The group invite everyone to an information evening on Monday February 12 at the Walcha Sports Club at 6.45pm where a light supper will be served.

“Walcha hosting would be an amazing experience for all involved,’  said Quotarian Dale Webber. “The community would benefit economically and socially.”

Mrs Webber said the gatherings are organised by a committee formed from a combination of service and social/special interest clubs, and members of the local community. 

“Our first step is to form a committee and then to prepare and submit the Expression of Interest,” she said.

“Women’s 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 provide women with an opportunity to grow, learn, develop and enjoy the company of women, and to celebrate the richness of their experiences.”

Rural Women’s Gatherings are an initiative of the Rural Women's Network (RWN), a state-wide government program within the Department of Primary Industries.

In 1993, the first Gathering was held in Orange, NSW, as a way of bringing rural women together for networking, learning, gaining inspiration and ideas and sharing information. From this event came enthusiasm for NSW Gatherings to be held each year. They are now a well-established, annual state-wide community-hosted event for rural women.

“Economically, research found that the 2014 Rural Women's Gathering in Coolamon injected over $230,000 into the local economy and that for every dollar invested in the event approximately $2.20 of social and economic value was created and rural women felt more connected, inspired and empowered,” Mrs Webber said.

Gatherings have been held in Bega, Bourke, Broken Hill, Cobar, Coolamon, Cooma, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Glen Innes, Gloucester, Grafton, Gunnedah, Hay, Junee, Kempsey, Moree, Narrandera, Orange, Parkes, Scone, Temora, Tocal, Wellington, Wentworth and Yanco. The 2018 Gathering is being held in Merimbula, on the NSW South Coast.

Anyone  interested in being involved in the potential Walcha  Rural Women’s Gathering should let Mrs Webber or any local Quota member  know either at the information evening on Monday or by contacting Dale Webber on 6777 8191 or  email  quotawalcha@gmail.com