SENIOR LIFESTYLE Annual meeting of QCWA Cooroy Branch 1947
QCWA 100 years of Friendship
By Margie Wegener
AUGUST this year marks the centenary of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). It is one hundred years since Ruth Fairfax was appointed founding President at a ceremony in Brisbane’s Albert Hall. From 1922 to 1928 as the new QCWA President, her commitment and personal travel throughout the state is credited for the creation of 283 CWA branches, totalling 13,000 members. She famously crisscrossed the state for six months in an opentop car, organising branches and holding meetings, sometimes on creek banks. “I believe that we are an association for all of us to be proud of. We know there will be differences of opinion, but these matters we can overcome and our association will grow in strength over the next hundred years,” she was quoted as saying in 1921. By all reports Ruth Fairfax was a remarkable country woman, with a strong message and the ability to galvanise country women around important issues. Today there are 220 Branches of the CWA and the association is a powerful lobby group; a non-sectarian, non-party-
political, non-profit lobby group working in the interests of women and children in rural areas. Cooroy CWA President, Wendy Bebbington says, “I love CWA really. They get on with it and don’t muck around.” The Association remains powerful for three key reasons; numbers, history and women. Wendy agrees that not many people know about the work of the CWA, but agrees, “they do have power”. At a state level some of the QCWA resolutions are quite robust and progressive. In 2019 these included directions for social change and improvements in health care, for example adding dental care to Medicare, addressing food standards and marketing aimed at children, advocating for midwifery services and specific environmental issues relating to women and children in regional and rural communities. The Cooroy CWA branch will host the State Centenary commemoration on July 1, with a luncheon for ninety official guests. Members have compiled a ‘History of the State’ presentation and there will be a commemorative unveiling of a Ruth Fairfax statue, by her grandson, Tim Fairfax AM and
the QCWA State President, Mrs Sheila Campbell. An enthusiastic band of pioneering women formed the Cooroy branch in 1927 and the 95th Annual Meeting will be marked at the end of July. During the great depression of the early 1930’s - despite their own hardship - this stalwart group provided parcels of clothing and food QCWA branch hall, Cooroy prior to street scaping and renovations to those in need. Functions with Whitfield UK and have continued to were held in the daytime as correspond with their English pals for 74 there were no electric lights. years. In 1954 branch members sponsored Their work included providing a public meeting and the town’s muchscholarships for education, rebuilding loved kindergarten was formed. the primary school tennis court and “Labours have been sometimes arduous, endless fundraising. They were often paid but we have been rewarded in many ways. to provide morning teas and suppers at CWA today has the same ideals - caring, functions and the RSL Ball. Throughout working for local projects, the betterment the 1940’s they supported the Red Cross, of women and children, especially those the local hospital and the school. During who are less fortunate than ourselves. World War II they adopted the activities Friendship is the greatest asset of CWA, of the Australian Comfort Fund and threw whatever level we work,” says Wendy. There their weight behind the war effort. In 1948 the branch formed an international link is much to celebrate.
S PO RT S P H Y S I OT H E RA PY | WO M E N ’ S H E A LT H | M A N I P U LAT I O N S P I N A L PA I N | A RT H R I T I S | D RY N E E D L I N G | P I LAT E S Rebecca Steele
Craig Steele
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Ph: 5442 5556
Page 30 | Your Local Lifestyle June 2022
SATURDAY 18TH JUNE
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