Over 70 rural women laughed, learned, networked and were inspired to find balance in a hectic world at the Women’s Business Workshop held at “Wattle Ridge”, near Guyra in January. The day was a celebration of the incredibly versatile role that rural women play in their communities, from all cultural backgrounds.
Guest speakers and workshops covered no-dig gardens, tree propagation, bush-tucker walks, clay sculpture, camp-fire cooking, mindfulness, soil building, succession planning, African drumming, massage and wine appreciation. These workshops acknowledge the relationship between maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the health of our land.
“Learning about the Aboriginal heritage of the Banbai people, the traditional owners of the area, was a highlight for many who attended,” said Rebecca Smith, event organiser.
“The Banbai were not only our cultural hosts but they also showcased their young trainee rangers who guided the participants on walks to share art sites and cultural knowledge.”
One participant shared her learning saying, “During the morning bird walk I learned how little I actually knew and how beautiful the morning mist could be… picking the bird songs from the air was lovely”.
Guest speaker, Sarah McFarlane-Eagle, spoke about the importance of raising awareness of mental health issues. Her poignant presentation certainly struck a chord, with many recognising that improving responses to mental health issues were important to encouraging resilience in rural Australia.
There was an overwhelming response from these women to hold another workshop at Wattle Ridge to extend their learning experiences and opportunities for networking.
“Education is essential for this changing physical and economic climate. It is also a must for us rural people to educate our city cousins in the benefits of buying foods that are produced from more sustainable farms” said Fiona Smith, from “Kenilworth”, Guyra.
So, if you live in this region and are interested in attending future workshops, please leave your contact details at the Southern New England Landcare office on
6772 9123.
These workshops are supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under Australia’s Farming Future and Southern New England Landcare.
