Emily Ford and Rosalie Ham at the Women's Day event on Monday.
Murrumbidgee Council’s special International Women’s Day luncheon event with special guest Rosalie Ham was held at Jerilderie Civic Hall on Monday.
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Booked out well in advance, many of the attendees were keen to hear the internationally acclaimed bestselling author of The Dressmaker fame speak in the town where she grew up.
Held from 11am to 2pm, a full crowd gathered for morning tea, lunch, engaging conversation, and an inspiring talk celebrating women’s voices, creativity and strength.
It was also a chance for guests to meet Rosalie and get a signed copy of her new book.
The event began with morning tea on the terrace of the Civic Hall, providing the opportunity for mingling and networking.
Ms Ham then spoke for about 45 minutes with plenty of humour about each of her books and her writing before a question and answer segment.
She revealed how her upbringing in Jerilderie has influenced her writing, particularly when it came to The Year of the Farmer with its focus on irrigation and The Dressmaker.
Lorraine Bright, Suz Graham, Chris Girdwood and Libby Coughlan.
Ms Ham also revisited her experience working on the film for The Dressmaker, for which she paired up with Sue Maslin, who grew up at Pooginook.
She said their shared connection to the Southern Riverina provided comfort that Ms Maslin could successfully adapt her novel into the 2015 box office hit.
Following the talk, everyone stayed for a delicious lunch, which concluded the event nicely.
Attendees were welcome to bring along copies of Ms Ham’s previous works for signing, with book signings before and after her talk.
The event coincided with the release of Ms Ham’s first non-fiction book, Look After Your Feet, which was available to the public yesterday.
According to Ms Ham, it is about “the joys of getting older, some of the small irritations and why being somewhat invisible is one of ageing’s greatest bonuses”.
Showcasing her trademark sharp wit and engaging storytelling, it offers a darkly funny and heartfelt exploration of ageing.
The book blends humour, practical reflection and a celebration of the wisdom that comes with life, sometimes just a little too late.
Residents from all around the region made their way to attend Monday’s event, with ticket holders from Coleambally and Darlington Point able to utilise a free bus service to attend.
Although held three weeks after the official International Women’s Day on March 8, it celebrated the 2026 theme Give to Gain and allowed the community to come together and celebrate the achievements of women in our community and beyond.
Leonie Schubert and Kaitlin Salzki.
Dianne Lawrence, Heather Cameron and Felicite Aull.
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