AGRIFUTURES Australia is encouraging the sharing of stories of the nation’s agricultural women with the launch of a social media hashtag #hatsofftoruralwomen in the lead up to the International Day of Rural Women on 15 October.

The hashtag #hatsofftoruralwomen has been launched across AgriFutures Australia’s social media channels to capture these conversations and to highlight the various events taking place on 15 October 2020.

The United Nations’ theme for this International Day of Rural Women is ‘Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19’, to create awareness of the struggles and needs of rural women, and their critical and key role in our society.

AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey said with COVID-19, and the absence of physical events where stories and achievements are shared, it’s even more important to go online and continue to celebrate the contributions of women to rural Australia.

“We will be showcasing inspiring women who are playing a critical role in enhancing and developing our agricultural industries and communities,” he said.

Included in the women to be profiled will be Margie Bale, one of Australia’s only camel veterinarians. Margie’s most recent achievement is a research project supported by our AgriFutures Australia’s Emerging Industries Program that enabled development of a wild camel pregnancy test.

“Now there is a simple blood test for camel pregnancy that can be performed safely, efficiently, and reliably at the point of capture.

Buyers from camel dairies have confidence now when they’re expanding their herds with wild camels, and we’re all not relying on the common theory that a pregnant camel holds her tail straight all the time,” she said.

The profiles of rural women across many of the industries AgriFutures Australia works with will also be published on the AgriFutures Australia’s website and social media channels.  Online and physical events to mark International Day of Rural Women will also be shared.

Businesses across Australia are encouraged to use the hashtag #hatsofftoruralwomen across their own social media channels to share the stories of the rural, regional and remote women they work with on a daily basis and who inspire them.