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Yallingup, Western Australia
Email:
viti@bearfruit.com.au
Website:
http://www.bearfruit.com.au
Rural women’s home based or rural enterprises invariably relate to family, community and
wellbeing.
The outcomes for SNUsacc members indicates that those who took up the opportunity of early
phase loans provided by HwH have now become the people who villagers go to for advice about
establishing an enterprise or other matters. These members now, generally speaking, are viewed
by the community as trustworthy. There was also a consensus in the data that once these women
established their enterprises they were treated better
.
a.
Szalay
(2008), highlights from her earlier HwH study that the, “…ones which are the first
with a new *business+ idea are the most successful.”
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b.
Still & Simmons
(2006) state that, “Because of the non-urban location of the research,
the majority of the businesses were located outside a central town. Family reasons were
nominated as the main factor for choice of location (46%) …” and “…a mix of reasons
such as contribution to the community, sustainable business, weather, and could not
afford other places.” Interestingly, and relevant was the results that indicated, “…non-
urban women did not express strong motivations for entry into self-employment.”
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Other motivating factors were: creative interests, vehicle to earn a living, balance
between family and work.
i.
“I think it’s given me a greater awareness of the amount of input *of+ women
because of the predominantly aboriginal population just how much of a force they
are in the community” and “…women tend to have more responsibility with
money
and
the
upkeep
of
the
children…”.
Participant
(43)
ii.
“Yes, yes and tools that if someone else comes in and says to me, well
*participants name+ I’m thinking of starting my own business, you know, can you
help me? Can you remember what you did or what you didn’t do” And I can be of
assistance to other people not only me but for other people as well.” Participant
(47)
iii.
“The fact that were in a rural community. Really you need the support of your
community and this community is being very supportive.” Participant (55)
The same emphasis in the HwH data also captures women’s contribution to community,
knowledge gained the longer one remains in their enterprise and the importance of rural
community patronage of enterprises cannot be underestimated.
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S
zalay, 2008, Appendices (2), p.3
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Still, & Simmons, (2006), p.86