Narrandera will be hosting the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering from October 27 to 29, which will celebrate 25 years of providing the platform for rural women to come together to build resilience, share stories and ideas, network and input concerns to key decision makers and service providers.

Co-ordinated by the NSW Department of Industries and chaired by Narrandera’s Tammy Galvin, the event will be attended by Rosalie Ham, author of the popular book The Dressmaker, which was also made into a movie. 

Sue Maslin, who produced the movie, which starred Kate Winslet will also be a guest speaker along with Ms Ham. 

Former Narrandera local Dame Marie Bashir, Bronnie Taylor MLC, Southern Cotton general manager Kate O’Callaghan, Betina Walker of Whispering Pines Organics and Shakira Lyons will also be inspiring guests. 

Two of the original founders of the event in Ronnie Hazelwood and Margaret Carroll will also share their stories. 

DPI Rural Women’s Network project officer Emma Regan was looking forward to the event. 

“Organised by a team of dedicated women from the Narrandera and Leeton communities, the weekend provides participants with the opportunity to hear from a brilliant line-up of inspirational women, to attend a variety of educational and informative workshops and to explore beautiful Narrandera,” Ms Regan said.

“Some of the workshops on offer include blogging 101, oral history, legal check-up for your farm business, cooking, the secret to community engagement, novel writing, weaving, photography, drumming, wool brooches and much more.”

A masquerade gala dinner will be held on the Saturday evening of the event, with Ms Ham to select the best dressed. 

There’s still time to register and take part in the weekend by visiting https://womencultureland2017.wordpress.com.