WHY WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL RURAL WOMEN’S DAY
The Riverine Plains Ladies Lunch is a special occasion where we gather to celebrate International Rural Women’s Day and honour the vital role that women play in our rural communities.
It's an opportunity for us to come together and reflect on the positive influence and contributions of women in agriculture and regional areas.
The day has a focus on sharing career journeys and life lessons, highlighting the diverse and impactful roles that women play in local businesses, farming, and community development. Our goal is to shine a light on the often overlooked, yet vital contributions that women make to rural life every day.
This event is about more than enjoying a delicious meal and good conversation; it's about recognising and honouring the resilience, creativity, and dedication of women in our communities.
In addition to celebrating, we aim to inspire. Through engaging talks from inspirational speakers, we hope to ignite a sense of possibility and encourage attendees to consider their next challenge or 'what's possible' moment.
The Riverine Plains Ladies Lunch aims to be a day of celebration, reflection, and inspiration as we come together to recognise and appreciate the remarkable contributions of rural women.
Ladies Lunch 2023
The beautiful surrounds of St Leonards Vineyard, Wahgunyah provided the perfect backdrop for the 2023 Riverine Plains and GrainGrowers Limited Ladies Luncheon.
The event celebrated International Rural Women's Day and focussed on the incredible role women play in our rural communities. Despite the grey and drizzly weather, the event had a warm and welcoming feel, which was perfect for sharing stories and making new connections.
The insightful presentations from guest speakers Sally Sara, renowned journalist, author, and Order of Australia Medal recipient and Shona Gawel, CEO of GrainGrowers Limited, very much resonated with the audience. Shona shared her insights into the rewards and challenges of motherhood and navigating the agricultural industry as a woman, while Sally opened up about her vulnerabilities and experiences in her role as a foreign correspondent.
The event also featured a panel discussion led by former Riverine Plains CEO, Catherine Marriott. Panelists included Riverine Plains Chair and local farmer, Fiona Marshall; local farmer and Riverine Plains member, Mary-Ann White; the first female CEO of GrainGrowers Limited, Shona Gawel, and journalist, Sally Sara. The audience made the most of the opportunity to ask questions of these fabulous women, and the discussion was wide-ranging and thought-provoking.
The Ladies Luncheon was a fun and wonderful event that celebrated the accomplishments of rural women while also providing a platform for building connections in our community.
Its success was thanks to the generous partnership of GrainGrowers Limited. The event was also supported by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
