Interprovincial president Eunice Roberts said the organisation traditionally held an annual get-together where like-minded people could network and offer support to each other.
"They are very community-minded."
Annual conferences host speaker presentations about maintaining physical wellbeing and educational topics.
Each year, the altruistic group chose organisations to support — this year was leptospirosis research and last year, cancer-detecting dogs benefited from their support.
RWNZ national president Gill Naylor said in a statement New Zealand had one of the highest rates of leptospirosis in temperate climate countries in the world.
“We have a proud history over the past 50 years in raising awareness and much-needed funds to better control the disease. By making leptospirosis our national project until June 2025, we can again mobilise our members across the country."
Guest speaker, former Southland Young Farmer of the Year winner Grant Catto shared his recovery journey with the roughly 100 guests.
He became infected with leptospirosis in 2016, which left him fighting for his life in Dunedin Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Other keynote speakers included Invercargill weightlifter Linda Reid and Foveaux Therapy Lymphology lymphoedema practitioner Jackie Smith.
Former regional chair Alison Moore said the events offered women a chance to get off the farm and connect.
"It’s about community... you get to know your neighbour down the road who may have had a baby and is struggling.
"I think rural women do a lot more than people realise. Some people thing it’s about scones."
Mrs Roberts said RWNZ took on a lot of behind-the-scene projects helping people in need.
Farmers in the Clutha region who were mopping up after record spring rainfalls were the latest recipients of help.
"Some of those farms are completely underwater and it’s not from the river, it’s just straight water from the rain and we’re just trying to put little things together to help them through," she said.
"But if we know there's a need for someone, say you've got half your farm in flood and you're stressing, we could take you a meal or things like that. Or perhaps might even get help if you need your house cleaned."
The organisation would be celebrating its centenary in 2025. "We started and we’ve just kept going. They didn’t think we would last," she said.
- By Toni McDonald
