Planning is forging ahead for the Women On Farms Gathering (WOFG) scheduled for March 26-28 next year, in Port Fairy.
The WOFGs have been running for more than 30 years bring together rural women from around Victoria.
Next year's theme for the gathering is 'Women For All Seasons', highlighting the adaptability and capability of women in adjusting to natures challenges and changes - periods of growth followed by periods of degradation.
Under this banner the Port Fairy WOFG will showcase sustainability, reuse, repurposing and being more eco-friendly.
With this in mind the WOFG committee has buried a woollen jumper and a synthetic jumper.
The jumpers were buried in the backyard of committee member, Barbara Elderidge's property, and will be dug up at the start of the WOFG.
"The burial of the two jumpers - one made of natural wool and the other of synthetic (plastic) symbolises perfectly the that the decisions we make today will have long-term consequences for our environment going forward," Port Fairy's WOFG president, Lorraine Ermacora said
"It is expected the woollen jumper will biodegrade and return naturally to the earth, and the synthetic jumper is expected to remain mostly intact."
Ms Ermacora said she looked forward to catching up with friends that she only saw at the annual gatherings, and to making new friends.
"I hope that those who come to the gathering will stay for a while longer and bring family back to the area once they see all that we have to offer," she said.
"Despite the difficulties of COVID-19, there had been significant progress made with the program for the gathering and enormous positive feedback to the proposed list of events," WOFG Port Fairy secretary, Susan Rowbottom said.
"Workshops and tours will take place on Saturday, March 27 and reveal the extensive array of attractions the region has to offer - ranging from Port Fairy's fishing village history, to indigenous and cultural centres, artisans who make Port Fairy home, to living off-grid and more sustainably and then its rich and diverse agricultural industries - which include dairy, beef, wool and prime sheep as well as buffalo, potatoes, onions and other vegetables and flowers.
"There really will be lots to do and see and its been a long time since a Women on Farms Gathering has been held in this area of the state."