Celebrating International Rural Women’s Day at Wondai this Friday is just one of many activities the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation has on its agenda in coming months.
CEO Kristy Frahm said the coffee and cake morning would serve as an ideal opportunity for a “city meets country” agenda when Carol McArthur from the Brisbane Women’s Forum travels up to take part.
“They’re a group who really care about what happens in rural areas so it will be an opportunity for sharing,” she said, adding that the event was for everyone who lived in a rural community, not just farming people.
Tracy Anderson will be one of the local speakers, talking about her family’s piggery enterprise, Anderlea Pork at Hivesville.
BIEDO was established in 1996 by local governments in the Burnett region, along with community and industry activists concerned about the impact of drought, and the impact of natural disasters are still a strong concern of the group.
“It’s our mission to support rural communities and small businesses in the North and South Burnett, and the western Gympie region,” Kristy said. “Flooding has hit us hard over recent years so BIEDO has become a support network people can draw on, for resilience-building activities.”
She said the group’s main strength was connecting with people by taking activities to as many of the region’s small places as possible, rather than expecting everyone to come into a central point.
In keeping with that are its signature events, Women’s Wellness Days. In the 12 month period between June 2015 and June 2016, 11 events have been held, attracting 520 women.
A future one is planned for the 15-25 age group, to which women of all age groups are invited for support, along with business expos in the North and South Burnett at the end of November.
Kristy said the expos, held in partnership with AusIndustry, would be an opportunity for people who run their own business to seek out information on things like the latest Workplace Health and Safety news.
The International Rural Women’s Day event begins at the Wondai Diggers Club at 9.30am and runs until noon, with plenty of prizes to give away.