Women in Agriculture and Business of SA Inc. is a State-wide support and communication network for rural women, especially those interested or involved in primary industries. WAB, as it is often known, has 31 branches and more than 500 members across the settled areas of the State. Branches usually meet monthly to work for local community projects, to discuss wider issues or perhaps to conduct or attend workshops of an educational or cultural nature. Friendship is a big part of WAB meetings.

WAB was formed at Riverton in 1917 to meet the needs of women who were isolated, and who were working with their families to establish farms and homes in rural districts. From those early days, WAB has had close links with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) and with the Agricultural Bureau.

Today, WAB has a formal affiliation with the Agricultural Bureau and is represented on the Advisory Board of Agriculture, thus maintaining close links with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. WAB is also affiliated with Associated Country Women of the World which has links with the United Nations. It is also affiliated with National Council of Women.

WAB head office

WAB Head Office - Cheree Reichl
email: WABinSA@gmail.com
Phone: 0403 715 473

Aims and objectives

• To encourage interest and participation in activities of rural people and organisations, especially in primary industries.
• To promote goodwill, friendship and understanding among members.
• To provide effective leadership to link Women in Agriculture and Business activities through the membership network.
• To generate opportunities for educational, cultural and technical advancement to members, combining with other rural organisations where appropriate.
• To encourage and foster the ability of women to take a shared responsibility for the community in which we live from local to world level.
• To press for recognition of the needs and worth of rural people at all levels of government.
• To promote and support the preservation of our environment and ecology and care for the land.

Regions, branches and membership

WAB is divided into six regions: Central, Eyre Peninsula, Lower North, Mid and Upper North, Murraylands and South East. There are branches across South Australia plus one online branch, with a total membership of over 500 rural women including Associate Members.

The WAB map (PDF 118.8 KB) of South Australia show the WAB branches across the State.

Contact details for each branch are available from WAB Head Office.

WAB Council

WAB is administered through WAB Council which is made up of the State President and a Regional Councillor representing each region.

WAB Council positions

State President: Jan Gregson (Phone: 8765 5270)

Administration and Finance Officer: Cheree Reichl

Treasurer: Jenni Jones

Central Regional Councillor: Jenni Jones

Eyre Peninsula Regional Councillor: Lee Russell

Lower North Regional Councillor: Margaret Craigie

Mid and Upper North Regional Councillor:Margaret Craigie (Acting)

Murraylands Regional Councillor: Jenni Jones (Acting)

South East Regional Councilllor: Lorraine Rayson

Immediate Past State President, Publicity Officer and Public Officer: Adair Dunsford 

Back row (L-R)
Lee Russell, Glenice Bourne, Cheree Reichl, Thelma Newman, Adair Dunsford, Yvonne Correll and Margaret Craigie
Front row (L-R)
Gini Gale, Lorraine Rayson, Jan Gregson and Jeni Jones

Ex-officio positions

WAB News Editor: Gini Gale

Awards officer: Janet Cummings

Historian: Thelma Newman

Merchandise Officer: Glenice Bourne

Community issues

WAB considers issues such as health, education, women, young rural people, awards and boards and committees that impact rural people. It develops, coordinates and promotes seminars, schools and TAFE courses on topics including farm book-keeping, computing, farm chemical awareness, availability and access for country people to Centrelink services and caring for the environment. Health issues have included breast and cervix cancer screening, heart disease, diabetes, rural suicide and female genital mutilation. WAB members and branches support their local schools and kindergartens, and help to equip local hospitals, sporting facilities and district amenities.

WAB brings many issues of vital importance to country people to the attention of relevant government Ministers, Politicians and key community members for action.

WAB offers women of all generations, information, assistance in business, education, friendship and other activities depending on their needs.

Regional meetings

WAB branches are served by Regional Councillors who represent regions on WAB Council. A Regional Meeting is held each year and hosted by a WAB Branch.

Region	Date	Host branch
Eyre Peninsula	13 March 2012	Cleve (Sims farm)
Mid and Upper North	12 April 2012	Booleroo Centre
Central	11 April 2012	Longwood
South East	15 May 2012	Lochaber
Lower North	1 April 2012	Kapunda
Murraylands	17 April 2012	Yurgo

State conference

An annual State conference is held in a different region each year and coordinated by WAB Council. The State conference for 2011 was held at West Beach on 29 and 30 July 2011.

Theme

Every year WAB chooses a theme. In 2011/12 the theme is "Year of the Farmer". Branches are encouraged to promote the theme through activities and events.

In 2010/11 the theme was "Healthy Environment - Healthy Food". Branches were encouraged to promote the theme through activities and events.

Country of study

Each year WAB chooses a country of study. This is used in planning the speakers and activities for the year. Regional meetings and State Conference also promote the country of study.

The Country of Study for 2011/12 is Japan. Branches are encouraged to learn about the history, culture, environment and the people of Japan.

In 2010/11 the WAB Country of Study was Afghanistan and Branches learnt about the history, culture and the environment of the Afghan people.

Project

WAB chooses an organisation from within Australia or overseas to support annually. Branches learn about the organisation throughout the year and the work it does. WAB Branches raise funds to donate at the State Conference.

The Project for 2011/12 is Bedford Industries Inc.

The WAB Project for 2010/11 was Greenhill Lodge. In 1995 the Parkway Motel at 204 Greenhill Road, Eastwood was purchased by the Anti-Cancer Foundation of South Australia to provide accommodation for cancer patients in Adelaide for treatment. 

Publications

WAB news

WAB News is published quarterly and distributed by mail to all financial members or emailed to WAB online members.

Annual report

The WAB Annual Report is available at State conference each year.

WAB book

Hats Off to WAB a book to celebrate 90 years

In 2007, Women in Agriculture and Business SA celebrated its 90th birthday, making it the oldest rural women's organisation in Australia. A book of WAB history and achievements along with the personal stories of former State Presidents, Regional Councillors and members, was prepared by Keith author and WAB member, Adair Dunsford. Its title, Hats Off to WAB acknowledges the contribution of WAB to South Australian rural life.

168 pages, 47 photographs $25 posted. Orders with cheque to WAB Merchandise Officer, Glenice Bourne, PO Box 865, Naracoorte SA 5271

WAB Regional Councillor Handbook

This is available from WAB Head Office.

WAB Branch Handbook

This is available from WAB Head Office.

WAB online

WAB has an email branch called WAB Online. It is a modern response to the busy lives of rural women who frequently juggle careers with the demands of family, community and farm businesses.

WAB Online members receive all information by email including WAB news, information on rural events, scholarships and programs. They are full members of WAB and can attend regional and state conferences and represent WAB.

WAB Online meets on the first weekend of the month. Topics for discussion are emailed on the Saturday and members can email their opinions, information and messages over the weekend and early the following week. Summaries of these emails become the branch meeting minutes.

Membership is $25 annually.

Groups WAB belongs to

WAB member are also members of the worldwide rural women's organisation, Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). WAB has been a member society of ACWW since 1948.

ACWW is the largest international organisation for rural women with nine million members in 70 countries. It works in partnership with its member societies to provide support, friendship and practical help to rural women and their families in developing countries.

Annually WAB branches donate to the Coins for Friendship fund which backs ACWW projects and management, hold World Rural Women's Day celebrations and have opportunities to represent WAB at ACWW events and conferences in the South Pacific region and at world level.

WAB representation on other committees

SA National Council of Women (SA NCW)
Advisory Board of Agriculture (ABA)
SA Cervix Screening Program

Notice board

State luncheon

Date: 28 July 2012
Location: Mt Barker