Just over a year ago, a group of women got together at Uranquinty and formed a new branch of the Country Women’s Association.
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While that is just one branch with an initial dozen or so members, it a scene that has been repeated around the state, arresting a slide in the membership of an organisation that has been fighting for rural woman for more than a century.
“Between September 2017 and September 2018 our membership numbers grew rather than fell, and while it’s not by an enormous number, it does represent a very significant shift,” said CWA of NSW president Annette Turner.
“For years prior to that the number of members leaving the organisation has exceeded the number of new members, so for us, that past 12 months shows we’re bucking the trend and reinvigorates our efforts to ensure the CWA of NSW is around for generations to come.”
A focus on rural welfare, particularly in light of the drought crippling rural NSW, has been been suggested as one reason for a renewed interest in the CWA, but Aurelie Quade thinks the value of friendship and community ties cannot be undervalued.
Mrs Quade is secretary of the new Uranquinty evening branch, but previously had little experience with the CWA.
One of the reasons the branch was formed was to draw together the women who lived in the district.
“It’s been really awesome. We’re loving it,” she said.
“Our aim is to be a support group, not a guilty group. If someone cannot make it to the meetings or participate in our fundraiser, it's all good.
“Members are all at different stages of their lives: working women with young or older children, retired or semi-retired and women caring full-time for their loved ones.
“One thing we have in common though is our passion for our region and wanting to make a difference.”
The branch has its own Facebook page and members have been active with fundraising activities.
Mrs Quade said members are getting ready to make their first official donations as a branch.
While valuing the time she spends with her fellow branch members, Mrs Quade has also been impressed by the organisation’s political clout.
“There are so many issues the CWA is talking about,” she said.
“Preventing people with placards from going too close to abortion clinics was an issue the CWA had raised.
“The CWA is very politically aware. Our members know what our communities need.”
In mid-September 2018, CWA membership numbers in NSW stood at more than 8000, with close to 400 branches.
Mrs Turner said this change in fortunes could be attributed to a number of things, including refocusing on the organisation’s primary aims, working hard on the lobbying front and ensuring that communication with members and the general public was a priority at all times.
“The role of advocacy and lobbying for real change for rural and regional NSW has been a big focus for us in the past 12 months, particularly as drought conditions worsened across the state, and our branches have really come to the fore in terms of supporting their communities,” she said.
“People can see the difference these efforts are making and that being a member of the CWA is a way of being empowered and part of something bigger than themselves.
“Women of all ages and from a range of backgrounds also find friendship and support through their branches, with regular craft, cooking and information days allowing members to build on their skills, develop new ones, share ideas and expand their knowledge.
“Members also share a common desire to make their communities better places to live, and maintain the traditions of an organisation founded on hard work, determination, ingenuity and friendship.”
Jane Lieschke, who is a member of the Galore branch, was one of the women behind the establishment of the Uranquinty branch.
She has long been passionate about retaining CWA branches in rural areas, particularly smaller communities.
“The CWA just too valuable an organisation to lose,” Mrs Lieschke said.
It is also important in helping behind communities together.
“It’s a great way to meet your neighbours,” she said.
“For me, it’s been great to watch the new branch meet and the members get it up and running.
“I’ve been to a few of their events. They had a great one at the Mangoplah pub.”
Mrs Lieschke believes the widespread drought had demonstrated what the CWA could do for the community.
She thinks government is also again recognising the value of the association.
“The CWA is an organisation that has clout with the government, and this seems to be on the improve.
“Politicians are starting to listen.”
Liz Furner, the president of the Riverina group of the CWA, said “people can see the CWA is not just a group of old ladies”.
She also believes there is a growing recognition that an organisation devoted to improving the lives of country women and children is too valuable resource to be lost to the community.
“The CWA can go to the government and the government comes to the CWA,” Mrs Furner said.
Since June 2018, the CWA’s NSW drought aid scheme has distributed nearly $7 million dollars and processed more than 4000 applications.
These grants are available to cover day-to-day expenses such as money for grocery bills, vehicle maintenance, school, electricity, rates, telephone, dental and medical costs.
But it is not just drought relief that CWA members have been been raising money for, with members raising thousands of dollars every year for a variety of projects.
When Ray Williams, the Minister for Multiculturalism, Volunteering and Disability, came to Wagga during the 2018 byelection campaign, he handed the CWA’s Riverina group $10,000 to donate to community projects.
In the Riverina group, donations have been made to the Wagga Base Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Calvary Hospital, the Forrest Centre and Lillier Lodge, just in recent years.
At the end of 2018, members handed over a cheque for $7200 to Willans Hill School to help buy wheelchair-friendly playground equipment.