Tasmanian Women in Agriculture (TWiA) this year celebrates our 30th anniversary with a Gathering event in the Tamar Valley, Northern Tasmania.

TWiA was established in 1994 to support farming women across the state. It has since become a powerful lobbying group giving women access to networks, resources and education.

In 2024, we invite women to gather on the 24-26 May for a long weekend of country hall fun, farm tours, a gala dinner, and celebrating 30 years of TWiA, along with fabulous guest speakers.

This year's event is tailored for those interested in a sample of the Northern Tasmania farming region, and includes various venues, off the track locations, seasonal produce and local catering. We look forward to greeting Women in Agriculture from across Tasmania and around Australia.

We thank individuals, farmers, and organisations who support TWiA in grant funding, sponsorship and volunteering. The 2024 Gathering has a pay-it-forward gift option when purchasing your ticket. Your gifted amounted will directly assist women in hardship to access a bursary for a 2024 ticket to attend. If you are experiencing hardship, please send an e-mail to admin@taswomeninag.org to speak confidentially to a TWiA Committee member.

Save $$ on your 3-day Gathering ticket! Join TWiA -become a Member and participate in all our initiatives and events across Tasmania. Follow the 2024 Gathering, use #TWIA2024. Although the event and themes are designed for women, we do welcome everyone, carers included. Please e-mail us, to discuss further.

- Celebrating the Past - Acknowledging the Present - Anticipating the Future -

The 2024 Gathering has a trilogy of themes, starting from (24 May) Celebrating the Past, (25 May) Acknowledging the Present to (26 May) Anticipating the Future.

Northern Tasmania's Tamar Valley is the host region, along Kanamaluka/River Tamar (Palawa Country). The Palawa/Pakana are the first farmers and caretakers of Lutruwita/Tasmania. We pay our respects to elders past and present whose connections to the land remain strong. Over these three days, you will meet new acquaintances with common interests and passion for rural life and agriculture, as well as reconnecting with friends. The landscapes and locations over the weekend are full of fantastic photography opportunities. Use the event tag #TWIA2024 and share.

Friday night join us in Exeter, as we gather to launch the event, share food, stories and photos of Women in Agriculture. A night to celebrate the achievements and adventures over the last 30 years across Tasmania and Agriculture.

Saturday tour across the Tamar Valley region. We will meet at Exeter Showground, to board the bus that matches your booking, and leave sharp on time to start the adventure. The tours enable us to look, listen and learn, both en-route and at each stop, as our host farmers share their experiences of rural and agricultural life today. Catering and refreshments are on-board. BYO water bottle. [Limited bus seats, book early]. Meet at 8:00am for an 8:30am departure.

Bus Tour - West Tamar (South/Central) is Brady's Lookout (state park) + Tamar Valley Wetlands (walk) + Tamar Valley Truffles Farm + Brady’s Lookout Cider (apple orchard/wine grapes) + Yimarra Farm (alpaca) + Notley Valley Farm (cattle/goats).
Bus Tour - West Tamar (North) is Petuna (aquaculture) + York Town Organics (vegetables/herbs) + Westella Vineyard (wine grapes) + Loira Vines (wine grapes/cider apples/beer hops/cheese).

Saturday night wearing your finest natural fibres, join us as we host a Gala dinner, at Glendale Estate (vineyard) to celebrate 30 years of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture.

Sunday brunch is in Exeter, where we gather to explore new directions in Agriculture and the emerging Food & Fibre Circular Economy, to Anticipate the Future together. Join us, as we close the 2024 Gathering and build our networks with #WomeninAg friends.

Make sure you read about the two bus tours, above, so you select the correct route when buying your 2024 Gathering ticket. Tour 1 (24 seats). Tour 2 (48 seats). Meet at 8:00am. Register passengers and distribute packed catering. 08:15 Bus Boarding commences. 08:30 Bus departs Exeter Showgrounds

Brady's Lookout Cider: honouring the land and its
bounty. — Farming and harvesting heritage apples and conserving the landscape of the Tamar Valley.

TAMAR VALLEY, TASMANIA

The region is home to more than 20 vineyards, berry farms, olive groves, flower farms, paddock to plate, and world class fruit orchards as well as dairy, beef and sheep properties. The 30th Anniversary 3-day program will include informative and innovative guest speakers, agriculture property visits, and mealtimes with menus that will showcase the wide variety of high-quality produce which the Tamar Valley offers.

The Tamar Valley, the centre of Northern Tasmania, is known as a great epicurean destination. In late 2021, Launceston was named as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, making it one of only 36 world cities bestowed with the title. Launceston lies in the heart of the rich agricultural region of Northern Tasmania, where farmers meet once a week at Harvest Launceston's farmer market. The close connections with many farmers, producers, orchards, vineyards and artisans are integral to the UNESCO designation, with many successful women in agriculture as the foundation.

Tamar Valley farmland is surrounded by the natural beauty of the beaches, bushland, hills and waterways, which welcome locals and visitors for bushwalks, fishing and off-road cycling, as well as places that are the muse for great artworks, meditation and catch-ups with friends. Book now, to come and help us celebrate our 30th TWiA gathering, meet up with new and old friends, and stay a bit longer to enjoy time off the farm to further tour the region.

Visit North Tasmania in the off season and enjoy.

GATHERING ACCOMMODATION

Looking for somewhere to book, stay, and/or share for the gathering? Check the webpage Visit Northern Tasmania places to stay . Select the staycategory, then filter by regionsfor listings, or click you can on the region map, select accommodation icon (blue circle with a white moon and stars) and find a stay. If you choose other popular accommodation search engines, look for stays in West Tamar, East Tamar, Tamar Valley, kanamaluka /River Tamar, Northern Tasmania.

If you need to share accommodation, have a spare bed in your accommodation or can offer a local bed for a gathering guest, please tell us in the 2024 ticket booking question and answers. Please Contact us, if you have any extra questions.