Harden Murrumburrah Shines At Rural Women’s Gathering

Women of all ages, shapes and sizes converged on Harden last weekend for the Rural Women’s Gathering.

Member of the organising committee Antonia Brown said they were very pleased with how the event was received.

“Everything went really well,” Ms Brown said.

“Everyone was amazing and the renovated Harden Country Club was a great venue.

We had an event at the Lighthorse on Friday night and then on Saturday we had a series of workshops.”

Women in attendance drew inspiration from keynote speaker Dr Jana Pittman and guest speaker Ruby Riethmuller. Ms Brown said the Rural Women’s Gathering was currently in its 31st year.

“It’s about bringing rural, regional and remote women together to learn and grow,” Ms Brown said. “There are opportunities and women should not be restricted by a postcode. It’s about sowing the seed and finding your own work-life balance.”

Ms Brown said they held the candle lighting ceremony, where the organising committee passed the candle on to the next year’s event organisers from the city of Lismore.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke attended the event and thanked the dedicated, volunteer committee - Rosie Fairfield-Smith, Bronwyn Ryan, Julie Roberts, Antonia Brown, Jessica Ryan, Ros Stewart, Sarah Karaitiana, Hannah Walton and Sarah Rowan, who helped raise funds to make the event at the renovated Harden Country Club a shining success.

“It has been a wonderful weekend spent celebrating rural women from across our Cootamundra electorate, and from across New South Wales,” Ms Cooke said.

“It’s so great to see the renovated Harden Country Club being utilised for such an important event, and I want to acknowledge the many late nights and long hours spent by our volunteer committee and residents here in Harden Murrumburrah to make this day so special.”

“More women are entering the workforce across rural and regional Australia, starting their own business, taking on work in town, or building off-farm income by working from home. The Gathering is an opportunity for us all to meet with each other where we’re at, share what we’ve learned and be empowered for great things to come.”

• Topics:

• Women