WHAT started as a way to help connect local women has quickly turned into one of Tamworth's most influential community groups.
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Since the Tamworth Evening CWA branch was formed in 2015, it's numbers have steadily grown.
Now as the group celebrates its fifth anniversary, its members reflect on how far the group has come in such as short amount of time.
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Current branch president Sue-Ellen Hogan said her members had not let the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic derail their progress.
"Obviously because of coronavirus we aren't able to meet physically at the moment, but it really hasn't shutdown the momentum of our members," Ms Hogan told the Leader.
"We're still getting together online for our monthly meetings, which is amazing.
"As well as that, we have also been brainstorming ways to continue our fundraising efforts in an online capacity, which has been interesting and has also allowed us to be a bit more imaginative."
The anniversary celebrations come after the branch had its first motion heard at the NSW CWA state conference last month.
"I guess for the future, we will continue to look to grow our numbers and be more involved at a state level," Ms Hogan said.
"We regularly have women reach to us to join, or get involved, and that really hasn't stopped during this pandemic, if anything it has become more regular.
"Going forward, I see us playing a larger role in the state organisation because a number of members are now taking on roles within the state organistation and the regional level as well, which is exciting."
Founding branch member Amy Burgess said she was pleased to see the growth of the non-traditional CWA group.
"When we first started, there was a few evening CWA groups but most were like the Tamworth group and only met during working hours," she said.
"Now, I believe about 15 per cent of the state's CWA groups meet in the evening, which is really great to see.
"The reason we started the group was to be more accessible to more women and I think its done that.
"The branch's growth is really pleasing because when we started, we only had five members and to see what it has grown into in such a short period of time is fantastic."
