Gladys Smith and Doris Budden both described their service with the CWA – in separate interviews with the Leader – as having “pulled my weight”.

And they’ve both done that for even longer than their medallions signify, starting in other branches: more than 75 years ago for Mrs Smith and more than 65 years ago for Mrs Budden.

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The pair received their medallions at the Namoi group’s annual general conference in Manilla on Thursday.

The presentation took place in front of members of 16 branches in the group, and representatives from six other groups.

Mrs Smith, 92, said she joined at 15.

“It was called the CWA Younger Set in those days and, when you were married, you were expected to transfer to the senior branch,” she said.

She, her husband and their young children moved a few times within Victoria and NSW before going to Manilla.

“Wherever we went, I was in the CWA because of the company and the lovely ... friends that you make, for miles and miles,” she said.

And those friendships lasted a lifetime.

“[You might not have] seen them for quite a long time, but once you know them, you know them always; they are great country women.”

Mrs Smith said she’d been an office-bearer at various times but was now a patron of the branch who had “little jobs every now and again”.

“I feel I’ve pulled my weight as much as I can.”

She felt the CWA was “definitely” valuable and relevant to the young women of today.

“They’re doing their own things: we might have cups of tea, they might have bottles of wine,” she said.

“Things are different now but … I hope they never give up – and I don’t think they ever will, because there’s good leadership.”

Mrs Budden said the CWA had a longstanding reputation for worthy works and had “a lot of clout”.

“They do a lot of good work and keep the government on their toes … We have a very good ear to the government,” she said.

“It was originally formed to look after women and children and people on the land … We do a lot of international work, scholarships for children, things like that.

“I just felt it was a very worthwhile organisation and just pulled my weight.”

Mrs Budden said she felt the CWA could “do a lot”.

“One resolution [at the group conference] was to get the government to form a permanent drought fund for farmers … lo and behold, they’ve just announced that they are.

“We’ll make sure that we keep them up to scratch and make sure they do it.”