Past Event: Women on Farms Gathering

Join us for a weekend of networking with other women.

Each year in Victoria, a dedicated band of women unite to showcase and champion their local farm enterprises and the successes of their rural community. The 35th Women on Farms Gathering will be held in Benalla in March 2025 – 20 years since Benalla held its first Gathering. The event will run from Friday evening 14 March 2025 to Sunday lunchtime 16 March 2025.

In a constantly changing environment, the 2025 Gathering presents an opportunity to celebrate past achievements and experiences of resilience and contribute to a positive future. The Gathering is an occasion to share stories of journeys undertaken, valuable insights gained, empowerment through connections and networking for future success.

Stronger together, Shaping our future

We have put together a program that will encapsulate and celebrate the progress and personal growth of rural and regional women from Benalla and surrounds. We aim to embrace diversity of experience across age, climate conditions, business enterprises, and to showcase women’s resilience. Our stories are a critical part of any Gathering. They provide an opportunity to celebrate and be inspired by others, to learn, take comfort, be encouraged and take strength from other women.

The weekend program will showcase endeavors and strengths through the themes Healthy Land, Healthy Women, Healthy Futures.

PROGRAM

Friday 14 March 2025 

Location: Benalla Visitor Information Centre, Mair St, Benalla

4.30 to 5.30pm     Registration

5.30 to 8.30pm     Welcome to Benalla
                            Stronger Together – the value of women
                            Women on Farms Heritage Exhibition
Women’s stories
Drinks and finger food
Saturday 15 March 2025

Location: Benalla Bowls Club, Arundel St, Benalla

6.45am                    Yoga  (optional)

8.00am                    Registrations

8.30am                    Welcome to Country

8.50am                    Gathering session 1 – Keynote speakers

• Dr Sara Hely, Director Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub (supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund)
• Gayle Lee GAICD, Farmer – sheep and solar, accountant

9.50         Morning Tea

10.15                      Workshops – 3 streams

– Healthy Land
– Healthy Women
– Healthy Futures

11.30am                Gathering session 2 – Women’s Stories

Q and A panel

12.30                           Lunch Pack

1.15 – 5pm                    Tours

Option 1 (bus tour)

Winton Wetlands and local Solar Farms – explore and learn about the world class Winton Wetlands and hear about the nearby solar farms

Option 2 (bus tour)

Samaria – visit local flower farms and meet enterprising local women growing  and making beautiful products

Option 3 (bus tour)

Violet Town – explore amazing art and the Honeysuckle Creek in lovely Violet Town and meet dynamic Jackson sisters in their produce store

Option 4 (walking)

Enjoy Benalla- (self-guided) explore Benalla at your leisure, street art, cafes, cinema, lake walk

(Please nominate which tour you would like to go on).

6pm till late
Celebratory Dinner – Benalla Lakeside Community Centre (enter via Maud St gate)

MC the sparkling Cynthia Mahoney, music by Dallas Alice – all female alternative country band

 

Sunday 16 March 2025

7.00am                    Lake walk (45 minutes)

7.45am                    AWiA breakfast at Bertalli’s Bakery

9.00am                    Tackling Tough Topics for community resilience and wellbeing

Sally Cunningham – National Centre for Farmer Health

10.00am                  Healthy Women, Healthy Futures

Professor Morag Young, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

11.00am                  Morning Tea

11.30am                  Stronger together, shaping the future
Dr Lisa Farnsworth
Cathy McGowan AO

12.30                      Closing celebration and handover to next WOFG

Note:

The film Rachel’s Farm will be showing 2pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the cinema in the Visitor Information Centre. Free entry for WOFG participants.

The Women on Farms Heritage Exhibition will be on display at the Visitors Information Centre throughout the Gathering.

*Please advise of any dietary requirements
*Limited childcare is available – please email for more information

Any questions, please email: wofgbenalla2025@gmail.com