Morawa International Rural Women’s Day Dinner 2025

Join us for a memorable evening celebrating International Rural Women’s Day! This free event features a delicious two-course dinner, inspiring guest speakers, fun games, and more.

Celebrate the unique spirit of rural women as we come together for a special evening. Hear from two inspiring rural women:

Shirley Katona: Local Morawa resident, business owner, and much more.

Educated through School of the Air until Year 8, Shirley then attended boarding school in Geraldton and MDHS, leaving in Year 11. She built a hardware, rural supplies, and garden centre business from an empty building 36 years ago. From speedway competitor to St John Ambulance volunteer, a wife, a mum, and now a nanna, she says life is just a challenge which she wouldn't change for anything.

Julie Firth: Managing Director of The Drylands Permaculture Farm (Geraldton) and Farm & Nursery Manager.

Julie began her career as New Zealand’s first qualified female electrician and later moved to Western Australia, where she discovered Permaculture. In 1988 she established Geraldton’s first Drylands Permaculture demonstration site, growing it into a nursery and community education hub. She spent a year in Palestine supporting a Permaculture village, then returned to expand her farm, co-found the local herbarium, and launch an environmental consultancy. In 2013 she co-created the Drylands Foundation and began building a strawbale education centre. Today, Julie combines construction, horticulture, and education, and dedication to sustainability.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, 15th October 2025
Time: 6pm-8pm
Venue: Morawa Oval Function Room
Dress Code: Smart casual/dressy casual
Age: 18+ event
Alcohol: Alcohol-free event

With limited tickets available, registration is essential. Grab your free ticket below. Please note, there will be no entry without a ticket.

This event is proudly presented by Desert Blue Connect, with generous funding from Mitsui E&P and support from the Shire of Morawa.