Summary

Song book created for the 1994 Glenormiston Women on Farms Gathering. This booklet contains seven songs written by Meg Barry and one written by Margaret Jansen, set to popular tunes. These songs were performed at the Saturday night gala dinner during the Glenormiston Organising Committee's performance of 'Galloping Gertie Gets Her Reward'. Clad in gumboots with ribbons, bows, flowers and sequins, committee members frolicked around the stage performing a play about a fictionalised farming woman, Gertie. According to the Numurkah Gathering Proceedings, 'it was a fun way to present a positive message of the amazing contribution of farming women - not just as farmer's wife - to the life of the individual farms and to their rural communities, and to the great industry of agriculture.'
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. 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.the absence of rural women in mainstream histories and museums.

Physical Description

White paper booklet made of four A4 sheets folded to A5 and stapled - printed in black. Front cover has two boxed labels. 1. Does Galloping Gertrude get her Reward? And 2. Witnesses' Brief. Second last page has drawing of a memorial plinth with a woman on top, complete with apron and holding a pitchfork, looking over the countryside, with a few sheep on the ground. Plinth is inscribed 'The Unknown Farmer'. Back page has fan shaped logo design in nine panels depicting grapes, sheep, horse, cattle, wheat, farmer with baby lamb, tractor and Glenormiston 1994. Centre base of fan design depicts a woman wearing a wide brim felt hat.

Significance

The sharing of music, poetry and dance is an important feature of the Victorian Women on Farms Gatherings. Bringing women together for a shared purpose, such activities have helped to break down personal barriers and have offered opportunities for women to express feelings, share experiences, receive validation from others and recharge their batteries. Some poems and songs have been especially written for the occasion and some have been adapted from traditional verse. All of them have honoured the coming together of women as farmers, wives, mothers, teachers, volunteers, supporters and enablers - working alone, with each other, and alongside men.

More Information