The CWA’s state conference is in full swing in Armidale – and the women of the Guyra branch, the oldest service club in town, have helped to make it a success.
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One Guyra CWA member, Leonie Hawkins, is the conference’s publicity officer. Two other members, handicrafts officer Leigh Ramage and cookery officer Noreen Williams, are going as delegates. They will attend meetings, represent the branch, and vote on resolutions on medical issues, education, and health.
One issue particularly close to the hearts of New England’s CWA members is a Guyra proposal, accepted unanimously at last year’s conference, for a cardiac bus to test country dwellers for heart problems, along the lines of a mobile breast-screening clinic. A similar bus has already saved more than 2000 lives in Queensland.
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President Heather Starr is judging cookery. Winners from all over the state end up at the conference for the final competition. A member of the CWA since 1975, she has been a judge since 1988, when judging schools were first set up. Since then, she has judged at cooking competitions and local shows.
Other members might help with the voting, or serve morning teas or sell crafts at the open house at the Armidale Town Hall on Thursday and Friday.
The Guyra members will also meet their “twins” from the Illawarra CWA. Years ago, during a drought, the inland group and the coastal group combined to support each other. Over the years since then, they have met for dinner at conferences, and developed lasting friendships.
Formed in 1932, the CWA has 24 members, ranging in age from 92 (Mrs Gloria Handebo, the patroness) to working mothers.
"We're called on quite often to help, mainly with cooking or afternoon teas," Heather Starr said.
Their cooking whets appetites for fund-raising. At the end of May, they serve the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea to all the business houses in Guyra. The money they raise from their famous scones and pikelets is divided between the Cancer Council and the local group of CanAssist.
They’ve prepared food for the Lamb and Potato Festival since it was established, while they organise a shop window competition and stall at the Trout Festival.
“We're always out there, fundraising, and I think we hold our head very high in the town,” says treasurer Gillian Bowden.
She’s been involved with CWA for more than 50 years, in three different groups since 1965. It’s the CWA’s social side – and social conscience – that have kept her a member for so long.
“You develop and forge friendships, and you never, ever lose contact with them. And the organisation also has the ability to encourage both federal and state governments to make things better for the man and his family on the land, in particular.”
Yvonne Pettit has been a member for 30 years. She keeps track of birthdays, and looks after the scrapbook of everything done over the years.
The newest member, Monica Boland, joined eight months ago. She moved to Guyra from the Hunter Valley, looking for a small, cold place where she could raise a few cattle. Now she is Environmental Officer, trying to minimise the use of plastic bags – and the CWA, she says, is the place to start.
She’s been involved with the CWA for 25 years.
"It's a marvellous organisation,” she says. “They do lots of philanthropic work, and get involved in political matters."
The CWA, she points out, set up baby clinics, focused on developmental milestones, hearing, speech, nutrition, and had the lines painted down the side of the highway.
"We're more than jam and scones!"
Apart from their good works in the community, the CWA also keeps its members mentally alert. Every year, they study a country (this year, it’s Poland), a fruit or vegetable (the pomegranate), a noxious weed (Parramatta grass), and a flying thing (owls).
Monica has learnt about everything from the Ottoman Empire to shopping trolleys, and from funeral trains to HB pencils.
"You learn so much; things that one takes for granted!”
“There's something for everyone,” Gill said. “Some people love to do handicraft; some might prefer to do things of a cultural nature; some prefer cooking. We're not just ladies having a giggle!"