WORLD RURAL WOMEN’S DAY – 2003
KAROLEE WOLCOTT - AUSTRALIA
Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA) celebrated World Rural Women's Day in many towns across the nation.
In Gunnedah, a small town in northwestern New South Wales, Mayor Gae Swain hosted a Luncheon and Forum. Jan FitzGerald, President of AWiA and Karolee Wolcott, AWiA New South Wales/ACT Representative and International Representative attended this important event.
Many issues and outcomes from the National Rural Women’s Coalition Forum “Managing Drought – Managing Solutions” were discussed. The Forum had investigated solutions for many of the problems - social, economic, environmental and educational, that have arisen during the on-going drought.
In Brisbane, one of Australia’s capital cities, a trade show highlighted Australia’s diverse products: banana wine, Durong Country Beef, crocodile leather products, coffee, ice-cream, bush foods, organic dairy products, exquisite lavender beauty products, woollen undies and the softest woollen clothes ever, cooking demonstrations, goats cheese, fresh Moreton Bay oysters, Asian foods, chocolates, gourmet mushroom sauces, venison, trout, and farm fresh barramundi.
Events were also held in country towns in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Karolee nominated an Egyptian woman for the “Women’s Creativity in Rural Life” award for her efforts in developing an olive and palm plantation and her work with the Bedouin women. She did not win an award, but it was great fun to actually participate in the process. She encourages others to nominate someone next year!