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Farm women gather at Yarram

Kate and Nala Wignall from Port Albert in front of one of the murals on public buildings in Yarram. Photos: Jeanette Severs

This year’s annual Women on Farms gathering was held at Yarram on March 24 to 26, with about 125 women attending from across Victoria.

Succession planning was the theme of a conference conversation on the Friday afternoon.

It also became the theme of conversation on Sunday morning, with discussion about whether the gathering should be annual or biannual, and the responsibility for storage and retelling of the gathering’s history.

In the time between, attendees participated in a number of tours of the surrounding country on Saturday and workshops on Sunday.

Murals were highlighted, given Yarram (in south-east Gippsland) is home to many public art installations.

There was an exhibition of Ag Art Wear from exhibitors at the Elmore Field Days. Ag Art Wear is made by amateur clothes designers using materials commonly found on farms to create clothing and accessories.

After 20 years, Elmore Field Days has ceased the Ag Art Wear competition, but it continues at places like AgFest in Tasmania and Riverland Field Days.

Janet Staben from Warragul and Jodi Fry from Port Fairy.
Ebony Cook from Devon North with Ruth Kinsella and Jenny Sharp, both from Rosedale.
Lois Binding from Koo Wee Rup, with Helen Hasty and Rosemary Trease, both from Mardan, at the flower arranging workshop.
Chanel Bowden from Won Wron with her flower arrangement.
Susan Rowbottom from St Helens (Victoria) made a small table in the woodworking workshop.
Ayron Teed from Harcourt and Angie Gutowski from Yarram.
Rosa Wedmore of Bunyip, Heather Wehee from Cranbourne South and Judy Gallie from Alexandra sampled the morning tea.
Jill Henderson from Trentham and Jenny Poon from Briagolong looking at the Ag Artwear on display.
Leanne Evans and Judy Lackman, both from Yarragon, and Meryl Reid from Garfield, checking out the Ag Artwear.
Catharina Versteeg from Won Wron, Lien Budis from Pakenham with her flower arrangement and Christine Rippon from Mt Gambier.
Lorraine Trewick, co-ordinator of the Elmore Field Days Ag Artwear competition and exhibition, with some of the installations from amateur designers from past years. The front outfit, a short dress and hat, is the creation of Betty Park of Bairnsdale. Lorraine holds a dress made by dairy farmer Katrina Christie from Nanneella.

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