her inspiration
Valley Girls Deep in the heart of the Waipara Valley the farmer's wife is finding her voice
IN THE PAST, MOST people's idea of rural New Zealand was gentlemen farmers and burley shearers in black singlets and gumboots, with the farmer's wife living quietly behind the scenes. Today's reality couldn't be further from this, as rural women are no longer content to sit quietly in the background. Today the women of rural New Zealand are now more often than not at the forefront of rural life. The Waipara Valley region is among
one of New Zealand's fastest growing food and wine regions, with award winning wineries, restaurants and
growing numbers of rural entrepreneurs – many of them women. Angela Clifford, Michele Cherry, Gail Morgan, Margot Korhonen and Kate McMillan are five such individuals; these Valley Girls are making names for themselves as business savvy Entrepreneurs and community leaders. Angela Clifford is the personification
of the Waipara region's ethos; her family brought the first sheep into the district about 160 years ago. While studying in Australia she met her husband Nick Gill and they worked in the Australian wine industry for the next 12 years, establishing
"You can grow just about anything here, and I'm a big believer and supporter of local food and local food producers. So many unsung heroes, people who believe in this place where they live..." - Angela Clifford
the Barossa Farmers Market along the way. They returned to Canterbury and the Valley seven years ago when Nick was given the chance to set up the Greystone Vineyard, and they now have three children. Angela helped out in the early days of
the Waipara Valley Farmers Market and was also Vice-Chair of the NZ Farmers Market Association for a while. She also worked for Greystone Wines for five years getting involved in wine and food events such as 'In Praise of Riesling' and the 'Taste New Zealand Farmers Market
34 | December/January 2012 | HER MAGAZINE
Photographer: Dave Richards
