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published - 30 April 2019
By Gemma Heemskerk

‘Women on Farms’ celebrates 30 years

The last weekend of March saw more than 200 rural women come together in Warragul for the 30th Annual Women on Farms Gathering. The gathering aims to highlight the role of rural women and their advances in farming. This year took the theme, ‘Striding Forward’, and was coordinated by the …
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gippsland, Rural women, striding forward, Victorian Rural Women's Network, Warragul, West Gippsland, women on farms

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published - 30 April 2019
By Gemma Heemskerk

Bushfood business

On Friday 8 March, International Women’s Day was celebrated around the globe acknowledging the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In the outer suburbs of eastern Melbourne, 30 Aboriginal women from across Victoria attended a bushfood and botanicals workshop to mark the occasion.
The women explored the business of …
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aboriginal business, botanicals, bushfood, indigenous food, International Women's Day, wild harvest

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published - 30 April 2019
By Gemma Heemskerk

Would you eat a grasshopper?

Would you eat a grasshopper? This question was just one of many posed by the audience at the evokeAG conference.
Population growth, food security, environmental sustainability and market access are all important and topical challenges. The evokeAG conference held in February in Melbourne and supported by AgriFuturesTM Australia explored these …
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AgriFutures, evokeAG, food and fibre, innovation, sustainability, Victorian Rural Women's Network

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Entrepreneur Susie McLachlan in the kitchen

published - 16 January 2019
By Becky Barker

Healthy approach to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Above: Susie McLachlan, Founder of Mindful Nutrients, is researching the benefits of Indigenous superfoods to address challenges from attention and mind disorders
Indigenous superfoods sparked the idea for a start-up making health products for attention and mind disorders.
Susie McLachlan hopes to unearth the benefits of foods favoured by Indigenous Australians to …
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ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, entrepreneur, health, Rural women, start-up, wellbeing, yam daisies

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Woman in red checked top standing in field with iPad

published - 16 January 2019
By Becky Barker

Update: Leadership and Mentoring Program

Above: generic image, Natasha Shields, Peninsula Fresh Organics
Congratulations to the 10 talented women in agriculture who have recently secured funded places in the 2019 Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program.
The Leadership and Mentoring Program offers rural Victorian women, who are involved in agriculture or the agriculture supply chain, the …
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courses, funded places, leadership, Rural women, women

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Beetroot muesli maker Marita Valenzuela sits in front of pink buckets containing her Pink Muesli

published - 16 January 2019
By Natalie Dowling

Think pink!

Above: Beetroot muesli maker Marita Valenzuela
Marita Valenzuela’s wellbeing was the inspiration for a unique vegetable muesli that is winning awards and winning over tastebuds across the country.
Pink Muesli is a premium product with a beetroot base, an ingredient that has been scientifically recognised for its heart health benefits. …
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agriculture, artisanal, beetroot, fibre, food, grants, health, muesli

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Three founding members of the Australian Women in Emergencies Network

published - 16 January 2019
By Bridget Tehan

Focus: Australian Women in Emergencies Network

Above (from L-R): Australian Women in Emergencies Network (AWE) Founders Kathy Cooney, Bridget Tehan (President AWE Network) and Amanda Lamont
In early 2018, a group of women who work and volunteer in the emergency sector gathered at an International Women’s Day breakfast. A question was posed: ‘Is there a place for …
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community, emergencies, network, women

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Cover of drought-relief cookbook, Farmer Recipes and Stories From The Land

published - 16 January 2019
By Becky Barker

Cooking up a campaign

Above: Cover of the new cookbook, ‘Farmer: Recipes and Stories from the Land’, which is raising funds for drought-affected farmers
Freelance writer and photographer Kathy Mexted from Hanging Rock describes how farmers in New South Wales and Victoria have joined forces to create a drought-relief cookbook.
“When Jody Vassallo had to start …
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cookbook, cooking, drought, farmers, recipes, stories

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Jess Liston conducting a leadership course where horses teach leadership. Group of people in indoor arena opposite horse

published - 16 January 2019
By Becky Barker

5 ways horses teach leadership

Above: Jess Liston (sitting, wearing pink hat) at one of her courses where horses help build leadership and confidence skills Image credit: Chloe Smith
Jess Liston grew up on a farm in country Victoria and was riding horses before she could walk. She now harnesses the wisdom of horses for …
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courses, horses, leadership, women's leadership

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Slow food and collaborative farming advocate Deb Bogenhuber

published - 16 January 2019
By Natalie Dowling

Small scale, big impact

Deb Bogenhuber is motivated by a deep connection to country and an interest in changing local food economies. As an ecologist and slow food proponent, Deb is fascinated by systems and the interaction of natural elements including land, water and soil.
Through her work as Executive Officer of Mildura-based Food Next …
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community, farming, slow food, wellbeing

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