While each Gathering Committee is autonomous, each Local Organising Committee member joins the SA Rural Women's Gathering Association Inc for a two year term. This gives the members protection under the Incorporations Act and Broad Form Liability Insurance cover. Each Local Organising Committee agrees to various terms and Conditions for the use of the name "SA Rural Women's Gathering". The use of the name brings with it a responsibility to achieve the Aims of the Gathering and to work within the sentiments of Rural Women's Gatherings. The Chair of the Local organising Committee will continue as a member of the Management Team of the Rural Women's Gathering Association as a representative of their Gathering for a five year term.
A Gathering offers opportunities for all rural women, whether they want agricultural information, business information, personal development or a social and recreational opportunity. The strength of a Gathering is in its diversity. A Gathering can help build bridges between women on farms and women involved in other businesses, in the workforce or raising families. It can offer skills and introductory information for women who for many reasons may have been denied access to the information that they need to build strong rural communities, to be equal partners in their businesses or to establish networks.
A Gathering also offers many experiences to those involved in the organisation of the event, which are just as important as what it offers to those that the gathering is run for.
Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) supports Rural Women's Gatherings because they are a different way of getting information to an important group of people within the rural community. Women actively involved in agriculture are often not involved in the more traditional agriculture extension programs. The Rural Communities Unit of PIRSA supports the Gatherings in South Australia as ex-officio members of the Local Organising Committees.
Gatherings offer women involved in primary production an opportunity to meet and network with other women involved in primary production as well as other industries and businesses. Gatherings are supportive atmospheres in which women can question, learn and network. The diversity of women, industries, sectors, lifestyles, cultures, information and workshops promotes good business and good rural business means strong rural communities.
It is important to endeavour to utilise the talents of women as facilitators, guest speakers, and MC's, in doing this we create more women role models. There will be times when the best person the job may be a man and this is fine. Men will always be welcome at a Gathering, although the focus and marketing of Gatherings is to women. A Gathering is an avenue to mainstreaming and one day we may not need gender specific functions. Just now we do.
Aims of the South Australian Rural Women's Gathering's
- To develop communication networks knowledge and skill through participation, experience and contact with other women.
- To link women from rural backgrounds with members of formal or informal networks across South Australia.
- To provide access to opportunities for self-development, self-expression and information.
SA Rural Women's Gathering Association
The Gathering Association was established in 2007 to support the Rural Women's Gatherings Local Organising Committees. It manages the Association Funds which are moneys donated from the profits of previous Gatherings. Seed funding up to $5,000 is provided to the Local organising Committee as a repayable non-interest loan. Each Local Committee agrees to repay this loan and contribute to the Gathering Association Fund by donating a percentage of their profits.The Inaugural Chair of the Association is Carol Schofield from the 2005 Goolwa Gathering.
Support from Rural Communities, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
The South Australian Rural Women's Gatherings are supported by Rural Communities, PIRSA through ensuring they move from one regional area or town to another and supporting the Local Organising Committee as required and ensuring the spirit of the Rural Women's Gatherings is preserved.
Rural Communities supports the Rural Women's Gathering Association which ensures seed funding is provided to Local Organising Committees as required. Rural Communities is also available to answer questions or help work through internal committee issues when necessary.
Rural Communities, PIRSA Staff:
Lib Hylton Keele, Program Leader, Rural Communities, PIRSAMeg Partridge, Project Support, Rural Communities, PIRSA