The Women's Gatherings are an annual weekend event organised by local committees with support from the Rural Women's Network State Advisory Committee (SAC).

The organising committee makes key decisions, develops a theme and the weekend program. Each Gathering reflects the unique culture, industry, tourism and environment of the host community.

Womens Gatherings are for ALL rural women including: farming women; Aboriginal women; women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; mining women; women in the fishing industry; women who live in regional cities, towns and villages; and coastal women.

Gatherings are now a well established annual state-wide community event for all rural women.

Hosting a Gathering

The RWN SAC is responsible for ensuring the Women's Gathering moves around the State and committees have broad community support and the capacity to host the event. Each year at its February Meeting, the SAC looks at Gathering proposals and using a set criteria decide on the host town for the following year. This allows the chosen committee at least 12 months lead time and an opportunity to attend the current year's Gathering.

These guidelines have been prepared for anyone considering hosting a Women's Gathering. For more information or if you would like to discuss your proposal contact the Rural Women's Network.

• NSW Women's Gathering Guidelines ( PDF 250KB)

Submissions to host the 2011 Gathering open 1 November 2009 and close 15 January 2010.

Gathering proposals should be mailed to:

The Community Co-Chair,
Rural Women's Network State Advisory Committee,
Locked Bag 21,
Orange NSW 2800

by no later than 15th January each year.

2010 Women's Gathering

If you missed the fantastic Junee Women's Gathering this year, plan to 'Wander west to Wentworth' for the 2011 Women's Gathering to be held on the weekend of 29 to 31 October 2010.

Previous Gatherings

2009

• Report on the Junee Women's Gathering available soon
  

2008

• Looking back… moving forw@rd at the 16th annual NSW Womens Gathering hosted by Coonamble, a report by Sonia Muir from the 2008 Coonamble Women's Gathering
• Video from the 2008 Coonamble Women's Gathering, by Wendy Bortolazzo
  

2007

• Rural women go flat out in Hay, a report by Sonia Muir from the 2007 Hay Women's Gathering
• Program of 2007 Hay Women's Gathering ( PDF 450KB)

General information

• A History of Women's Gatherings in NSW