In the Media

Our "Ball in the Hall" has reached far and wide with the Australian Year of the Farmer website posting a small story on our group highlighting the planned Ball.

Marrar ‘Ag n Chat’ rural women's group set to turn on the glitz for AYOF 2012

Marrar 'Ag n Chat', a community rural women's group in NSW plans to recognise and celebrate Australian Year of the Farmer 2012, with a "glitz and glamour" style ball to occur in October this year.

The Marrar 'Ag n Chat' "Ball in the Hall" will raise money for a Kiva micro finance loan charity, which the group has specifically targeted at providing to rural women in remote African regions since 2010. Throughout 2012, the group has made generous donations to empower rural women in remote and impoverished nations.

The idea to host the event stems from the recently successful "Opulence in the Outback" event - which was hosted on 17 March 2012 (Western Australia) to coincide with Australian Year of the Farmer 2012. "Opulence in the Outback" celebrated local producers and thanked farmers in the region. The event was an immense success, raising more than $93,000 for the selected charities: St John Ambulances (North Midlands Sub Centre, Western Australia) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Marrar 'Ag n Chat' is a group of community-minded rural women aged between 35 and 70 who started an agricultural based group in October 2003 situated around the Marrar district of NSW.

The group meets on the third Thursday of every month, converging to discuss a wide range of topics organised by the group at an annual planning meeting.

The group have discussed a range of issues over the years, including; grain marketing, wool, gardening, fire preparedness, women's health, mosaics, communication and motivation, swaps and options, garden metalwork, olive growing, dairying, climate change, soil types and social network technologies.

The Australian Year of the Farmer is about recognising what farmers do for all Australians. It's about what we eat; about fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, grains, fish, meat, eggs and about wool, cotton, timber - all the fine quality products that our farmers grow and harvest in large and small businesses. Events such as "Ball in the Hall" and "Opulence in the Outback" showcase locally grown food, while celebrating the farmers who produce it.

The Australian Year of the Farmer is honoured to see such incredible grassroots' community support for the Year. Events such as "Opulence in the Outback" and the upcoming "Ball in the Hall" truly demonstrate the power of rural communities and celebration - integral components to the Year.