Women's interested celebrated at Henty Machinery Field Days

It has been 50 years since women’s interests were introduced to the field days in the Country Lifestyle pavilion.

Members of the Country Women's Association (CWA) Riverina Branch are thrilled to still be part of the event.

“Ladies didn't go with their husband to buy the tractor back then but now, in some cases, they are saying yay or nay,” Pleasant Hills CWA president and joint coordinator of the pavilion, Lyn Jacobsen, said.

Ms Jacobsen first joined the CWA 48 years ago when she first moved to Pleasant Hills to meet new people and hopes more young women will join.

“We need new young women to join, it’s like any organisation you need new people to come in with new ideas,” Ms Jacobsen said.

It was the CWA which first got her into the Henty Field Days in 1976 where she gave a bread making demonstration inside the pavilion.

Since that time she has seen the pavilion expand three times to the 88 metre long structure is this year hosting over 70 stalls.

The pavilion is the heart of the celebration with a series of events celebrating 50 years held there including the fashion show featuring clothing from 1965 and speeches looking at the past 50 years.

Ms Jacobsen will give a speech each day on the changes within the household over the last 50 years. 

The changes she talks about range from washing clothes and cooking to showering and going to balls. 

“There is so much to compare which is different now but the fashion is actually quite similar because the 50s and 60s are coming back,” Ms Jacobsen said.

The stage in the pavilion is decorated by Bev Frohling from Pleasant Hills CWA with gold to celebrate the milestone and wool to highlight natural produce.

For information on how to join the CWA contact your local branch or go online to the CWA of NSW website.