Women keen to make new friendships and connect with their community are invited to consider joining the Delungra Country Women’s Association (CWA).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The branch was put into recess in August last year due to dwindling memberships, but the Gwydir Group CWA are hoping to see renewed interest in a meet and greet on March 11.
“We think it would be really beneficial if a branch started, to the community in general. They don’t have to live in Delungra, they can be somewhere else and just Delungra suits them,” Gwydir Group secretary Mary Shepard said.
“This is a great opportunity to start a new branch with new ideas and take whatever direction they want to take.”
Mary said that although the CWA love their cooking and handicrafts, there many more benefits to taking part. She said it was an important social outlet for many country women, and reminded how much political influence the group has.
Each year at the CWA conference, ladies from all over New South Wales gather to debate often controversial topics and pass motions on various current issues.
“We have a CEO and a president down at Sydney that are very keen and eager to be sent off to talk to ministers and to lobby everything,” Mary said.
Mary said the previous members of the small branch had done a great job of keeping the branch going for as long as they could, but with so few members, they struggled to take care of the Delungra CWA rooms.
“They didn’t feel they had the time to put into seeking grants and to try and raise funds to do the necessary roof repairs to stop water leakage from storms,” she said.
“We know the time that goes into these buildings and there was only three or four ladies that had been battling on for quite a few years.”
If reformed, the group will not be starting from scratch, as the NSW CWA have set aside funds to assist.
The group’s rooms are a staple for the local community and are currently used for a mobile preschool, Inverell library branch and a play group.
During the recess, the Gwydir Group are acting as custodians over the rooms.
If you are interested learning more, the Gwydir Group CWA invite you to visit the Delungra CWA rooms on Burnett Street for a meet and greet at 1pm, March 11. Mary promised there would be no pressure to join immediately. For more details, contact Mary on 0488 048 284.
Naomi Shumack
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
