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Calling all communities

Thursday, 12 July 2007

If you live in a rural community that loves to welcome new people and foster learning in a fun setting, then the Rural Women’s Gathering needs to hear from you.

The 2007 Gathering is being held in Clare in August and registrations for the popular weekend event are already pouring in, but the 2008 event is looking for a home.

PIRSA’s Rural Affairs Manager Lib Hylton Keele said the Gathering organising committee was looking for a vibrant, engaged community to play host to next year’s event.

Previous Gatherings have been held in areas as diverse as Kangaroo Island, Bordertown, Berri, Naracoorte, Goolwa, Cummins and Kadina.

Ms Hylton Keele said hosting the Gathering was a great opportunity for a town from an economic and tourism point of view, with women coming from all over South Australia and from interstate to attend.

“It also boosts community involvement and skills by allowing locals to work with dynamic, motivated people from a variety of organisations and agencies,” she said.

“The atmosphere in the host town is always wonderful. It’s a fantastic chance for women to come together and learn new skills while making new friends and having some fun.

“For example, this year we have a great program of workshops to teach important skills such as grain marketing, understanding mental illness and managing the issues associated with climate change. But it’s not all serious, with lots of fun workshops, dinners and tours of the district.

“We’d love to hear from communities that can think outside the square and want to help support rural women.”