Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, with members of the NSW Rural Women’s Network volunteer committee in Harden.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, joined women from remote farming stations, rural towns, and regional city centres at the 2024 New South Wales Rural Women’s Gathering at Harden-Murrumburrah at the weekend.
The event was attended by multigenerational families, with mothers and daughters taking away knitting tips, social media skills and inspiration from keynote speaker Dr Jana Pittman and guest speaker Ruby Riethmuller.
“More women are entering the workforce across rural and regional Australia, starting their own business, taking on work in town, or building off-farm income by working from home. The Gathering is an opportunity for us all to meet with each other where we’re at, share what we’ve learned, and be empowered for great things to come,” Ms Cooke said.
“I was so pleased to be able to give the Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault a warm welcome to the beautiful Cootamundra electorate, Ms Harrison is always welcome to stop by when she’s travelling through this stunning region.”
The event was hosted by a dedicated volunteer committee; Rosie FairfieldSmith, Bronwyn Ryan, Julie Roberts, Antonia Brown, Jessica Ryan, Ros Stewart, Sarah Karaitiana, Hannah Walton and Sarah Rowan, who helped raise funds to make the event at the renovated Harden Country Club a shining success.
Ms Cooke thanked the committee for their hard work, and for helping create an unforgettable weekend sure to inspire many rural women long after the gathering concluded.
“It has been a wonderful weekend spent celebrating rural women from across our Cootamundra electorate, and from across New South Wales,” Ms Cooke said.
The 2025 NSW Rural Women’s Gathering will be held in Lismore.