Celebrating Wonderful Women at Work
Celebrating Wonderful Women at Work
A gathering to celebrate the resilience, strength, and achievements of women across the Riverina Region
Capacity to Deliver -
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The issue
Women in Agriculture and Environmental pursuits have been underrepresented. Celebrating their resilience, strength and achievements across the Murrumbidgee Region is important to show that women can ‘Lead the Way’.
Women are often isolated on farms and involved in only traditional roles if not given the chance to learn from women who have paved the way for a different more entrepreneurial or creative pathway. Being a girl has been portrayed as being less successful or worse still the target of violence.
As part of the two-day workshop a group of women from multiple backgrounds and skill sets gathered to present their story of success and resilience.
The solution
Hay Plains Landcare along with Riverina LLS organised a Women of the Riverina Landcare Conference in Hay to celebrate NSW Women’s week for 2024. The organisers enlisted an incredible lineup of inspiring speakers and engaging activities.
Women spoke on topics including agriculture, gardening, environmental conservation and entrepreneurship. Topics covered included Black Falcon, Biosecurity, Plains Wanderers and Yam Daisies. Women also spent time in the workshops to collaborate, uplift, empower and share ideas with each other. Workshops included Watercolour, Seedball rolling, acrylic Hydro Dipping and Nature journaling.
Recording the stories of seven women helped to understand what they interpret as a resilient environment and community.
The impact
Seven stories from women in the group showed a wide understanding and interpretation of the word resilience for both the landscape and the community. There is also a deep respect and appreciation for the work that Landcare is able to do in educating groups of rural people on the topics of concern to the region. Landcare’s ability to collaborate with major groups and develop strategies to foster prosperous plant communities that are going to be there for future generations is important to these women. There is no doubt that food and fibre production can be infused with caring for the landscape into the future.
Key facts
- Celebrate women in nontraditional roles to ensure role models share their experience
- Stepping out is not always and easy pathway. Resilience is required
- Recording women’s voices is essential if women are going to lead the way in rural issues.