Spotlight on form women
Profile: Darlene Hallett
Darlene Hallett is
one of many farm
women who commit
their time to their
families, farm, and
communities. These
women pull together in
the good and bad times
for a rural lifestyle
which many people envy.
On the farm
Darlene and husband
Dale, with their two
children Nadine and
Richard, farm an
800- acre grain and cattle
operation west of
Carstairs. Being a farm
woman means that running
meals to the field,
chasing cattle and baling
may all be part of
one busy day. The majority
of Darlene's time
goes to her home, community
and family.
Darlene is comfortable
with these separate
roles she and her husband
have but she
realizes why it works.
They take time to keep
each other informed
about what's happening
on the farm and the
home front.
Darlene was a city
girl, so the move to the
farm took some adjustment.
She credits her
mother- in- law, Holly
Hallett, for her success.
Holly made her feel like
one of the family, got
her involved with the
Women's Institute, and
was a big help to her as
a young mother of two
babies barely a year
apart. Today, Darlene
and Holly still try to
work as a team. They
share the load of
harvest meals and help
each other out when
volunteer work takes
them away from home.
For the Community
At Cremona a
volunteer board runs
the Early Childhood
Services. Darlene is the
co- ordinator and
chairperson for the spr-ing
regional conference.
This calls for
much time and travel.
She has accepted this
challenge even though
it means some juggling
of priorties in the next
few years. She feels it's
important for the ECS
program to remain
strong in this region.
She's also interested
in issues the Women's
Institute is addressing
such as land use and
pornography. Jackson
WI has given her an opportunity
to be a convener
at conferences
and an advisor for
Alberta Women's
Week.
Hallett's Handiwork
Darlene enjoys sewing
and her two
children are very proud
of what mom sews for
them. She's saved on
the family clothing
budget. Her handiwork
has also expanded to a
home- based business
with flexible work
hours which are important
to her now. She
teaches sewing, takes
orders for custom- sewn
crafts and clothing, and
does alterations. In the
future, she plans to expand
the business.
Right now her family is
her priority. She finds a
great deal of self-satisifaction
and relaxation
by expressing her
creativity.
Getting Organized
Darlene is so busy
that she must be
organized. A routine
makes this possible
without sacrificing
regular commitments.
She strives to get the
kids off to school, take
a brisk morning walk
and have her regular
household chores done
early each day. Then
she has the rest of the
day to spend on her
priorities: family, community
and business.
We all have tricks to
help us mangage.
These are some of
Darlene's:
• The Halletts don't
have a TV so there's
more time for other
things.
• She plans time for
interruptions like the
telphone and time with
her children.
• Finally, she doesn't
try to be a " super-woman."
As the saying
goes, " superwomen
usually have maids."
• The Halletts have a
large garden, and extend
the gardening
season by building a
greenhouse onto the
side of a storage shed.
Darlene is typical of
farm women today.
Many of these women
are astute people who
may choose to be
farmers and career
women, community
volunteers and
dedicated mothers. In
either role they make a
meaningful contribution
to the quality of
family and rural life.
by Laura- Lee Billings.
Alberta Women's Institutes - Collective Memory
