Summary

Badge worn by participants at the 1997 Bendigo Women on Farms Gathering, with logo/theme 'Over the fence - Across the World'. The badges came in different colours, including white, yellow and blue.

Part of Museums Victoria's Invisible Farmer Project Collection. The Invisible Farmer Project was the largest ever study of Australian women on the land, uncovering the histories and stories of Australian women in agriculture and addressing the absence of rural women in mainstream histories and museums. It began as a pilot project (2015-2016) and evolved into a three year (2017-2020) nation-wide partnership between rural communities, academic, government and cultural organisations, funded by the Australian Research Council.

Physical Description

Light blue badge with circular design depicting a woman in the centre and city buildings, grazing stock and a post and rail fence, surrounded with logo 'Over the fence - across the world, Bendigo, 1997'.

Significance

The badge from the Bendigo Gathering symbolises unity and rural sisterhood across the farming sector, and indicates a sense of connection with rural women across the world. This Gathering occurred in 1997, a few years following the Melbourne International Conference on Women in Agriculture, and reflected the number of Australian women who had been involved in international forums and conferences. The Bendigo theme, 'Over the Fence - Across the World' was concerned with redefining the boundaries of activities and interests, beyond the local to the global.

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