LADIES LUNCH

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 2025

The beautiful surrounds of St Leonards Vineyard, Wahgunyah provided the perfect backdrop for the 2025 Riverine Plains Ladies Luncheon.

The Ladies Lunch saw 150 women involved across many facets of agriculture connect with new and old friends, providing an opportunity to expand and strengthen social and professional networks. 

Guest speakers Alexander MacAlpine (The Social Herd), Ros Vodusek (Rich Glen) and Hannah Bamford (AgWorks Solutions), shared their business journeys, with personal growth and development key themes. The audience heard how the speakers had extended their industry involvement and deepened their understanding, knowledge and experiences since starting their own businesses. A panel session, led by Sophie Hanna from Riverine Plains, highlighted the power of passion, dedication and creativity in crafting a business that’s both enjoyable and practical to run.

The stories shared on the day were genuinely inspirational and set the tone for both the informal and open-mic conversations which followed. Many ideas and connections were shared over the course of the day, providing the basis for future collaboration and innovation.

The event was supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

Photo gallery credits: Manifeasto Photography

2023 Riverine Plains & GrainGrowers Ladies Luncheon

The inaugural Riverine Plains and GrainGrowers Limited Ladies Luncheon celebrated International Rural Women's Day, focussing 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, Shona Gawel and 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 Grain Growers Limited. The event was also supported  by FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.