The Magic Wand or Speaker’s Baton was a gift from Liz Hogan, the Rural Women’s Network Facilitator, when she handed total responsibility over to the organising committee. The Magic Wand was a symbol of the right to speak – she who held the wand had the ear of all present. There was no need for a formal meeting procedure, and with the wand there was equality and equity for each individual on the committee.

"It was a really positive experience to work with a group so committed to the idea of providing a forum for women, by women in a way that was comfortable for women. A part of that positive feeling was seeing members of the group supporting each other in the planning process and willing to learn from one another. The culmination for me was to see those aspects strongly reflected in the Gathering." Liz Hogan