Lismore has been named host of the 2025 Rural Women's Gathering at a candle lighting ceremony as part of the 2024 event in Harden Murrumburrah.
Tina Irish and Karen Hirst from Lismore City Council joined Minister for Women Jodie Harrison and the Harden Murrumburrah 2024 organising committee for the ceremony, accepting carriage of the 2025 event.
The NSW Government provides $30,000 for the Gathering as part of its commitment to empowering women and girls across regional, rural and remote NSW, including helping them build new connections and learn new skills to ensure they can reach their full potential and thrive.
The NSW Rural Women's Gathering is an annual event held in a different location each year. 2024's event in Harden Murrumburrah was themed "Sowing the Seeds of Success - Creating Your Own Work Life Balance". The program - prepared by a organising committee made up of local volunteers - featured a range of enriching workshops, networking opportunities and cultural experiences.
Attendees heard from inspiring female leaders, including former Australian Olympian and two-time Athletics World Champion Jana Pittman; Founder of Womn-Kind and AgriFutures Rural Women's Award 2024 NSW/ACT Finalist Ruby Reithmuller; and AgriFutures Rural Women's Award 2022 VIC Winner Kimberley Furness, who is also a magazine publisher and podcaster.
Details for the 2025 Rural Women's Gathering will be shared via the fortnightly Rural Women's Network e-newsletter. To subscribe, visit nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/rural-womens-network
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"The NSW Government is committed to empowering women and girls across regional, rural and remote NSW to have full access to opportunities.
"We recognise that women in regional parts of NSW experience unique challenges living in remote locations. We also know women in these communities are doing extraordinary things.
"The Rural Women's Gathering provides a great opportunity to share their experiences and, in turn, help other women to better support their communities.
"Thank you to our incredible 2024 hosts in Harden Murrumburrah for helping facilitate connection through friendship, mentorship, professional resources and services. I look forward to seeing the tradition continue next year in Lismore."
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:
"Thank you to the fabulous volunteers who coordinated and delivered a hugely successful 2024 Rural Women's Gathering in Harden Murrumburrah - your local insights are absolutely invaluable, your dedication and commitment make this important annual event possible.
"The Rural Women's Gathering links women to information and services, create opportunities to build personal and business resilience, allow us to promote action on rural women's issues, and ultimately strengthen communities across NSW.
"After 31 years, the Gathering continues to be a key event on the NSW Rural Women's Network calendar, enabling women from regional, rural and remote areas of NSW to connect, learn and celebrate.
"Each year, there's a range of diverse speakers and workshops, all of whom bring something new and inspiring to share - and I can't wait to see what's next for Lismore in 2025."
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:
"I'm excited to have the Rural Women's Gathering here. I think its fantastic because we have some great women right across our community.
"This is recognition that there's a whole lot of women's leadership here, particularly our rural women. They're in everything, from the CWA, to the SES, to the RFS, to Zonta, we've got the lot.
"The Rural Women's Gathering is a great opportunity to network and having it in Lismore means its easier for local women to take part."
