AN EXHIBITION reveals the courage of women battling drought, as SARAH HUDSON reports

No matter how tight-knit the community, drought can wear it down.

In the Wimmera and Mallee, though, a group of women have shown that while drought changes a community's fabric, it can also enhance it.

An exhibition Drought and Women's Stories of Change, showing until January 28 in Melbourne, features 17 photos and stories about women in Nhill, Kaniva and Woomelang, who took part in a year-long project run by Wimmera Primary Care Partnership.

WPCP executive officer Mandi Stewart says the exhibition, which also includes textile art, conveys the stories of these "courageous women".

"We've discovered that while drought can be wearing it can also produce a patchwork of responses and issues that these women are prepared to confront, adapt to and talk about," Mandi says.

"The region's community indicators reveal a high level of social resilience and community strength."

Photographer Melissa Powell, who spent much time with the group of about 30 women, says she was left with a lasting impression.

"The further out you get from Horsham the stronger the communities get," says Melissa, who grew up in Melbourne but now calls Natimuk home.

"Being an ex-city person, people just don't have those incredible bonds of helping each other out and families pulling together.

"One of the aims of the exhibition is to get these women's stories into Melbourne so there's more understanding."

Among the stories in the exhibition is one about Audrey, 83, from the Mallee who tells how she lost her husband at 36 but refused to give up the farm.

"I chose to stay and do all I could to keep the farm going until my son grew up and was old enough to take over," says Audrey in her story.

She discovered the impact of drought very quickly.

A mob of 400 pregnant ewes she bought started dying because of a lack of sufficient feed.

Every day a resilient Audrey would pluck carcasses and bag the wool to earn some money.

She grew most of the food she and her two young children ate and learned through perseverance how to beat an old bull who refused to be loaded for market.

Another story is from city-born Donna, who admits it was a culture shock arriving in Kaniva nearly a quarter of a century ago.

"In the city you can just sit back and there're so many things you can do, you don't have to put your hand up and commit, therefore that doesn't give you the opportunity to see what you are capable of," says Donna.

Kate, from the Mallee, is concerned about the lack of health services in the bush and worries about the poverty and isolation some elderly residents face.

"I have actually been at houses where it was 44 degrees and they had no air conditioning going because it was going to cost too much," she says.

"They die up here when that sort of things happens."

Kate insists on keeping the grass green around the house so her children have somewhere to play.

"The best way I can describe it is the dead bits are like wolves and here is where it is safe."