Slow News Day??!!!

Rural news must be a bit slow around here lately because our group has featured in a news article again last week.  We had just had a meeting to see how our last minute preparations for the Ball were coming along.  I think the newspaper is going to be there on the night to take photo's, so we'll be featuring in the Daily Advertiser again soon!!!

Newspaper Article

Our Ball has featured in a local newspaper article as well this week.  Our local Coolamon Shire Council has a wonderful Tourism Officer in Linda and she wrote this glowing article:

MARRAR TO HOST ‘OLD-FASHIONED’ BALL

Farmers from the Marrar region will trade their riding boots for dancing shoes to help celebrate the Australian Year of the Farmer.

The Marrar Ag-n-Chat group are set to host the ‘Ball in the Hall’ on Friday, 26 October in the Marrar War Memorial Hall.

Organiser of the ball, Donna Carmichael said there hadn’t been a real “glitz and glamour” ball held in Marrar for a long time so the Year of the Farmer provided the perfect opportunity.

“It is a way for us to celebrate not only the Year of the Farmer, but also our local farmers and their families who contribute so much to the agriculture industry,” she said.

“It’s also just a really good excuse to dress up and get-together with everyone in the community.”

Established out of the drought in 2003, hosts of the event, the Marrar Ag-n-Chat group, is a group of like- minded rural women who get together to learn new things, network, provide fundraising support and help out the community.

“We just thought this would be a fun way for us to celebrate the farmers who produce our prime lambs, canola and cereal crops our region is known for, as well as hopefully make a profit which we can then pass on to charity.”

Mrs Carmichael said tickets for the ‘Ball in the Hall’ cost $55 per person, with tables of 12 available.

The formal evening would include a three-course meal by Michele Seymour Catering and entertainment by band Who’s the Boss.

A full bar will be operating and a live goods auction, including a handmade patchwork quilt and artwork, would happen throughout the evening.

Coolamon Shire’s Tourism and Business Development Manager, Linda Tillman, said the ball being hosted in Marrar was a great opportunity for locals to celebrate the small community.

“Being held just before harvest will also give our farmers a chance to have a bit of fun before one of the busiest times of the year.”

Proceeds from the ball would go to charities Marrar Ag-n-Chat group currently support.

For tickets and more information contact Donna Carmichael (02) 6927 4321 or purchase tickets from Marrar Sales and Service/Post Office.

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.