Tasmania is a place I have always wanted to visit. The history of the state is one of the reasons (I love history, especially Australian history) and I love mountains and green grass. Get plenty of that in Tassie!

I can’t tell you how much the landscape captivated me – the colours of the trees are amazing – burnt red and oranges of autumn against the vivid green grass and grey sky, were such a treat for me. Our country, at the moment, is a dull brown with sandy spots and bright blue skies – not a sight for this time of the year.

So, after thinking that Kate, Anthony and I had landed in Ireland (or somewhere else where there is a lot of green grass!), we set off for Agfest. After talking to James, from rural Youth, who organises Agfest, I learned that there are around 70,000 people pass through the gates over the three day event. Everywhere you looked there was produce, farm machinery, clothes, dog trials, helicopter rides, restored machinery and every other thing that you could imagine!

The setting is wonderful – large trees, with trunks thicker than you could put your arms around and tall… They were massive!

So I had six signings over the two days in the Angus and Robertson tent and they were really successful. I met some wonderful people, Gabbi Bresnehan, included. She is Tassie’s Rural Woman of the Year for 2010 and is off to Canberra in a couple of weeks to go up against all of women from the other states. Good luck, Gabbi!

I climbed a couple of silos over the two days – demonstrating some safety features – that was fun – and watched some dog trials with Anthony and Kate.

And I must tell you that I met Rachael Treasure face to face! I was ecstatic to have that happen. I lugged my copies of her books over, so she could sign them and was able to spend half an hour or so, with her. That was so exciting for me – to actually meet the person whose books I loved and had inspired me to think that I could handle writing, farming and being a mum, all together, was amazing.

I just also have to add, I stood next to Kieran Perkins! Too star struck to ask for his autograph though!

So from Sydney, we caught a flight to Wagga Wagga where we had a book signing at Book City. We weren’t there for long before we started the drive to Goulburn. I spent a lovely hour or so, in the car with Deb, Allen and Unwin’s book seller before I jumped back in the car with Kate.

Well now, there’s an experience! I can tell you that Kate can’t drive in the country! (It’s okay, I told her so and she very nicely allowed me to drive for the rest of the tour!)

Goulburn was great, with a very interactive crowd (this picture is of the owners of the Angus and Robertson store).

After a night in Goulburn, we drove to Dalgety, to the Dalgety Women’s Day, which was such a wonderful experience. Genevieve, a very inspiring woman, told of her journey with her husband, from the hospital ringing her to tell her to come and say good bye, after a tragic farming accident, until now. Her husband is far from dead – although paralysed – and is the primary carer for their child. It was truly, a very moving story.

I then spoke about friends and networks and how important they are in the country. One of the key points was why rural women need a supportive network.

“When I think of a support network, I picture a spiders web. Something complex and sticky! So much so, you could never fall through the gaps. Strong, but delicate too. And essential to our survival.

The landmarks that people lay down for us are the ones that take away our identity.

When we get married we become ‘Mrs’. When we have a baby, we become ‘Mum’. And while our greatest achievements are the ones who call us ‘mum;’ and call us ‘wife’, the people who recognise us for our true identities are the ones that call us ‘FRIEND’.”

The creative writing workshop was so much fun! We had about twenty people and we created a character and developed a synopsis for a story – I’m so hoping that one of the amazing women that were there, will write the story, because it got my creative juices following! So if you come across a novel about a woman called Adelaide Dalgety who marries a bloke for respectability and there is a court yard and brass regiment buttons in the bottom of a well, you know it’s the one we started to creative that day.

I’ve been so very privileged to have met these women – it was inspiring to see laughter and attentiveness that followed the whole day and the women who were on the Dalgety Women’s Day committee, who put it all together, really have something to be proud of.

Next journey… Tasmania!