By KATH GANNAWAY
THE Women on Farms Gathering Heritage Exhibition opened in Healesville on Wednesday, providing an enticing lead-up to the 2015 Yarra Ranges WOFG in two weeks’ time.
The exhibition from Museum Victoria traces the history of the gatherings over the past two decades and, as Yarra Ranges Mayor Maria McCarthy noted in her official opening speech “captures the essence of what it means to be a female working on a farm in a rural community”.
Guest speakers were Liza Dale-Hallett, Senior Curator at Museum Victoria and curator of the exhibition, and Yarra Ranges WOFG patron, Kalorama author, culinary wizard and media personality, Ann Creber.
Ms Creber said it was wonderful to see women achieving so much individually, and collectively.
“This (exhibition) reflects so much on the past, present and the future,” she said touching on the resourcefulness and resilience of women through a fascinating and entertaining personal history.
“It shows what women have achieved over the years and it tells its own story,” she said.
Ms Dale-Hallet said the exhibition was fundamentally about making women on farms visible.
She said looking back at how farming was represented in the past, it was about men and tractors.
“Where were the women? They were not there because a lot of what women do is intangible,” she said.
The banners capturing the theme and issues of every one of the WOFGs over the years document the role of women and the issues that have shaped and continue to shape the lives and roles of women on farms.
The exhibition is on display at The Memo in Healesville until the Gathering weekend – 20, 21 and 22 March. Visit www.yrwofg2015.org.au for information and to register.
