Summary

Program issued to participants who attended the Women on Farms Gathering, Sea Lake, 1991. The program features an illustration titled 'Tree of Life', which was hand-drawn by local Berriwillock resident and Gathering participant Jane Mudge. Depicted in this illustration are various representations of farming life, including grain, horticulture, livestock, agriculture and families. The image symbolises and celebrates the importance of families to farming enterprise, and of farming to life itself.

Visitors to the 1991 Sea Lake Gathering, coming from all over Victoria, marvelled at the strength and determination women from this region showed in the face of ongoing drought and the rural downturn. The Gathering proved to be a forum where women from diverse farming backgrounds could offer support, 'refuel', and learn from the experiences of others. The commitment to continue meeting annually was made here.
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

Two yellow A4 pages back to back both folded in half to make a small pamphlet. The front is signed by Gathering participant Marion Morrish and includes a central illustration of a tree. The inside has 2 pages with the program for Saturday on the left and Sunday on the right hand side.

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