QCWA Ruth magazine #39 - Winter 2022

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FEATURE:

Celebrating a centenary of amazing women

FOOD:

Make your favourite winter warmers

Country Kitchens’ heart for health

INSPIRING PEOPLE: Dedication like no other

FASHION:

Good Earth Cotton ticks all the boxes

Slow fashion new and old

A dress with a good-earth story

HEALTH:

Period pain to period power

Taking a stand in the Simpson

HOUSE & GARDEN:

The modern farmhouse aethetic

Winter gardening

Then and now: A visit to Marinya

EVENTS & TRAVEL:

Winter events

A trip to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Enriching Indigenous travel experiences

Following in Ruth’s footsteps

The best roadtrips in Queensland

BOOKS:

Cosy winter reads

BUSINESS: Celebrating with coins and stamps

HISTORY:

Making a difference in Mossman

Cake, commitment, creed

Kicking goals

QCWA:

President’s message

Centenary dinner

QUIZ:

MAGAZINE MANAGER: Erika Brayshaw

EDITOR: Jessica Kramer

DESIGN: Mark Stansall and Jeff Brown

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: 07 4690 9425

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: 07 4690 9370

News Corp Australia, Level 1/5 Keefe St, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350 in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), 11 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner, QLD 4120.

Ruth magazine is published by News Corp Australia. Those who make advertising placement and/or supply copy material or editorial submissions to Ruth magazine undertake to ensure that all such material does not infringe any copyright, trademark, defamation, libel, slander or title, breach of confidence, does not contain anything obscene or indecent, or does not infringe the trade practices act or other laws, regulation or statutes. Further to the abovementioned, these persons agree to indemnify the publisher and/or its agents against any investigations, claims or judgements. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher.

Welcome!

As you probably know by now, this year is very special for the QCWA as it turns 100 in August. What’s more, this edition is the 10th birthday of Ruth magazine!

And what a journey it’s been, through droughts and floods, QCWA’s 90th, 95th and now 100th anniversaries, 39 magazine editions, and four editors.

To celebrate both these special events, this edition is dedicated to QCWA’s past, present and future. We have a look at the Association’s amazing accomplishments over the years in the feature from page 8, meet three special ladies who have a combined 230-odd years with various branches (p25-28), and go on a roadtrip following the road taken by Ruth Fairfax when she toured for QCWA as President (p56-57).

This quarter, the Ruth team has also been busy reading some excellent new and upcoming books, which you can read about on page 60 - we’ve got something for everyone - discovering more about slow fashion with three stories (p2934), and traveling all over the country (p52-58)!

You can also find some interesting events that will be held this winter - including celebratory ones for QCWA - to keep yourself busy and entertained during the cold months.

And now, we’re off to find stories for the next edition, so why not grab yourself a hot cuppa and a rug to curl up beneath, and enjoy this edition of Ruth?

‘Til next edition,

meet at one of our Regional Tour locations to discuss how a Somerville House boarding experience, will gain your daughter the independence, motivation and ability to do well anywhere.

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND

A quirky collection of special finds to brighten your home this winter

QCWA news & events

It’s the year of Queensland Country Women’s Association’s centenary! Here’s just a taste of what’s to come across this special year

QCWA Centenary Race Meeting — July 23

QCWA 100th birthday and Scone Day — August 11

Northern Region Conference — June 3-5

Southern Region Conference — June 10-12 qcwa.org.au

What is the QCWA?

A conglomerate of incredible ladies, the Queensland Country Women’s Association was founded by Ruth Fairfax OBE (after whom this magazine is named) in 1922. So much more than a ladies’ chat and scones, the Association advocates and raises funds for vulnerable people, towns and important causes as well as providing a social outlet for members across the branches in regional areas, towns, and cities across the state.

Rad mats

Fabulous is possibly the only way to describe these yoga mats… or perhaps ‘groovy’? Made by Aussie company Wild Mingo, creator Candice Lester came up with the idea during COVID lockdown in 2020. The mats are produced with recycled rubber on the base and grippy microsuede on top, and are also able to be thrown into the washing machine when they get dirty — bonus! wildmingo.com.au

A different place for your cup

Newcastle woman Sharlene has been busy with all things glass since 1993, and her expertise certainly shines through in her work. While her self-proclaimed speciality is tiffany-style lamps, she also makes items like resin coasters, placemats, soap dishes, and even cheese knives — all with native flowers, seashells, and even lollies imbedded in them.

Etsy: DesignedGlass

Make a mark

What’s better than a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in your current read? One that’s designed based on a theme or quote from your favourite book, of course! Western Australia-based Jen of BookBookOwl does exactly that, making hundreds of gorgeously designed placeholders for your tomes.! bookbookowldesigns.com

Simply fruity

Don’t let her youth fool you — Sarah is a business champ at only 19 years old. Living in a small country town in South Australia, Sarah bought Ausnat Fruits when the previous owner of 30 years, Anne Battams, retired and is busy making it her own. Already full with delicious natural bottled fruit and jams, the range is ever-expanding to include treats like Rocky Road Crush or chocolate-dipped dried fruit — all handmade using local fruit from small growers. Yum! ausnatfruits.com

Quirky candles

Trikl is relatively new to the small business community, but we anticipate this ‘well kept secret’ becoming popular in no time. Melbourne-based owner Emma handpours each funky candle and runs the business alongside studying her Masters — so each collection is limited in colours and arrangement. Regardless of the season, these meltable sculptures are an excellent talking point for your home. trikl.com.au

The good kind of rust

In May 2020, Victoria of Hackam, South Australia, received a beautiful handmade waratah as a birthday gift. The rusted garden art proved hugely popular with friends, family, and general folks on social media, and before Victoria and her partner knew it, they were the owners of a thriving small business selling various handmade rusted garden art — like this sunflower — across the country.

Etsy: RustedMetalGardenArt

Celebrating of amazing

Words by Jessica Kramer Images News Corp Australia, QCWA Archive, and State Library of Queensland

Queensland Country Women’s Association members in Toowoomba 1924

a centenary women

On August 11, the Queensland Country Women’s Association turns 100 — and it’s an association worth celebrating.

August must be a fortuitous month, being the birthdate of the foundation of an amazing association, the inception of Ruth magazine, a gorgeous perfume created, several books… or perhaps it’s simply that August 11 marks the anniversary of Queensland Country Women’s Association each year, and that’s something worth celebrating! This year is even more special, marking 100 years of QCWA and 10 years of Ruth magazine.

In the last edition of Ruth, we looked at some of the incredible differences the Association has made to the community over the years, especially over the past five or so. This edition, we’re taking you on a deep dive into the remarkable history and some stories of past accomplishments that have helped make the QCWA what it is today.

In for the long haul

Givenhow isolated and spread apart many areas of Queensland were in the 1920s — travel still mostly via horse-drawn carriage or on foot, telephones a luxury rather than commonplace, and the mail system unreliable depending on weather conditions — that the QCWA grew so quickly and consistently is a testament to how much a women’s association was needed and appreciated.

According to Muriel Pagliano, who wrote Country Women: History of the First 75 Years in 1997, by the time of the first annual general report in March 1924, there were 57 branches, nine sub-branches, and a massive 3029 members.

Initially conceived during a three-day conference for country women, organised by the Brisbane Women’s Club, the newly-formed QCWA agreed on Toowoomba as the centre of operations — and the first conference was held in the city in February 1923.

The first branches were located in Kingaroy, Warwick and Roma (forming in September, 1922) followed by Chinchilla in November and Allora in December, with Laidley joining in February the following year.

When the CWA spread to other states in the coming years, the new Northern Territory branches were under the jurisdiction of the Queensland association until they were numerous enough to be self-sustaining in the early 1960s.

Both the logo and the motto were created in the year following QCWA’s conception as well — with the only change to the motto being the addition of ‘honour to God’ in 1945 — and the official colours of the Association chosen to be silver and royal blue.

Helping on holidays

Inthe QCWA’s first general meeting, it was discovered that the membership wanted a way to help mothers and their families enjoy a well-deserved getaway, as a way to strengthen their overall wellbeing.

Between travel and accommodation costs and rough conditions, it was near impossible for the average family to take a trip to the seaside — particularly those in farming and/or rural communities.

Filling this need was the start of a long-term accommodation solution, with some — such as the units at Kissing Point, for example — still in use and run by QCWA branches today.

“The Seaside Homes became so much a part of QCWA that for many Queensland country children during the droughts of the 1920s and the economic depression of the 1930s a holiday in a QCWA Home with a matron in charge and meals provided, or at a Hut with the whole family, became a treasured memory,” writes Muriel.

In 1923, the QCWA collaborated with the Longreach branch of the Queensland Women’s Electoral Lobby to get railway concession tickets to the seaside as well, with passengers allowed to break the trip in Brisbane after further requests from the QCWA around 1930.

It was also thanks to the Association that the first sharkproof enclosure was funded and built, at the Kissing Point beach in 1933.

Fighting for improvements such as these became a trademark action of sorts for the QCWA in generations to come.

War-time efforts

TheSecond World War brought with it much work for the QCWA.

Members had always shown their appreciation of our soldiers, with Muriel writing in the early 1920s that “members were encouraged to give a special luncheon to the returned soldiers of the district on Anzac Day even when no other organisation existed.” But now this was taken to new levels, with many women and children left at home while the men of the family went off to fight.

In addition to continuing effort with their seaside accommodation, hostels for students and waiting mothers, and Rest Rooms, the QCWA endeavoured to assist the Australian Aerial Medical Service, Australian Comforts Fund, Red Cross Society, Bush Nursing Association, Women’s Voluntary Emergency Legion, and more. They also renewed focus on services and assistance for hospital work, travellers’ aid, baby clinics, nutrition, mental health, and general help when in distress.

Arts and crafts continued to be another focus, after competitions were introduced in the 1930s, as it was found these activities — and spending time doing so with other women — were conducive to wellbeing and hope.

Another impressive accomplishment that greatly contributed during the war years was the Emergency Housekeeping Scheme, which provided an intensive six-week course to train women in looking after evacuated children.

FAR LEFT: Queensland Country Women’s Association Rest Rooms, ca. 1931

LEFT: OPENING DAY Although formed on June 10 1926 by founder of QCWA Ruth Fairfax

BELOW LEFT: Founding president Ruth Fairfax OBE with her husband and son at the family home

QCWA Mackay branch president Robyn McFarlane and Pioneer Valley division president Marj Bundsen outside the Mackay CWA hall at George Street in Mackay.

BELOW: Some members of the Millmerran Country Womens Association, 1933

Filling in education needs

Oneof the main difficulties facing families on the land in the 1920s, 30s and 40s was access to education for their children.

As Muriel writes:

“It was believed that if a woman was assisted in gaining self confidence and education she would be in a better position to improve her own condition of life and get help if needed.

“If this knowledge was expanded to cover whatever field from which income was obtained and if there were adequate facilities provided for improvement to family health, education, communication and transport and a fair price paid for farm production and for work done, all members of the family and the community would benefit.”

With this in mind, in the early 1920s the QCWA set about helping rural women gain education and in turn educate or find education for their children when they were too tired after farm work to school the kids themselves.

This was a hard-fought cause too, with the Department of Education knocking back a proposal for scholarship due to lack of funding — so the Association set about finding another solution themselves.

The Student Hostel idea was born shortly afterwards, providing secondary and tertiary school students with accommodation at an affordable cost when their home was too isolated for local or at-home education, and boarding schools were too expensive.

By 1932, more than 200 country boys and girls were receiving secondary education because of these hostels.

Additionally, in 1924 the Gore branch erected a school teacher’s residence at Cement Hills, and Jandowae sub-branch Downfall Creek arranged holidays for state school teachers to fit in with local train timetables.

The advent of the CWA Rest Rooms

Have you walked past one of the QCWA halls in a town, noticed it was dubbed a ‘Rest Room’ and wondered why?

It so happens that these halls were initially built as a haven for country women, especially those coming in from out of town with their children to run errands or attend appointments, and by 1927 there were 50 Rest Rooms across the state.

Since local councils didn’t have the facilities to supply rest centres for women, particularly those with needs such as new mothers, pregnant women, and those with welfare requirements, the QCWA members started building their own halls for this purpose.

For many years, there were caretakers at the Rest Rooms who would look after the children for an hour or two if their mother needed to go to the doctor’s or such without the little ones, but the Rooms were also there purely for much-needed rest and socialisation with other rural ladies.

These branches also advocated for better telephone systems as the method of communication became more widespread, lodging applications to have phones installed in their districts.

It’s this tenacity that the QCWA continues to showcase and be known for in the community today.

As Muriel wrote: “Modern portrayers of women of this era [1930] as being oppressed and unable to hold land or obtain mortgages without male intervention have never read the minutes of the QCWA.”

Here’s to another 100 years of helping the community and encouraging those in need.

The writer extends thanks for the assistance of producing this article to the following: QCWA Archivist/s, QCWA Centenary Committee, State Library of Queensland, and Muriel Pagliano in her 1997 book ‘Country Women: History of the First 75 Years’.

State appeals 1980-2016

1980 Royal Flying Doctors Service, Heart Foundation, Bush Children & Blue Nurses

1981 Year of Disabled Persons

1983 Kissing Point, Leukaemia Foundation, Cancer Fund, National Heart Foundation & RFDS

1984 Rebuilding of Forsayth CWA Hall & Liver Transplant Unit

1985 Cancer Research

1987 Queensland Medical Research

1988 Gowrie, Cotton Wool Babies, QIMR & RFDS

1989 International House at James Cook University, Townsville

1990 Abused Child Trust

1991 Schizophrenia Fellowship

1992 Oncology Ward, Royal Children’s Hospital

1993 Prevent Blindness Foundation

1994 Lions Immunology Laboratory

1995 Mater Children’s Hospital Sleep Unit

1996 Hear and Say Centre

1997 Lupus Australia (Queensland) Foundation

1998 Mosquito Borne Viruses

1999 Queensland Cord Blood Bank

2000 Cystic Fibrosis Association of Queensland

2001 Queensland Institute of Medical Research

2002 Brain Injury Association

2003 Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland

2004 Parkinson’s Queensland Inc.

2005 Skin Bank

2006 Angel Flight

2007 Alzheimer’s Disease

2008 Endometriosis

2009 Macular Degeneration

2010 RFDS

2011 Young Care

2012 Mitochondrial Disease

2013 Motor Neurone Disease Foundation Queensland

2014 Blaze Aid

2015 Queensland Melanoma Project

2016 Parkinson’s Disease

Portraits of the State President and council members of State Divisions of the Queensland Country Women’s Association

Julia Creek branch president Lyn Clout with her trademark famous scones Kingsthorpe QCWA rooms

Members of the Queensland Country Women’s Association have been coming together since 1922 to provide friendship, inspiration and a voice on issues that affect communities, women and families. You can make a difference too.

For fun, friendship, inspiration and joy

What we do:

• Advocacy — QCWA provides a voice for women on serious issues relevant to families, communities, rural life and education.

• Distributing Public Rural Crisis Fund — hands-on help to Queenslanders affected by floods, droughts and fires.

• Fundraising for good causes — local, national and international.

• Workshops and classes to upskill and inspire — arts and crafts, music, cookery, public speaking, meetings.

• Improving the health of Queenslanders through Country Kitchens — a joint project with Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

• Holiday accommodation — we own and manage holiday accommodation throughout the state.

Passionate about Merino

Love Merino boasts five generations of sheep farmers in NSW to make the softest, most luxurious wool products.

Images by Love Merino

Alifelong dream and love of the Smith family, going back five generations, Love Merino offers beautiful Merino products such as scarves, pashminos, baby blankets and more.

Situated in Wellington, NSW, the property Glenwood hosts free-roaming Merino sheep that are raised in a low-stress environment with minimal chemical use. The sheep are naturally resistant to fly strike, non-mulesed, and ‘plain bodied’ - meaning no wrinkles, which allows for easy shearing.

The Smith family believe that happy sheep produce the best fleece, and this is reflected in the genuine care they exhibit for their animals and their land. Glenwood’s sheep graze in large mobs for short periods of time before moving to another area, which allows the land to rest and regenerate.

All this results in soft, luxurious Merino wool to be made into gorgeous products as shown below.

Favourite Winter Warmers

Tomato Chutney

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

 2 teaspoons olive oil

 1 brown onion, finely chopped

 3 garlic cloves, crushed

 400g can crushed tomatoes

 ¼ cup raisins or sultanas

 ½ teaspoon mixed spice or allspice

 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Method  HEAT oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

ADD onion and cook for three to four minutes or until soft.

ADD garlic and cook for one minute.

POUR in tomatoes, raisins or sultanas, spice and balsamic vinegar.

BRING to the boil.

REDUCE heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until chutney is thick.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Recipes and images courtesy of Country Kitchens

Cauliflower Soup

Serves: 6

Prep time: 15 minutes + cooling time

Cook time: 30 minutes

Fruit and veg: 2 serve per portion

Ingredients

 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

 1 medium onion, roughly chopped

 3 garlic cloves, crushed

 2 teaspoons ginger, grated

 2 teaspoons ground turmeric

 2 teaspoons curry powder

 2 teaspoons ground cumin

 1 cup evaporated milk

 1 ½ cups vegetable stock

 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets

 ¼ teaspoon cracked pepper

 3 tablespoons coriander, roughly chopped

 6 slices wholegrain bread (to serve)

Method

HEAT a large saucepan over medium heat. ADD oil, onion, garlic and spices and sauté for four minutes.

ADD evaporated milk, stock and cauliflower florets. COOK until soft, cool slightly then blend with a hand blender to create a creamy soup.

GARNISH with cracked pepper and coriander and serve with toasted bread.

Recipe courtesy of Judy Stubbs, Maleny Branch

Healthy Sausage Rolls

Serves: 12

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20-30 minutes

Fruit and veg: ½ serve per portion

Ingredients

 1 small carrot, grated

 ¼ butternut pumpkin, peeled and grated

 1 small zucchini, grated

 ½ small brown onion, finely diced

 3 cloves garlic, crushed

 ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

 500g lean beef mince

 Cracked pepper, to taste

 2 tablespoons Italian herbs

 3 sheets puff pastry, reduced fat

 Milk, to brush

 Sesame seeds

Method

PREHEAT oven to 180ºC.

SQUEEZE excess liquid out of carrot, pumpkin and zucchini and add to a large bowl.

ADD onion, garlic, walnuts, lean mince, pepper and herbs to the vegetable mix and combine well.

CUT the three sheets of pastry down the centre to make six pieces.

PLACE a lengthwise sausage shape of mixture in the centre of each piece of pastry. Roll the pastry over meat and use the milk to stick edges together.

BRUSH milk over the pastry and sprinkle with sesame seeds on top.

CUT each sausage roll into bite sized portions and place on a baking tray, lined with baking paper.

BAKE for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown and mince is cooked through.

Note: These work well as meatballs too! Simply add an egg to the mixture then roll into balls. Either bake in the oven until golden and cooked through, or fry with some olive oil in a pan.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Lamb Casserole

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 90 minutes

Fruit and veg: 3 serves per portion

Ingredients

 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

 500g lean diced lamb

 1 onion, diced

 2 cloves garlic, crushed

 4 celery stalks, sliced

 2 carrots, halved and sliced

 ½ cup fresh green beans, sliced

 400g can diced tomatoes, reduced salt

 2 cups chicken stock, reduced salt

 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

 Pepper

Method

HEAT oil in a large saucepan on medium heat and cook lamb until sealed and golden (about five to seven minutes). ADD onion, garlic, celery, carrot and beans and cook for a further three to four minutes.

ADD tomatoes, stock, vinegar, rosemary, pepper and cover to simmer on low for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally or cook in an oven-proof dish at 160°C for the same amount of time.

SERVE with brown rice or wholemeal pasta.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Loaded Sweet Potato

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

2 ½ serves per portion

Ingredients

 4 small sweet potatoes, washed

 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil + extra for drizzling

 1 onion, diced

 1 garlic clove, crushed

 1 teaspoon paprika

 1 teaspoon ground cumin

 ½ teaspoon ground coriander seeds

 1 400g can black beans, rinsed and drained

 1 cup cheddar cheese, reduced fat, grated

To serve

 1 avocado, deseeded

 Juice of half a lime

 Freshly ground pepper

 Sour cream, reduced fat

 Coriander leaves, roughly chopped

Method

PREHEAT oven to 200°C.

PRICK the surface of the sweet potatoes with a fork then drizzle each with olive oil and wrap individually in foil. Place on a baking tray.

ROAST for 30 minutes or until soft and a knife passes through with no resistance.

SLICE each potato in half lengthways and mash the insides with a fork to soften.

HEAT frying pan on medium heat then add oil once hot. Fry the onion, garlic and spices until soft, about five minutes.

ADD the black beans and heat through.

TOP each potato with bean mixture and a sprinkle of cheese.

MAKE guacamole by mashing the avocado in a small bowl and mixing through the lime juice and some ground pepper.

SERVE the sweet potatoes with a dollop of guacamole and sour cream and sprinkle with coriander.

ALTERNATIVE:

PRICK the surface of the sweet potatoes with a fork and wrap each one in a damp paper towel. Microwave each potato individually on high for six minutes, or until soft and a knife passes through with no resistance.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Beetroot Burgers

Serves: 4

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Fruit and veg: 1 serve per portion

Ingredients

 1 medium beetroot (or tinned variety)

 500g lean beef mince

 1 egg, whisked

 ½ onion, minced

 ¼ cup fine breadcrumbs

 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

 2 garlic cloves, minced

 Pinch of salt

 Pinch of pepper

 4 wholemeal burger buns

 ½ cup of a side salad of your choice*

Recommended Toppings

 8 slices beetroot (approximately 1 whole beetroot or one tin)

 8 cos leaves, rinsed and drained

 1 tomato, sliced

 1 red onion, sliced into rings

 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Method

PLACE beetroot in a microwave safe bowl with a lid. Microwave on high for 10-12 minutes then slip off the skin and slice once cooled, or drain beetroot if using tinned variety. Set aside.

COMBINE remaining ingredients except burger buns and side salad into a large bowl. Mix well.

DIVIDE mixture into four equal portions and form into patties. Place patties on an oiled BBQ grill, or if cooking on the stove top, cook on high heat in a grill pan. Cook for five minutes on each side or until cooked through.

ASSEMBLE burgers on wholemeal burger buns with beetroot slices and other desired toppings.

*We recommend serving these burgers with a side salad to bump up the serves of veg! Our light and crunchy coleslaw pairs perfectly — you can find the recipe on our website.

Recipe courtesy of Lindsey Thynne, Country Kitchens team

Pumpkin and Date Wholemeal Scones

Serves: 10

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 15-20 minutes

½ serve per portion

Ingredients

 1 egg

 2 tablespoons butter, softened

 ¼ cup sugar

 1 cup of cooked mashed pumpkin, cooled

 ¾ cup of milk (or slightly more)

 2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour

 2 cups self-raising flour

 1 cup of dates, chopped

Method

PREHEAT oven to 200°C.

BEAT the egg, butter, sugar, pumpkin and milk together. ADD the flours and dates.

STIR with a knife or spatula until just combined. It makes a soft, moist, sticky dough.

PLACE on a well-floured surface and gently pat the dough out to a thickness of 20mm to 25mm.

CUT with a scone cutter and place on a tray lined with baking paper.

BAKE in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

REMOVE from tray and cool on a rack.

Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Hannant, Mount Larcom Branch

Heart for health

“Ijoined the Country Kitchens program as a new branch member in 2018. I have always loved cooking and because I work as a teacher aide in home economics, it made sense that this is where I could contribute to the QCWA,” Ms Formosa said.

Country Kitchens state program manager, Meg O’Donnell, says, “our facilitators are QCWA Branch or Supporter members who volunteer to learn new skills in nutrition promotion, food

literacy and group facilitation, enabling them to deliver the Country Kitchens program messages and activities within their communities.”

Donna is a member of the Freshwater Branch and has been a Country Kitchens facilitator since joining the Association.

To become a facilitator, she embarked on the Country Kitchens Training PATHway. Training includes online sessions as well as in-person training workshops, all designed to equip

Words and Images by Country Kitchens

facilitators with the necessary skills to deliver a variety of healthy eating and lifestyle initiatives. In doing so, QCWA volunteers, like Donna, are improving health outcomes at a grassroots level.

“I have travelled across the division to recruit new facilitators and support various Country Kitchens activities at other branches. We have formed partnerships with organisations such as Mission Australia and Playgroup Qld, and I have a particular interest in teaching children how to make healthy food choices,” Ms Formosa said.

Donna has combined her love for cooking and teaching to deliver 30 Country Kitchens activities across the 202021 financial year. Highlights include a healthy lunchbox demonstration with Playgroup Qld, as well as for prep parents at St Andrew’s Catholic College. This activity helped recruit participants for a subsequent Hands-On Nutrition Workshop.

“We have held a number of healthy lunchbox demonstrations and workshops and have recently implemented ‘fresh fruit Fridays’ as part of our healthy breakfast trolley initiative at St Andrew’s Catholic College,” Ms Formosa said.

More recently, the Hands-On Nutrition Workshop delivered by Donna was held with UniLodge Australia and James Cook University where students learned how to prepare healthy and delicious take out, also known as ‘fake out’.

Last year, Donna took on the role of Country Kitchens division convenor for Far Northern division.

As division convenor, she travelled across the division to promote the program, recruit new facilitators and support other facilitators to run Country Kitchens activities, including supporting Mossman branch facilitators to run their first Hands-On Nutrition Workshop.

Donna has formed several enduring partnerships with community groups and organisations in the Cairns area. She has also supported the Country Kitchens Meet a Farmer project by nominating and assisting with interviewing local producer, Marsh Butcheries.

In recognition of Donna’s extraordinary efforts, she received the 2021 Northern Region Facilitator of the Year Award.

“Country Kitchens facilitators are part of a group of amazing volunteers like Donna. These are women with the power to heal their communities,” Ms O’Donnell said.

The QCWA Country Kitchens program is a health promotion program funded through Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

If you are interested to learn more, contact Country Kitchens at countrykitchens@qcwa.org.au or call us on 07 3236 6419.

OPPOSITE

TOP LEFT: Donna Formosa: QCWA Freshwater Branch Facilitator & Far Northern Division Convenor; 2021 Northern Region Facilitator of the Year

ABOVE: Donna with students during the Hands-On Nutrition Workshop

PAGE: Donna with St Andrews students on a Fresh Fruit Friday.

The wow factor at Warwick’s Jumpers and Jazz in July

Queensland’s

Words and Images by Jumpers and Jazz in July

Love creativity? Make plans now to immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of exquisite ‘jumpers on trees’, creative yarn bombing, marvellous live jazz on the streets, artisan markets and much more!

The artworks on the trees, created by individuals, groups, businesses and schools, attract thousands of visitors each year by injecting colour and showcasing our community spirit.

Warwick Art Gallery has been coordinating the yarn bombed tree jumpers for the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival since the beginning, and gallery director Karina Devine has injected her passion for art and community into the project since 2006.

“The practice of crafting is an exciting vehicle for creating public artworks because it is approachable, warm and fuzzy (pardon the pun),” says Karina.

“I have seen thousands of yarn artworks installed on our trees and structures in Warwick over the years and each one communicates a story or celebration through glorious tactile materials and clever skills.

“The delightful artworks create a ripple effect throughout the town which radiates with pride and enterprise.”

The Yarntopians are Jumpers and Jazz in July’s official yarn bombing team, bringing their special brand of colour, humour, and community spirit to all their projects.

This creative and energetic team of volunteers have been working together since 2014 to produce unique large-scale yarn art installations that wow festival visitors each year.

Knitters and crocheters from all over Australia and beyond are invited to join in the fun via regular team newsletters shared on the festival website.

Our local team members enjoy getting together regularly to assemble and install the creations.

The Yarntopian exhibition will be moving to a new location in 2022.

A Moveable Feast invites you to visit the fabulous world of 1920s Paris at the team’s quaint pop-up café, created entirely in yarn.

Visit www.jumpersandjazz.com.au for lots of information about what’s on, accommodation and sightseeing delights, and on Facebook for updates. See you there!

quirkiest winter festival is back on the horizon, with that unique and colourful, country winter experience.

Words by Edna Buck, Minnie Zellar, Lesley Mackney, and Jessica Kramer Pictures courtesy of News Corp Australia

The scone queen

Dorothy Collishaw (nee Whitred) was born in Maryborough on March 24, 1921. Her father was a baker and the family lived above the bakery. Dorothy learned to cook and bake at an early age thanks to the encouragement of her parents.

Dorothy attended boarding school until the age of 17. As World War II was on by then and our hospitals were desperate for staff, Dorothy enrolled for training at the local hospital. Her father did not approve of this,but was happier when he found that she could come home every night to sleep.

Dorothy married Len Collishaw 14th February 1942. They lived with her family until Len returned from active service and they could build on the land that Dorothy had purchased whilst working as a nurse.

Len went on to train as an upholsterer and after completing his training they moved to Childers to take up business there. This is where Dorothy first joined QCWA and became a member of the Childers Branch.

Their next move was to Gladstone and then to Rosedale where Dorothy entered the Country Woman of the Year contest, gaining second place in the Fundraising section — having raised $1653 for a charity. Shortly afterwards, Dorothy became the president of Rosedale branch for three years.

Dorothy and Len were both involved in the Scouts and Cubs movement as well as Dorothy being a member of OES (Order of the Eastern Star), in which she has played an important role for many years.

Dorothy and Len had three children: one boy and two girls. These numbers have now become 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In the early 1990’s Dorothy became a vice president of the Burnett Division, later a president of Oakwood branch, and later still a valued member of Bundaberg branch.

About three years ago, the ABC in Bundaberg invited Dorothy to give them lessons in scone making. This morphed into a most successful Scone Day where people from far and wide — some from around Brisbane and others further afield, as far as Townsville — men, women and children, to share their scones. A recipe book was also generated from this occasion and is continuing to raise funds for our division.

Two years ago, to celebrate the Bundaberg Branch 95th birthday, Dorothy led the way for the branch members to have their first Drive-Thru Scone Day. Unfortunately, due to Covid, we could not have the function indoors as we had in the previous year. So, a

very successful drive-through arrangement was made and Dorothy’s Scones became a talking-point and another wonderful fund-raiser to help in various ways throughout our area.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Dorothy was deeply involved with the Bundaberg QCWA Child Minding Centre, and for some time was chairman of the committee. This had started off many years earlier in conjunction with the Bundaberg City Council. There was one paid staff member and the rest were volunteers. This went on until we were no longer able to meet all the staffing criteria, at which time it was handed over to the YMCA.

Dorothy has an unblemished record as a judge for the cookery competitions for QCWA and many other local shows etc.

A long, busy, satisfying life of service to her family, QCWA, OES, Scouts, etc has also provided a lot of fun along the way. Dorothy is, indeed, a wonderful role model for us all. She tells me that she has not missed a State Conference more than once! I know that I have met up with her at most of those occasions since 1990 when I first joined Burnett Division.

Dorothy has made many friends during her long and active life and has earned great respect for her dedication and integrity wherever she has become involved.

Words by Edna Buck, Bundaberg branch

Dorothy Collishaw shows her scone baking skills in 2019.

My involvement with QCWA began at a very young age.

My mother was a member of Mungallala Branch in the late 1930s and was branch president by 1941. There was a Younger Set attached to the branch at this time and I joined. By 1946 I became president.

There was a very good supervisor and this was where I began to receive encouragement in the CWA. The fun we had was great. Later the Younger Set folded and I joined the parent branch. I held all positions in the Branch.

Mungallala folded for a few years; I then transferred to Mitchell Branch for a while before Mungallala reopened again. Once again I held office in various positions. Unfortunately the branch closed again and I rejoined Mitchell Branch and held office there.

My division involvement includes holding division president for two three-year terms and one two-year term, as well as a short term when the current division president was ill. I was division vice president several times, as well as secretary, treasurer, international officer, floral art convenor, and K&C convenor.

I first attended State Conference in Brisbane in 1974, which was the first of many: Brisbane, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Longreach and Mt Isa. I attended Summer Schools, regional meetings, international weekends, and the CWA of Australia

QCWA baking champ

conferences in Brisbane and Darwin, as well as the International Study Tour in Fiji

I was nominated for the cookery representative on the cover of the telephone directory 2017/18, and had success with cookery and K&C at state level. I also entered Country Woman of Year twice: achieving runner-up the first time and the second time went on to Brisbane as division representative.

I was presented with my Service Bar in 2007, and my 70-Year pin in February this year.

I received the Australia Day Citizens Award from Booringa Shire Council in 2008, then again in 2017 from Maranoa Regional Council. I am a life member of Mungallala Progress and Sporting Association, retiring after 30 years as treasurer in August 2016. I have also been involved with Mitchell Show as a steward and an exhibitor for many years.

I have lived in the district all my life; married, raised my three daughters, had a livestock and carrying business during my life. My husband (Jim) passed away in 1998; since then I have devoted much time to CWA.

I’ve seen many changes over the years but have enjoyed every bit of it. I am a member of the Roma Branch now and am enjoying every minute of the members’ company there.

Words by Minnie Zellar, Roma branch

Minnie Zellar in 2016 when she was crowned Roma’s best baker.

Long-term dedication

Words

Lesley

Hastie OAM has been a member of the Queensland Country Women’s Association since she was 23 years old, and in March 2021 celebrated her 100th birthday at the Tolga branch.

Lottie recounted some of her memories of her time in the QCWA in an interview with Lesley Mackney of the Atherton Tablelands division.

The following was published in Ruth magazine at the time:

During the war years, a small group of ladies served meals for the soldiers camped in the area. For threepence they received a cup of tea and either a sandwich, sausage roll or a piece of cake. Soldiers really enjoyed these nights. They were held in the QCWA Rest Rooms.

State President Miss Palmer attended a meeting in Tolga along with the State Secretary and State Treasurer and said if they couldn’t get a committee, the branch would have to close.

Mrs Daisy Ingram said she would take on the presidency if Mrs Ethel Wieland and I were willing to join. I was very eager to join. Secretary/Treasurer Miss Gladys Neary offered to carry on in her position, and the voyage began.

All my life — 77 years — I have been a member of QCWA, and I have never regretted giving up other things for QCWA. My husband was a great supporter. When my children came home from school and saw cooking on the table they would always say: “Don’t touch those cakes, they’re for CWA”; everything was always CWA.

We lost a few members in the later years, which is always sad. In those early years it was very different to what it is today, we would visit one another’s homes and

were like a big family.

In 1968 I lost my husband (I was 60) and had 12 months to sit and think about what I would do. My children were married and in 1969 nominations were called for the position of SVP Northern Region. In those days it was a statewide vote — not like today — but the region still covered Mackay north. I feel that becoming State Vice President was the highlight of my 77 years, because I never thought I would win that vote.

It’s been a wonderful journey, but I couldn’t have done any of it without the help of my family and the members of QCWA.

Imagine yourself as a 23-year-old who has never been involved in any organisation to go as far as I have. My mum (also a QCWA member) and my husband both looked after my two-year-old son when I had to do things for QCWA. My husband was very community-minded as well, so was very understanding.

I trust and admire the work all members are doing and am glad to count them as my friends. It’s much harder today as there are so many more charities looking to raise funds.

I thank everyone who has helped me from 23 to 100 years with my QCWA journey. Many have passed on but are never forgotten. I also thank my family for all their support. I lost my husband at an early age, but QCWA helped me through those difficult years.

by

Mackney, Atherton Tablelands division

QCWA legend Lottie Hastie of Tolga with some young friends in 2019

Good Earth Cotton ticks all the boxes

Carbon positive, water efficient and growing within an ethical and traceable supply chain are the signatures of Good Earth Cotton pioneered by innovative growers David and Danielle Statham who run Sundown Pastoral Company in New South Wales and Queensland.

Words by Jane Milburn

Pictures courtesy of Sally Tsoutas

TheirKeytah farm at Moree, NSW, hosted the Painted River Project and Bank Art Museum Moree in March 2022 to facilitate conversations and creativity around the use of water and natural resources in the sustainable production of food and fibre as the essence of life.

There are 1600 cotton farms operating across Australia in what is a successful, high-pressure industry, on farms that are among the biggest in the world. Collectively these farmers apply technology including high-yielding seed, that has been genetically modified using a naturally-occurring protein to maximize production, while using integrated pest management to reduce chemical usage by 97 per cent (crops which were once they sprayed up to 16 times to control insects, now only once or twice). Technology has also driven water-use efficiency measures that grow more cotton with less water. David Statham said these changes had occurred alongside increasing community awareness of the need to conserve natural resources and protect ecosystems. Seventy per cent of water flows are allocated to environmental flows to protect natural habitats, river systems and wetlands which feed the Murray Darling River system.

The Stathams’ are industry leaders, pioneering dryland cotton production in far north Queensland, as well as bringing their ecological and modern regenerative on-farm innovations further up the complex supply chain to become what they say is the world’s first carbon-positive, sustainable, traceable, ethical cotton company.

David’s family background in agribusiness means their

operations are driven by technology and metrics and this, combined with Danielle’s background in textiles and fashion, has led to the creation of a team pursuing best-practice excellence to underpin the Good Earth Cotton brand.

David told educators, artists, and community members gathered for the Painted River Project that Keytah farm practiced modern regenerative agriculture using science and metrics to define and prove it. For decades they have gathered on-farm data that enables the business to demonstrate continual improvement in water-use efficiency and yields that now grow more than two bales of cotton per megalitre of water compared to one bale previously (227kg per bale).

David said this data had been independently verified to show their modern regenerative practices, which include minimising soil disturbance, had created a farm enterprise that was demonstrably carbon positive. The soil acts as a giant carbon sink, with young growing plants drawing down more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they need to grow and locking it in soil in a process known as carbon sequestration. The carbon-positive credential is derived from their 2017-2018 soil carbon score showing -420 kg of CO2e per 227kg bale of cotton was sequestered. This equates to the denim used in each pair of jeans sequestering 2kg of carbon while it grows. The soil data also shows constant biological improvement, demonstrating their regenerative processes are protecting and restoring biodiversity of plants, animals and microbiome in measurable ways.

Artists learn from Keytah farm manager

Danielle said Good Earth Cotton represented ethical production because it respected and valued their people and the natural resources borrowed from the earth to grow the fibres, and had partnered with like-minded companies to evolve a traceable supply chain rather than a blended commodity pipeline of unclear origin.

With the goal of being able to trace her own denim, Danielle pioneered FibreTrace to verify Good Earth Cotton, and now believes it is the only technology in the world to collate information and hold data to show the absolute truth, in real time, through a patented physical and digital tracing system. The cotton’s physical origins are embedded in organic rareearth pigments which can be scanned through the yarn and garment stages, and tracked using a purpose-built blockchain system.

The Stathams believe that by demonstrating their sustainability actions and telling the story of Good Earth Cotton, they can help allay consumer concerns about the environmental credentials of their fibre and enable cotton to reclaim market share from its main competitor – which is garments made from polyester.

Polyester is a synthetic/plastic fibre derived directly from fossil fuels and research shows it is shedding microplastic particles into the ecosystem that never breaks down. Recycled polyester also sheds microplastic particles. Consumers are rightly confused by the lack of transparency that has enabled polyester to receive a higher sustainability rating than cotton. This is why we need to know more about what our clothes are made from.

Slow fashion new and old

Words by Jane Milburn Pictures Contributed

Fastand ultra-fast fashion are products of the 21st century as globalisation and technology enabled big businesses to harness efficiencies that exploit resources, people and places to churn out vastly more clothing than the world will ever need.

But push back is happening through the awakening of slower, mindful, regenerative ways of making, wearing and caring for our clothes. Slow fashion is a process and actions that involve loving garments for longer and knowing who made them, appreciating materials and building a wardrobe of beautiful staples that are re-worn often.

One newly established, values-based slow fashion brand is Red Ridge the Label which reflects culture, art and nature from the Georgina River in central western Queensland, imprinted on natural-fibre garments designed and made in Australia. Collections are released intermittently (not weekly like fast fashion now is) and the latest Georgina collection features Aboriginal bush medicine gumby gumby and wattle flowers painted by Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi sisters Joyce Crombie and Jean Barr Crombie (see photo opposite).

Eco-store Biome has gathered a range of slow fashion from ethical and sustainable brands in Australia. It was curated in 2018 by The Un-Material Girl Leah Musch who said the slow fashion movement was the antithesis of fast fashion. It champions transparency, sustainable fabrics, fair treatment of those who make your clothes, environmentally-responsible production and innovation. On the Biome website, Leah wrote it is important to note that there is still a long way to go in this movement towards a better fashion industry, and while perfection is the goal, we’re not there yet.

Biome offers customers an avenue to support and purchase fashion that aligns with their values, with featured labels carefully researched to ensure they meet Biome’s standards, are vegan and made using natural fibres.

Slow fashion is not new and other established local businesses, such as Dogstar and Sustainable Fashion, are keeping on doing what they always have done.

Dogstar was established nearly 25 years ago by Masayo Yasuki, who dedicated herself to combining quality natural fibres and mostly local production with edgy yet comfortable designs made to last. She creates some of her own textiles by

collaborating with local artists as often as possible.

Masayo says her customers range in age from 30 to 70 and her clothes are loose-fit and as versatile as possible, to which you can add and subtract to create different looks. From July 2022, Masayo is introducing a unisex range to extend their use even further.

As many of her happy clients hold on to their garments for years, Masayo is now finding a way to provide an altering, mending and upcycling service as people’s needs and body shapes change with the passage of time. She provides fabric offcuts and shows customers via tutorials how to change elastic and mend tears to help extend the life of clothes in quick and easy ways.

Masayo said Dogstar customers keep clothes because they love the story that goes with them and her new education role is connecting people to help clients in ways that are fun, rewarding and empowering by teaming with locals who have upcycling skills such as Nicole @4everbluecreations.

A new local slow-fashion business that recently attracted a Brisbane City Council grant for a two-month pop-up shop is Luna and Sun by Teshani McManus who has a vision to make classic linen clothing designed to last as a stand against slavery and pollution.

She said bucking the trend of cheap, disposable clothing in favour of purchasing long-lasting, timelessly elegant fashions could have an enormous impact on the environment and help to push a powerful message to the global companies ignoring the rights of their workers.

Teshani said discovering she was pregnant just after launching her business inspired her to create items to help new mums with a sustainable maternity collection. Find out more at her website www.lunaandsun.com

Dress with a good-earth story

This Art of Planetary Health dress has a good story to tell about how it came to be.

The Art of Planetary Health dress was created in the field during the 2022 Painted River Project at Moree, run by the Bank Art Museum Moree and led by Dr Leo Robba from Western Sydney University, during a gathering of people at the intersection of ecology, farming, art and health.

It is handmade from carbon-positive, sustainable, traceable, high-quality Good Earth Cotton grown at Keytah farm from seed modified to resist insect attack and under irrigation to enable resource-use efficiencies.

Although the cotton used in this dress had travelled offshore to be spun and turned into fabric, I imprinted it with the good earth on which it was grown before adding marks and fabric paint.

The fabric was then cut and stitched into a dress on the banks of the Mehi River in between conversations about cotton and slow fashion.

There is nothing like putting our own energy into making clothes to truly appreciate the time, skills and resources that go into those we buy.

Words by Jane Milburn

Pictures courtesy of Lauren Marer and Sally Tsoutas

Jane Milburn imprints the fabric on the good earth in which it was grown

Pinning seams on river gravel

Cutting the dress on the banks of the Mehi River

Period pain to period power

Sharing supplies to reduce stigma

One sanitary item pack at a time, Share the Dignity is putting the power back in the hands of women around the state.

Words by Hayley Hinze Pictures courtesy of Share the Dignity

Share the Dignity Founder, Rochelle Courtenay, once observed a young homeless woman asking two men for sanitary items she couldn’t afford to buy.

“I just knew that I would never be that brave, to go up and ask for sanitary items from anyone but let alone from two men,” she said.

It was here she first thought of the Dignity Vending Machine. Discreet, accessible and free, these machines offer a Pink Box of pads and tampons with the simple press of a button.

Replacing snacks and drinks with essential sanitary packs, more than 280 of these innovative and purpose-built vending machines are installed across Australia, with numbers still to grow as they make their way into schools.

Eight Darling Downs secondary schools will be among the

first in Queensland to receive both a Dignity Vending Machine and access to the corresponding education program, Period Talk.

While existing machines in health centres and hospitals are boosting accessibility for women in need, Rochelle hopes pairing free period supplies with education will foster a generation free from stigmas and barriers to education.

“Just giving access to girls is only fixing one part of the problem, so we’re also rolling out education,” she said.

The Period Talk program has been written in line with the Australian curriculum and includes three lessons of everything menstruation. Covering topics like hormones, PMS nutrition, pain management and periods across different cultures, the program is designed to inform both male and female students.

“Unless we reduce the shame and stigma, we’re still going to have people whispering about it,” Rochelle said.

“We’ll also have men who have never been educated. Those little boys who don’t get educated and get sent out of the room end up being somebody’s boss, somebody’s father, somebody’s husband, somebody’s uncle, and yet we’re still not educating them properly.”

Period Talk is available for all Australian schools, however will come complimentary with each school’s machine.

The Queensland Government has invested up to $2.5 million in a partnership with Share the Dignity, to get 120 state and non-state schools their own Dignity Vending Machine.

“We want all students to be confident to attend school every day,” said Minister for Education, Grace Grace.

“Giving students access to free sanitary products can make a real difference, especially for students whose families are doing it tough, have unstable accommodation or are fleeing domestic and family violence.”

Selected schools will receive a three-year supply of period packs, with each Pink Box containing six tampons and two pads. This combination is designed to grant females the essential freedom to continue school, work and life in comfort during menstruation.

Fraser Coast –Friday12 August 2022 –Maryborough Show Grounds, 23349 Bruce Highway Maryborough West

Sunshine Coast –Thursday 8 September 2022 –– Caloundra Indoor Stadium, North St Golden Beach

Access and facilities

Venue is wheelchair friendly and has disabled toilet facilities

Toowoomba –Friday 7 October 2022 –Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre (The Works) – 20 Baker St Darling Heights (opp UNI)

“I remember a young girl coming up to me at one school and she said, I wish this machine was here last week,” Rochelle said.

“She’d gotten her period early, had stained her dress and chair and had all the boys laughing at her. But when she texted her mum to see if she could get sanitary items, her mum rang her and was super upset because she didn’t get paid until Thursday. So she had to miss two and a half days of school that week because her mum couldn’t afford pads.”

Dignity Vending Machines are a big move in helping young girls feel safe and confident at school.

“So many people live from one pay cheque to the other, and for most of us we don’t understand what that’s like. It’s not right that any girl should ever miss a day of school because her family can’t afford sanitary items,” Rochelle said.

The signature pink of a Dignity Vending Machine can be spotted in the Lockyer Community Centre toilet block in Gatton. Since 2021, this machine has supplied free sanitary packs to a range of women in need.

“There’s no set woman who’s using it — they’ve all come from many walks of life,” said the Centre’s operations manager, Linda Roberts.

“We find a lot of people who are financially struggling use the machine, but it also plays a part in normalising periods and making resources accessible in many locations.”

Once word got out, Linda says more members of the community have taken the Pink Boxes, and feel comfortable returning each month.

“The biggest thing was getting the word out, and now we’re finding women of all ages are coming in and accessing it,” she said.

“What’s been most successful is making people aware of it in our emergency relief program, where they then recommend it to others.”

Although beneficial in both metro and regional areas,

these machines can act as a reliable resource during product shortages in remote regions.

“We’ve found it’s been a great backup for whenever there’s a natural disaster in the region,” Linda said.

“Especially during the flood period, you realise how vulnerable rural communities are in relying on supplies from stores.”

The three-year roll-out will see more Queensland schools receive a Dignity Vending Machine, with distributions to be based on need.

“It’s exciting for all of the girls in Queensland schools but especially for those in our drought-stricken farming communities,” Rochelle said.

Schools in low socio-economic areas and rural communities will be prioritised, as to support the regions most likely to experience period poverty. The program is continually expanding, as the second expression of interest round will see 58 additional Queensland schools receive a machine in the coming year.

Since its launch in 2011, a total of 191,345 vends have been recorded from machines across the country. Through collection drives and campaigns, Share the Dignity collects more than 100,000 period products each year, many of which are packed into the Pink Boxes that fill these change-making machines.

Taking a stand in the Simpson

An all-women motorbike group took on Australia’s toughest outback track on ‘Do It For Dolly Day’ in May.

Words and Images Contributed

MostRuth readers will be familiar with the tragic story of Dolly Everett and the foundation created in her honour, Dolly’s Dream.

Dolly’s Dream was founded by parents Kate and Tick Everett following the loss of 14-year-old Dolly to suicide after ongoing bullying, and the foundation aims to change the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide, through education and direct support to young people and families.

In what has become an annual charity event, Do It For Dolly Day, in 2019 history was made by 12 women successfully crossing the Simpson Desert on motorbikes, to take a stand against cyber bullying and childhood bullying.

These incredible women have been doing the ride each year since, with 2022’s event taking place on Friday, May 13.

Over four gruelling days, the All Women Simpson Desert Crossing (AWSDC) took to the red sands of the Australian outback, challenging their mental and physical strength.

With both AWSDC and Dolly’s Dream focused on rural Australia, annual rider and group co-organiser Kimberley Killick said that Dolly’s Dream was the perfect charity for the LGBTIQfriendly riding group to raise funds for, with many group members having experienced bullying themselves.

“We ride to show that women who support and lift each other up, instead of bully and put others down, are able to go further in life and get better outcomes, and we raise funds to make a real change for generations to come,” Kimberley said.

“We accept each other’s differences and we support each other across one of the most brutal terrains in Australia.

“We ride as a team, we rally around each other and set the pace of the person who is struggling to set an example of inclusion and support.”

Aiming to contribute to the $80,000 that has been raised over the past three years through the Simpson Desert ride, the 12 women, following the tracks of their pioneering fore-sisters, will journey from Birdsville in Queensland to Mt Dare in South Australia, some riders with minimal sand-riding experience.

“Sand is an unusual surface to ride on. It can feel like water moving underneath the bike and it’s about allowing yourself

to go with the sand, not fighting it but rather using the motorbike’s momentum,” Kimberley said.

“You’ve got to be alert and oriented the entire time and we can ride up to 120km in one day. It’s exhausting, it’s boiling hot and we’re standing up on the bike for 80 per cent of the ride.”

“Dolly’s message to ‘speak even if your voice shakes’ is so pertinent during this emotionally and physically demanding trip.

“I’m shown time and again during this ride that people don’t know what you’re going through unless you tell them.

“When you share your voice it means that the group can come around and support you to share the load of the journey.”

With the funds from Do It For Dolly Day going to a number of initiatives including a free mental health support line with trained counsellors, Dolly’s mother and charity co-founder Kate Everett said that contributions from the AWSDC ride safeguard future generations from the lifelong impacts that bullying had — both during childhood and well into adult life.

“These extraordinary women have had a huge impact on Dolly’s Dream,” Kate said.

“Their strength, determination and commitment to help us end bullying forever is awe-inspiring.

“All funds raised from Do it for Dolly Day go towards creating a kinder community by hanging the behaviours around bullying. This includes supporting our online anti-bullying workshops for students, parents and teachers.”

With technology constantly evolving, and the landscape that children communicate and engage with changing alongside it, Kate said that it was the attitudes and culture that the organisation was looking to shift.

“We work hard to continually update and develop vital bullying prevention and online safety programs to kids, families, schools and communities across Australia, ultimately with the goal to create a cultural change where kindness and compassion with each other is the new norm.”

Find out more about Do It for Dolly Day at dollysdream.org.au/do-it-for-dolly-day

Enjoy the modern farmhouse aesthetic

The Modern Farmhouse design aesthetic is one of the most popular, and easy to achieve, interior styles.

It is a style that is both beautiful and practical. In fact, practicality is at the heart of this design style.

Modern farmhouse blends together contemporary country elements, neutrals materials, colours, and textures.

The aesthetic brings warmth and character to home and strikes the perfect balance between old and new, while utilising minimalist ideals.

It’s important to remember to put your own spin on the modern farmhouse décor by using rustic elements to create a look which is unique to your home; a look which is warm and inviting.

But how do you bring the Modern Farmhouse style into your home?

Everything starts and ends with practicality; this is vital to consider in all designs, but functionality is a major consideration of modern farmhouse.

Planning is key to starting any design project. Your first step is always to thoroughly survey your space, whether it be just one room or a full house overhaul.

Rake in all the details – the flow of the room, the lighting, furniture scale and placement. Consider the what works and what doesn’t and what changes you’d like to make the space work better for you.

And always keep practicality and function front of mind –furnishing and storage need to be the focus of the design plan, event before you consider decorative pieces.

Here’s what to consider when incorporating a modern farmhouse decor in your home:

MIX AND MATCH

Modern farmhouse is a low-key combination of minimalism and country chic; it is a design trend that embraces individuality, so have fun. It’s all about mixing old and new to create comfort.

Keep it unique and utilise distinctive finds, heirloom pieces, and arty decorative finds. Feel free to mix eras and elements and play with texture.

USE NATURAL MATERIALS

Natural material are the basis of the décor. Think counter

balancing industrial metals with sleek stone benchtops and a farmhouse style sink. Choose matte finishes and low-shine materials for casual everyday style.

Think natural wood, linen, and hemp fabrications and finishes. Be sure to steer clear of anything lucite, plastic, and anything overtly unnatural.

Try to source as many organic and handcrafted finds as possible. Search antique stores, markets, garage sales for unique products.

Celebrate unique one-offs that are irregular and slightly imperfect to add personality and charm.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

It’s so easy to overdo it when trying to achieve the modern farmhouse look. But resist the urge to get to heavy-handed. Always use caution and consider the purpose of every piece you choose for your home. And if need be get rid of the pieces that don’t enhance your home to create a space that looks effortless.

KEEP COLOURS NEUTRAL

Stick to a neutral colour palette, but contrast them with an eclectic mix of decorative features.

Bright white helps to highlight statement decorative items while working to tie everything together. Heavy farmhouse furnishings can make a small space appear smaller so white walls, mirrors and reflective surfaces can help overcome that.

Winter gardening

Word by Alyssa Welke Images Contributed

Just because it is cold outside, doesn’t mean it’s time to lock yourself in the house and ignore your garden.

Now is time to roll your sleeves up, and get stuck into some serious jobs.

Horticultural consultant Mike Wells of Wellsley Horticulture said the cold months are perfect time to take stock of your garden and plan for the warmer months to come.

“Gardening in winter is all about maintenance,” Mike said.

“It’s at this point to get out and look at it (the garden) in its winter clothes, so to speak, in its bare bones to see what needs to be done,” he said.

“It’s time to decide on some judicious pruning, which will need to be done in Spring. And do prune the deciduous trees.

“In the ornamental garden it’s time to give a light prune to

camellias, to remove dead flowers and get back into shape.”

As far as pruning goes it’s also time to prune roses in late July-early August by removing old woody growth by twothirds and leaving the new, green growth.

With roses, you want to get a vase shape, by opening up the centre of the plant; you also need to spray with a copperbased fungicide at the time of pruning.

It’s also time to plant new bare-rooted deciduous trees, like maples and other ornamental trees and shrubs, and roses.

Mike said it’s the ideal time to look at the hard landscaping and undertake some of the big projects, like painting pergolas, staining decks (while it is drier), fix up pathways, re-gravel the ones that need it, and preparing garden beds.

While all the winter planting, ready for spring flowering and

in the vegetable garden, is done, garden beds can be prepared for spring planting – but not until August.

“In June you could still be planting short term crops such as spinach, carrots, and shorter term brassica like sugarloaf cabbages in the veggie garden,” Mike said.

“It’s time for getting homemade compost, or store-bought compost, dug in for spring planting.

“August is a great month for getting ready for spring planting.

“Winter is a great time to renew your mulch; use a chunky mulch like wood chip in the ornamental garden to a depth of 75mm and use a finer mulch, organic sugar cane or pea straw, in the veggie patch.

“Also, cut back on heavy watering — keep the soil moist but not too wet, as plants take up less in winter and too much water will mean root rot.”

And because we’ve had a wet summer, weeds have really had a chance to take off, particularly in lawns.

Mike advises that winter is a good time to use a selective herbicide to get them back under control.

It can also be a good time to address any disease issues in the garden, this can involve removing dead and diseased plants, removing diseases materials and treating soils.

“If it doesn’t disfigure the plant, remove the damaged part, place it in a plastic bag in the sun a week or two to kill the disease and bin them,” Mike said.

“And rake up diseased leaves and bin those. It’s time to treat the soil for soil-borne spores to prevent them germinating.

“And if you are consistently getting diseased you may need to reconsider it.”

Also make sure you clean your pruning tools by spraying with methylated spirits and wiping them down between plants.

Love Baking?

What better treasured gift for yourself or someone special than this fabulous reprint of the original 1959 QCWA Cookery Book?

180 pages of the same cherished Australian recipes, with many of the original homely hints, methods and comments.

Then and now: a visit to Marinya

House & Garden

This beautiful homestead near Cambooya, just under two hours south-east from Brisbane, has a rich history

Itwas the home of the well-known Ruth Fairfax before even the QCWA — of which Ruth was founding president — was born: Marinya.

Originally part of Etonvale station in the Darling Downs (a region roughly two hours from Brisbane), Ruth and her husband John Hubert bought the property in 1908 after moving to the area from Longreach.

Successfully producing an Ayrshire cattle and Corriedale sheep stud on the land, the couple lived and raised their son Vincent at Marinya until relocating to Sydney in the early 1930s.

During those years, many a Queensland Country Women’s Association function was held there — including the first QCWA Conference, garden parties, and other get-togethers.

The property boasted 2300 acres, the 25-room homestead, three additional houses, shearing sheds and other sheds.

Sadly, in 1941 the original homestead burnt down — leaving only the front stairs and a hat (which was being lent to a friend at the time) intact. The new owners rebuilt a similar, but smaller, homestead on the same spot with the original surviving front stairs — and it is this homestead you can see today.

Marinya now covers about 700 hectares of produce and cattle, with several generations of one family living and working on the land.

While the current owners of Marinya were more than happy to provide an update on the property, sadly weather events prevented this in time for Ruth magazine’s publication — however, happily we had some images on hand from a few years ago, which you can see over the following pages.

Images by State Library of Queensland and Bev Lacey

When the original homestead was destroyed by fire, this hat was the only thing that survived

Maryina in Ruth Fairfax’s time, the mid-1920s

A formal gathering at Marinya, sometime before the 1920s

BOTTOM: External surrounds on the Marinya property in 2015, with current owners Jane and Nick House

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2022 Winter | 49

WINTER EVENTS 2022

June 2022

WINTON PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL SHOW

June 3-5

Winton

The Winton Pastoral and Agricultural Show use the services of the Showman’s Guild is organised and managed by the community and is held annually. This fun event is aimed at bringing people to the bush and providing entertainment, competition, opportunities for volunteers, committee members, community workers, sponsors, judges, children, entertainers, vendors, artists, producers, and organisations.

OUTBACK BY THE SEA FESTIVAL 2022

June 27-July 2

Karumba

Get lost in the moment in the land of drought and flooding rains where the outback meets the sea. Join the week-long festival celebrating the legendary barramundi, seafood, live music, Indigenous culture, arts and crafts. The festival kicks off with a range of workshops and activities for people of all ages and interests that bring participants closer to nature, food and adventure in this destination of contrasts. Campfire cookouts, night markets, birdwatching, stargazing, ghost net art workshops, painting session, crab catching, and prawn eating are a few activities on the program list. The closing evening concert on the outdoor lagoon stage at the Barramundi Discovery Centre features a great lineup of well known Australian artists.

July 2022

BEDOURIE CAMPDRAFT, RODEO AND GYMKHANA

July 1-3

Bedourie

3rd - 5th

RELISH FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL 2022

June 4

Maryborough

The 9th annual Relish Food & Wine Festival is returning to the Mary River Parklands in 2022. Maryborough’s heritage streetscapes and riverside parks are the perfect settings for a feast of local cuisine including celebrity and local chefs, gourmet tastings, cooking workshops, live music and more. Drop-in on local wineries for a delightful tasting experience and sample the finest seasonal produce grown in the Fraser Coast and surrounding idyllic natural environment.

SCENIC RIM EAT LOCAL WEEK

June 25-July 3

Beaudesert

Scenic Rim Eat Local Week is your backstage pass to the farms, wineries and food stories of the Scenic Rim. Eat your way around the region through a program of festivals, farm-gate events and culinary experiences to suit foodies of all ages. Just one hour from Brisbane, choose from a range of experiences from long table lunches to picking carrots at Queensland’s largest carrot farm! And don’t miss the Winter Harvest Festival, Eat Local Week’s signature event held at Aratula on July 2.

Perched on a sand dune and surrounded by Eyre Creek, soak up all the action and speed of the country’s best horse, bike and bull riders in Bedourie. A township home to 120 locals and is appropriately named to reference a ‘dust storm’, stand ringside with hundreds who flock to appreciate precision, agility and tight teamwork at its very best.

1st - 3rd

BIRDSVILLE BIG RED BASH

July 5-7

Birdsville

Have the experience of a lifetime at the world’s most remote music festival, the Birdsville Big Red Bash in the heart of Australia’s outback. The three-day festival returns at the Big Red desert dune near Birdsville, Queensland.

Mandatory photo credit - PHOTO: Tourism and Events

Queensland

WINTER EVENTS 2022

QCWA 100TH ANNIVERSARY SCONE DAY

August 11

Throughout Queensland

On August 11, QCWA invite your office or team members to host a morning tea at your workplace to celebrate 100 years. The Association embrace the word “Sconversation” as a coming together to share a scone and a conversation about supporting each other. If you hold an event, take a photo of your staff with the scone and cuppa and email it to qcwacentenary@qcwa.org.au.

BUSKERS BY THE LAKE

August 20-21

Lake Kawana, Bokarina

9th - 10th

ABBEY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL

July 9-10

Caboolture

In July each year, the Abbey Medieval Festival welcomes thousands of visitors to experience life in the Middle Ages, specifically 600 to 1600AD in Europe and the Middle East. The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology together with re-enactors, jousters, performers, food vendors and merchants deliver one of Australia’s premier living history events.

QCWA CENTENARY RACE MEETING

July 23

Pioneer Park Racecourse, Emerald

The QCWA Central Highlands division are holding a race day to celebrate 100 years of the Association. The day will include a five-race programme with fashions of the field in many categories, plus a monster raffle.

August 2022

BOTANICAL BAZAAR 2022

August 6-7

Nerang

The Botanical Bazaar is an interactive gardening and sustainable living event aimed to educate and inspire all nature enthusiasts. Botanical Bazaar is where naturally wild, urban gardeners and nature lovers connect, educating and inspiring nature enthusiasts of all ages. See about 90 green exhibitors plus celebrity gardener’s talks, demonstrations, botanical art, community groups and kids nature activities. Learn how to grow your own food, urban and small space gardening, and sustainable living concepts. Explore plant nurseries and landscape designs, garden materials and tools, organic beauty products and even botanical homewares.

In a celebration of the old-fashioned art of busking, performers will showcase their talents along the banks of Lake Kawana. People of all ages will soak up the atmosphere, vibe and sunshine and immerse themselves in the melting pot of creativity, culture and surprise. Throughout the park grounds, the international festival fare will be available to tempt all taste buds and artisans will be showcasing their creative wares and talents.

20th

-

21st

GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER

August 25-28

With more than 100 artists, performing in five venues over four days, the Gympie Music Muster is Australia’s original and best camping and music experience. Staged deep within the natural surrounds of the Amamoor State Forest, the Muster showcases a mix of country, roots, blues, folk and rock music as well as workshops, bush poets, Gympie Mazda Kid’s Club and more.

THALLON TEAM TRUCK PULL

August 27

Thallon

On August 27 the Thallon State School P & C Association will proudly host the annual Thallon Team Truck Pull event. The main drawcard for this event is the Team Truck Pull competition where a team of six people pull a prime mover over 25 metres, the winner being the fastest team. The competition brings the spirited nature of each group of people, their family and friends. The 2022 Thallon Team Truck Pull is a fun-filled family fun day out with the very entertaining kids zone, unique market stalls, great food and fantastic country hospitality.

A trip to UluruKata Tjuta National Park

Discover the culture and history of the Anangu people with the whole family

Words by Kelli Armstrong

Everyday at preschool, my four-year-old daughter and her peers sit in a circle to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land they’re gathered on and give thanks to elders past, present and emerging.

This recognition and respect for our traditional landowners and learning about the unique position and history of First Nations people in Australian culture inspired a trip to the heart of this sunburnt land — to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to the Anangu people for at least 30,000 years.

After checking in to Sails in the Desert, a property within the Ayers Rock Resort that offers seven styles of stay, from campground to five-star, we discover that tradition and culture can be found at every turn.

Our first stop is to the Uluru lookout, not five minutes’ walk from the hotel. The afternoon light dances on the burnt-orange earth and a sense of calm sweeps through with the breeze. No wonder this incredible landscape is one of the most important in Aboriginal Dreamtime. I feel fortunate to experience it.

Uluru made her 348m rise from the desert floor some 550 million years ago. Aboriginal people believe Uluru and nearby rock formation Kata Tjuta were created at the beginning of time by beings they are descended from. Australia’s famous monolith certainly feels otherworldly. An “Oh, wow. Look at that, Mum!” from a four-year-old who, moments before, was only interested in the swimming pool, confirms we’re in the presence of greatness.

Visitors could once scale Uluru via an iron handrail bolted into the rock. The climb was closed in 2019 in respect of Tjukurpa, the Anangu people’s law and connection to their environment and ancestors, and the spiritual significance of the site. The line running up the Rock where millions of tourists trod is now referred to as a scar.

Visitors today are encouraged to join in a variety of cultural activities. Walking tours, selfguided bike rides, cave-drawing discovery and billabong visits are just some of the ways to keep all ages active and engaged.

Over the next four days we take a 15km bike ride around Uluru, enjoy a sunrise tour through the national park, and partake in informative activities on offer within the resort.

The National Indigenous Training Academy at Yulara trains and employs people within Ayers Rock Resort so most activities are led by those who have the strongest connection to the storytelling. They guide us through captivating bush yarns, laugh with us during a didgeridoo workshop, delight us with stargazing and bring out our creativity in a traditional dot painting.

Pictures courtesy of Tourism Australia

WHERE TO FIND MAGIC FOR ALL AGES

Stargazing

Meet in the Yulara Town Square (five minutes’ walk from the resort) for a 40-minute lesson in astronomy from the Aboriginal culture perspective. Indigenous people use the stars to predict the seasons, animal migrations and when to hunt for food. Kids will love the opportunity to look through a giant telescope at a star-spangled Milky Way as a local guide points out animal formations and stirs the senses with dark-sky storytelling.

Didgeridoo workshop

The sounds of the didgeridoo are hard to produce, but you sure can have fun trying. No two “yidaki” make exactly the same sound – the length, diameter and texture of the wood carved to make a didge all affect the tone and pitch. Kids are encouraged to grab a didgeridoo and can usually blow out a few sounds by the end of the workshop.

Bush food

Hunting for bush tucker is a centuries-old custom for Indigenous groups. Learn about the tools used, such as the wana used to dig for grubs and edible roots and the kani (boomerang) for hunting animals. And taste the unique ingredients and flavours of the outback tucker such as the bush plum, native pig weed and honey ants.

Field of Light

With the Star Pass guests enjoy canapés and sparkling wine from a desert dune to take in the sunset as the 50,000 glass spheres on stems of the Field of Light begin to shine until they glow in the desert darkness. Guests are then ushered down a path to wander through artist Bruce Munro’s incredible installation under a sky of stars.

Outback cycling

Kids can ride around the base of the Rock on their own bike or adults can pull toddlers on a tag-a-long. The 15km trip takes about three hours. Be sure to respect the areas where taking photos isn’t allowed. They may represent ancestral spirits or be sacred men’s or women’s business sites where skills and tradition are to this day passed down through generations. outbackcycling.com

GoCA – Gallery of Central Australia

With a focus on Indigenous artwork and design, GoCA supports emerging and Aboriginal artists and provides an intimate glimpse into Indigenous artwork techniques and the stories within them.

Morning tour with Seit Uluru Highlights

A dawn picnic in the dunes while watching the sun rise over Uluru is followed by a visit to the Mutitjulu Waterhole where the creation story of the battle of Liru, the female woma python, and Kuniya, the poisonous male snake takes place. seitoutbackaustralia.com.au

Uluru Camel Tours

Wander through a fully working saddlery and read about the 130-year history of camels and the Afghan cameleers in the Red Centre. Follow it up with a ride on a camel around the farm or book an adventure through the sand dunes, taking in the sensational outback landscape. ulurucameltours.com.au

Scenic helicopter flight

Seeing Uluru and Kata Tjuta from the air is simply unforgettable. The pilot circles what feels like every crevice of Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta’s domes. The tallest stands at 198m higher than Uluru and is also around 500 million years old. phs.com.au

Sails in the Desert

Our two-bed room was big enough for my daughter to jump from one bed to the other with four-year-old freedom in full flight. The Ilkari Restaurant breakfast buffet, with hygiene standards in place, was plentiful, as was its dinner, offering multiple cuisines including dishes with local bush tucker. The Walpa Lobby Bar was ideal for snacks, coffee and an afternoon cocktail. ayersrockresort.com.au

The writer was a guest of Tourism Australia and Ayers Rock Resort.

Enriching Indigenous travel experiences in Oz

Words by Melinda Browning Pictures courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland and Tourism Australia

Aftermore than 60,000 years on this land, Australia’s First Peoples are finding an eager audience for their knowledge.

Indigenous culture is a rising force in Australian tourism. Some two million people took part in First Nations tourism experiences in 2019, a figure that’s been rising steadily over the past decade.

As of this year, Tourism Australia is adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other key locations to highlight their Indigenous names. And its signature Discover Aboriginal Experiences collection has expanded to include 47 companies around Australia, each offering unique ways to engage with culture and country.

Here’s a sample of the diverse experiences on offer.

Gallery of Central Australia, Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru, NT

Move over MONA and GOMA, Australia’s newest art attraction is GoCA, the Gallery of Central Australia. Opened in 2021, the latest addition at Ayers Rock Resort celebrates the work of artists from the Central Desert region, with artist-in-residence programs and daily gallery tours. Resort guests can also join Indigenous artists to learn about

Western Indigenous Art and try their hand at the artform with a Maruku Arts Dot Painting Workshop.

Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Qld

It’s not just the land that Indigenous Australians have a deep connection with, but the ocean too. Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel runs day cruises from Cairns led by Traditional Owners who share the creation story of the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient relationships between people, marine creatures and the ecosystem. And now Dreamtime Dive’s sister tour operator, Reef Magic, is staffing its newly launched state-of-the-art pontoon at Moore Reef with Indigenous guides, too.

Worn Gundidj at Tower Hill, Vic

Only a short detour from the Great Ocean Road lies one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets. Tower Hill became Victoria’s first national park in 1892. A giant crater — the state’s largest dormant volcano — is home to a lake and an array of native wildlife including emus, kangaroos, koalas and birdlife. A two-hour guided walk with Worn Gundidj at Tower Hill, a local Aboriginal cooperative, reveals stories passed down through generations of the volcano’s last, ancient eruption.

Connect with the oldest living culture on Earth with these extraordinary adventures.

Lirrwi Tourism, East Arnhem Land, NT

Not only are the postcardperfect, palm-fringed beaches of remote East Arnhem Land a tropical paradise (just mind the crocodiles), but its Yolngu people are considered to be Australia’s most culturally intact Aboriginal nation. Lirrwi Tourism runs day trips around Nhulunbuy and to Bawaka, but for greater immersion into the local way of life, it also offers multi-day tours. Visitors can experience traditional weaving, fishing, bush food gathering, dance and storytelling.

Spirits of the Red Sand, Qld

It only launched in 2017, but already Spirits of the Red Sand has been named the number-one must-do experience in south-east Queensland, and taken out gold at the 2021 Australian Tourism Awards. The evening event sees the Beenleigh Historical Village come to life with a dramatic performance telling the story of three Aboriginal brothers meeting British arrivals in 1800s Australia. The roving theatre experience is delivered along with a three-course dinner including kangaroo, crocodile and emu.

Sand Dune Adventures, Port Stephens, NSW

Cultural tours don’t have to be a sedate affair. Tours with Sand Dune Adventures are an exhilarating quad bike ride across the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The desert-to-sea journey offers exclusive access to Aboriginal land, travelling through bushland to Stockton Beach — which at 32km, is NSW’s longest beach — and learning about the dunes’ significance, Aboriginal food, culture and history, along the way.

Wukalina Walk, Northeast Tas

The four-day Wukalina Walk is billed as an active adventure but one of the biggest highlights of the 33km hike is not the movement but the resting. Nights are spent in the architect-designed krakani lumi (place of rest), inspired by the traditional seasonal shelters of the Palawa people. There’s even bird habitat built into the walls. The guided walk exploring the Wukalina/Mt William National Park and larapuna/Bay of Fires areas lets walkers learn about the traditional homelands and try bush tucker along the way.

Firescreek Botanical Winery

Aboriginal Experiences, Central Coast, NSW

Hold the cheese and crackers

— at Firescreek, wines are paired instead with the sounds of the didgeridoo, clapping sticks and traditional story-telling. But then, this is no ordinary winery. Here, wines feature fruit and flowers, including native ingredients such as Davidson plum, mountain pepper and riberry. One of the newest additions to the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective, Firescreek’s one-and-a-half-hour Aboriginal Storytelling & Wine Tasting Experience lets visitors learn about Aboriginal culture and bush tucker from a local Darkinjung Elder.

Sacred Canyon Walk, Wilpena Pound Resort, Flinders Ranges, SA

An enormous, 800-million-yearold natural amphitheatre spanning 17km, Wilpena Pound is culturally significant for the Adnyamathanha people. It’s part of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, where one of the intriguing attractions is Sacred Canyon, which features some of the oldest rock engravings in the world. A move to protect the fragile landscape in 2020 means the canyon is now accessible only with an Adnyamathanha guide as part of the Sacred Canyon Yura Mulka Cultural Walk, allowing creation stories to be shared.

Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours, Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley, WA

You’ve heard the saying “the world is your oyster”, but for Terry Hunter, oysters are his world. Terry has lived on the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, north of Broome, for most of his life — and his family has been involved in the local pearling trade for four generations. Described as ‘a two-hour transportation into another world’, Terry leads a coastal walk where he shares the traditional Bardi Jawi method of cooking oysters on the rocks, pearlshell carving and stories from his childhood.

Following in Ruth’s footsteps

Words by Jessica Kramer Images State Library of Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland

Aspresident of the five-year-old QCWA in 1927, Ruth was given a leave of absence by the council of the time to tour the branches in Central and Northern Queensland with thenstate secretary, Joan White.

Whether you want to visit branches in each town or simply enjoy the sights, you can follow the same path as Ruth today:

Brisbane to Rockhampton

Ruth and Joan travelled via the Rockhampton Mail, stopping via Gladstone for both it and the Calliope branches, before spending the night at Rockhampton with the president of the Central Division.

While the Rockhampton Mail no longer exists, there’s still plenty to see on the drive up and in both cities.

Rockhampton & surrounds

Ruth and Joan visited people of note and QCWA branches in the region in the coming days, including a trip out to Alton Downs — a rural locality just 20 minutes out of Rockhampton in current times — Gracemere, and an afternoon tea at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, which are just as beautiful today.

Joan described the gardens in 1927:

It was the loveliest idea having it [afternoon tea] out in the open and especially at the Gardens, which are so really beautiful. They are so tropical, tall palms, numbers of great trees, and then the glorious Acalypha and Cratons. After afternoon tea we all wandered about in the gardens. There were masses of Poinsettia, both red and cream, which were very pretty growing together; bougainvillea growing everywhere, and Japanese honeysuckle crept over everything it could. The beds showed promise of annuals to come. Then we saw the glass houses and joy! The orchids were out, so wonderful; maiden hair fern that we cherish so in the South just grows in profusion here in dozens of different varieties.

Rockhampton to Mackay

Traveling via Princhester — which took three hours in 1927, compared with 1.5 hours today — the pair stopped over at Marlborough before getting on the Mail Train to Sarina. These localities were more ‘check in’ spots and a lot of the sight-seeing and conversation circled around the agricultural industries in the area.

Today, the drive direct from Rockhampton to Mackay takes only four hours, yet in 1927 the ladies stopped overnight at each spot and took 3.5 days to arrive at Mackay.

Walking or driving the same path a notable person in history did is simply fascinating. To commemorate Ruth magazine’s 10th anniversary this issue, we’ve compiled a road trip to one of Ruth Fairfax’s biggest journeys.

Mackay to Bowen

So far, this leg of the trip includes the most areas and buildings still in existence today: Ruth and Joan visited the beach at Mackay as well as the Benevolent Homes, then stayed overnight at Bowen’s North Australian Hotel. Again, a lot of the focus in Bowen was on the agriculture:

Tomato farms do very well at Bowen and there are numbers of them— all most beautifully attended ... the plants are not tied up, but grow naturally on the ground. Bowen is said to be the home of tomato ... both grown and packed. Then there are potato farms and pineapple ... a great deal of egg fruit. The mango trees are a picture. On passing one mango farm we were told that the fanner guards his trees carefully because he has a special kind of mango and sends all his fruit south and has been known to get as much as 116 each for them. He will willingly give you mangoes to eat, but you may not take the seeds away! Then there are paw-paw and bananas growing. It is such a joy to see such prosperous farms and small, but comfortable homes

Bowen to Townsville

Home Hill and Ayr have certainly changed in the years since Ruth and Joan’s trip, with Joan commenting:

It does seem strange that there is not a bridge (other than the railway bridge which people cross only at their own risk) between Home Hill and Ayr, as there are only seven miles between them, and as it is now people have either to go by train or walk across the bridge. Jutting out along the bridge are little platforms which are called ‘Thank the Lords ‘ because, I suppose, it is such a relief for people trying to escape the train to get on to these places. It’s still worth going through both townships though, if simply for the scenery on your way to Townsville.

Townsville to Cairns, Mareeba and Atherton

From the sounds of Joan’s travel diary, the Tropical North Queensland area was the highlight of the trip, and for good reason. In addition to the beautiful surrounds and fabulous mid-winter weather, most of the QCWA branches the duo visited are still in existence and thriving today in 2022, with the members eager to show visitors around and very active in their local communities.

You can choose to either fly back home from the Cairns airport, or continue road tripping it back via Innisfail, Tully, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Charleville, Alpha, Emerald and other Central Queensland towns.

Information for this article was taken from Country Women: History of the First Seventy Five Years by Muriel Pagliano AM

The best road trips in Queensland

Whether you prefer the real outback, the tropical coast or a bit of both, the Sunshine State is made for road trips.

Words by David Smiedt Pictures courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

Matilda Way

Stretching 1812 kilometres from Cunnamulla to Karumba, the Matilda Way is one of those experiences international visitors take advantage of more than Aussies. But boy, are we missing out.

Along the way is historic Charleville, home of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Cosmos Centre where stargazing dreams come true.

Another must is the carpet of spring wildflowers between Barcaldine and Ilfracombe, while Longreach offers sunset cruises on the picturesque Thomson River in paddle steamers. And you thought you could only do that in Echuca.

Pacific Coast Way

Endless beaches, salty sea air and a laid-back eight-day itinerary? Tick, tick and tick.

There are almost too many highlights to mention on this 1700-kilometre journey from Cairns to Brisbane, where you’ll take in the glittering Gold Coast, bougie Maroochydore and welcoming Gympie.

It then tracks through Hervey Bay whose safe sheltered waters make it a whale watching paradise and it has one of Australia’s best botanic gardens.

In other words, you can’t really say you’ve seen Queensland without doing this Gold Coast to Cairns jaunt.

Capricorn Way

If you don’t have heaps of time but want a taste of both the Queensland coast and outback, this five-day meander from Rockhampton to Barcaldine is just the ticket.

On the way, you’ll discover a 25-metre high version of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in Emerald, DIY fossicking in the aptly named Sapphire and stunning ghost gum in the centre of Barcaldine aka The Tree of Knowledge.

Natural Sciences Loop

Best done over a week, this round trip to Charleville is ideal for stoking kids’ sense of wonder.

Along the way, they will interact with bilbies, see Australia’s largest dinosaur fossils, explore galaxies via powerful telescopes, soak in artesian water, climb hills for stunning vistas and canoe on Lake Houdraman. Talk about a memory maker.

Indigenous Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

North Queensland is home to two Indigenous cultures — coastal First Peoples and the Torres Strait Islanders — and this five-day journey will provide a humbling taste of both.

It kicks off with an authentic bush feast in Ingham, an exploration of the reef’s creation stories with Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, an immersive foraging tour of the Port Douglas home of the Kuku Yalangi and a smoking ceremony on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at the Daintree Forest.

K’Gari (Fraser Island)

This is strictly for those with a four-wheel drive and is undoubtedly the shortest road trip on this list. But for 120 kilometres on the surf side of Fraser Island, you will find a beach highway unlike anything else on the planet.

Check out Indian Head, the world-famous Champagne Pools and once you’re back on the mainland, explore Maryborough

before going on to Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait.

Overlanders Way

Best start practising your one-fingered bush salute now as you’ll be using it heaps on this 1100-kilometre track from Townsville and Mount Isa.

Kids will adore the dino-centric Flinders Discovery Centre near Hughenden, Australia’s version of the Grand Canyon at Porcupine Gorge National Park and the wonders of the Camooweal Caves at Wiliyan-ngurru National Park.

The Sunshine Coast Foodie Trail

Artisan coffee, hip distilleries and brunch by the beach as Noosa’s famous Bistro C. Got your attention? Thought so.

This three-day trail tracks inland from Noosa – hit up Somedays Pizza while you’re there — towards Kin Kin, Maleny and more. The Brouhaha Brewery is a must — try the Strawberry Rhubarb Sour.

Scenic Rim explorer

By heading away from the crowded coasts, you will enter a region of World Heritage listed rainforest and six national parks covering more than 4000 square kilometres.

Traditional country of the Yugambeh, there’s more than just stunning national parks on offer here.

Stop at The Overflow Estate 1895 for a wine tasting with a difference as it specialises in lesser-known varieties such as Vermentino and Montepulciano. Meanwhile, Kooromba Vineyards and Lavender Farm near Mount Alford is a little slice of heaven.

The highlight, however, is the Lost World Valley, a section of the Lamington National Park that is like stepping into something from Jurassic Park. You won’t see Jeff Goldblum but you may see wallabies.

Escape to Cairns Tropical North Queensland

QCWA Holiday Units offers 1 and 2 Bedroom fully self-contained units catering for singles, couples and families — plus we have everything you need to make your Cairns holiday enjoyable and stress free.

Our Cairns Units are located just two blocks from the Cairns Esplanade and easy walking distance to the Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Business District. Restaurants, entertainment and shops are just a stroll away.

WINTER READING

Curl up with a blanket in front of the fire and enjoy a great book

Apples Never Fall

LIANE MORIARTY

When it comes to writing brilliant novels, there is no one better than Liane Moriarty — and Apples Never Fall does not disappoint.

It has that essential dark humour as we journey into the Delaney family. Joy and Stan lead an idyllic life being the sweethearts of the tennis circuit, winning tournaments. Then Stan makes the decision to sell the tennis centre so they can enjoy some much-needed relaxation time.

Their four children have fled the nest and are busy with family, business and trying to live up to their parents’ expectations.

One night a frightened girl, Savannah, knocks on Joy and Stan’s door. She is wet, cold and afraid that her boyfriend will find her, so Joy invites her into their home. What was supposed to be a short-term solution finds Joy teaming up with Savannah, filling her empty nest depression.

Then Joy goes missing and everyone starts pointing fingers at each other. Was it Savannah that had caused the disappearance? Or perhaps Joy and Stan’s marriage was not as rosy as originally thought?

Overall, Apples Never Fall is a great read and a real page turner.

The Very Last List of Vivian Walker

MEGAN ALBANY

Vivian Walker is not a risk taker; in fact, she is a compulsive list maker. When not writing lists, she is constantly thinking about the future lists that may be around the corner.

However, when her doctor informs Viv that she has terminal cancer, she is confronted with one of the biggest lists she must write. First there is her bucket list of what she wants to achieve before she shuffles off to meet her maker, then she also compiles two more lists: one for her husband, Clive, and another for son, Ethan. How else are they going to manage the housework, grocery shopping and more without her knowledge?

Author Megan Albany looks at cancer with a slightly humorous touch; her first novel is simply wonderful. Very moving and memorable with completely hilarious moments watching Viv’s life turn upside down with the dawning realisation that her family may cope better then she knew, and with crazy friends who need to be her rock when things get rough.

The Very Last List of Vivian Walker is a beautiful debut novel from a talented author.

Words by Deborah Phillips and Jessica Kramer Images Contributed

How High We Go in the Dark

SEQUOIA NAGAMATSU

This book, which also happens to be the author’s debut full-length work, is an absolute triumph of literary science-fiction.

Given the eerily familiar premise — an escaped pathogen wreaking havoc on the world as we know it — but written prior to our real-life pandemic, the book is a mix of terrifyingly prophetic and gloriously hopeful.

It’s told in a format not unlike a short story collection, with more than a dozen individual stories with a thin, subtle thread connecting them, if you keep your eyes peeled and remember every character’s name and background, that is.

The spread of the Arctic Plague after it escapes confinement from the fossilised body of a prehistoric girl and the uncertainty of scientists and citizens alike in the months following echo our world’s own experience with COVID-19. Yet, the aftermath as the plague continues is more dire in How High We Go in the Dark — from a euthanasia rollercoaster for terminally ill children and hotels for the dead, to the search for another habitable planet in outer space and a talking pig.

Through it all, humanity proves to be unflinchingly resilient and beautifully broken yet forever hopeful for the future.

Ordinary Monsters

J.M. MIRO

Publishing early July, Ordinary Monsters is the author’s first foray into the fantasy genre and the first book in a planned trilogy.

Set in the Victorian era, the book follows ordinary children with strange powers, called Talents, hunted by a mysterious man of smoke.

Charles Ovid, an orphan from Mississippi with a brutal childhood, heals regardless of what’s done to his body; Marlowe, found in a freight train car as a baby in England, glows with a bluish light; Komako from Meiji-era Tokyo can bend dust to her will; and a teenage street urchin, Ribs can turn invisible.

The story meanders through different perspectives and times, revealing character’s backstories piece by piece. The reader often finds, through these slowly revealed aspects, that the story they thought they were reading isn’t quite what it initially seemed.

While unashamedly dark and gritty, it is this that adds to the atmosphere of

Ordinary Monsters, and the reader can almost taste the yellow smog of Victorian London; breathe in the muggy heat of Mississippi; feel the emptiness of the orsine.

It’s a purely un-put-downable read, and the remaining instalments are eagerly anticipated.

Family of Liars

E. LOCKHART

When We Were Liars gained traction on TikTok, the author realised how much the book was loved by readers everywhere — and it was this that prompted the decision to write a prequel.

This prequel, Family of Liars, published in May this year to much excitement and reader enthusiasm — and while reading We Were Liars first is advantageous, it is not essential to the enjoyment of this book.

Following the parents of the first book’s main characters and on the same island, this book has every element now anticipated from E. Lockhart: family drama, first loves, teenage betrayal, twists and turns.

Part coming-of-age novel, part mystery-thriller, Family of Liars takes readers on a breathtaking ride from start to finish.

Queen Menopause ALISON DADDO

When Ali Daddo went through menopause, she found it a challenge to not see herself the way culture saw her. While she’d seen so many women refer to post-menopause as ‘the best years of their life’, there was also the aspect of menopause being held in shame by so many other females.

“We live in a world where women are still mostly seen as second class, where our beauty is our currency and our aging bodies deem us somewhat invisible,” Ali writes in the opening chapter.

It was this, as well as the loneliness of the menopause journey, that prompted Ali to write Queen Menopause as a guide and friendly partner to women going through ‘the change’.

With a format that makes it easy to jump in wherever you need — hot flushes?

Check. Libido? Check. Self-esteem?

Check. — but also an engaging, honest and compassionate read cover-to-cover, this book should be found on every woman’s bookshelf going forward.

Celebrating with coins and stamps

Thanks to an ingenious idea by the CWA of NSW, to celebrate 100 years, the CWA now has its own coin

Words by Jessica Kramer with Emmy-Clare Rule and Annika Scott Images Contributed by Royal Australian Mint, State Library of Queensland and QCWA

It’sa big year for the Country Women’s Association.

One hundred years ago in August, the Queensland CWA was founded, followed very shortly by the New South Wales CWA - marking the beginning of a nation-wide journey of women banding together to make a difference in their lives and others’.

To celebrate the big centenary, the CWA of NSW and QCWA collaborated with the Royal Australian Mint to release two special coins marking the occasion - a $1 uncirculated coin in unlimited mintage and a $1 gold-plated silver proof coin in a limited mintage of 2,022.

QCWA Centenary Committee’s Christine King said the commemorative coins’ design symbolised the Association’s ability to uplift women’s spirits, providing them with support and a voice while raising awareness about equality for women living in remote country regions and towns.

“The coin features an intricate pattern of a cotton doily in a nod to

the CWA’s well-known skills in crafts and cooking which are used for fundraising in their support of various causes. Within the doily are abstract female figures holding hands to show the association’s strong network of support, friendship and collaboration,” Christine said.

“The inner circle of the design symbolises a hot country sun, which is gold-plated on the SGP [silver gold-plated] version.

“Inside the sun is a lone silhouette of a country mother and child, with the space around them illustrating country isolation. Within her shadow are eight female figures which represent each state/territory that make up the Country Women’s Association of Australia.”

An original idea by the CWA of NSW, getting a special

coin minted is quite the process.

The Royal Australian Mint’s Media and Communications Officer, Annika Scott, said each year the Mints receive many suggested themes from a range of individuals and organisations.

“The Royal Australian Mint encourages all Australians to submit coin themes as per our Uncirculating Coins Policy. Organisations and individuals are able to request a coin design,” Annika explained.

“Once a coin theme has been requested, the Royal Australian Mint will determine if it is suitable to feature on Australian Legal Tender. If the Royal Australian Mint decides to pursue a suggested theme, we will liaise with the appropriate bodies to obtain the necessary copyright approval and satisfy any other legal requirements.”

It’s not something that can happen ‘overnight’ either, with the lead time between the Mint receiving a suggested theme and the coin being made up to 18 months.

“To develop a coin design, an initial design brief is provided to the Mint’s coin designers,” Annike said.

“The Royal Australian Mint’s product developers collaborate with the coin designers and engineers to create an image that will translate well onto a coin.

“Once the design is approved, a three-dimensional model is sculpted using the most appropriate method, either traditional plaster modelling with tools, or 3D modelling software.

“The coin designer can spend many hours working on the model, refining the finest details to ensure the design can be manufactured to the highest quality.”

Throughout the process of developing the Centenary of the Country Women’s Association coin program, the Mint worked closely with members of the CWA to ensure the coin design and associated product packaging accurately reflected the Country Women’s Association, Annike said.

The president of CWA of NSW, Stephanie Stanhope, told the Mint: “We are absolutely delighted to have partnered with the Royal Australian Mint in the development and release of these very special coins to celebrate the centenary year of the Country Women’s Association.

“It’s an exciting year for the organisation, and to have a coin honouring the many members that have contributed so much to CWA and in turn, their rural communities across the last 100 years is truly a privilege and honour.”

In addition to the coin, a commemorative postage stamp has been released through Australia Post to acknowledge 100 years of service and advocacy for the country women and their families.

The stamp features a portrait of Grace Munro MBE, who played a key role in establishing the CWA in NSW, while the air letter and air card feature a photograph of CWA members

packing sheepskin vests for soldiers serving overseas during World War II.

“Many members and office bearers in our Association will remember posting mail and waiting weeks for a reply,” Christine said.

“Our archives are full of wonderful handwritten letters that form a vital part of the association’s history.

“The letters tell stories of life on the land, the harshness of drought and floods, and many a recipe was sent by post.”

You can purchase the stamp from $1.10 for an individual gummed stamp to $11.45 for the sheetlet pack from auspost.com.au/shop/collectables/stamp-issues

The commemorative coin can be purchased from QCWA branches or via the Royal Australian Mint webshop at eshop.ramint.gov.au/centenary-of-the-country-womensassociation-cwa

Commemorative items through the years

95 years: QCWA perfume ‘1922’

90 years: QCWA Ruth magazine launched; From Outback to the Sea: Pictorial History of QCWA book

80 years: Country Stitches: touring exhibition of QCWA handcraft

75 years: Country Women: History of the First 75 Years book

50 years: 50 Years History book; Past State President badge introduced

Making a difference in Mossman

Florence Paterson was dedicated to her community and QCWA

Florence

Eve Anderton was born on February 18, 1905 at Warwick to parents Shelley Wilson and Jane Eve Anderton. She married William David Paterson in Mitchell on November 1, 1924, and the couple and their three children, John, Evelyn and Claire, moved to Mossman in 1937/1938.

While in Mossman the family lived in the upstairs residence of the then-Queensland National Bank in Mill Street, where William performed the duties of manager of the branch.

John, Evelyn and Claire commenced school at Mossman State School where Mr Bailey was the Head Master at the time.

Florence was a community-minded person actively involved in associations such as Red Cross, Patriotic Fund and Church of England Guild, and was involved in plane spotting during the war period and actively made camouflage nets in the Shire Hall as a fundraising activity.

As upright members of the community, the Paterson residence always maintained an ‘open house’ policy, welcoming visitors as they arrived.

As a member of the Patriotic Fund, Florence - along with others - would spend time at night developing packages containing fruit cake, khaki hankies, aspirin, ounces of tobacco, cigarettes, toothbrushes, pipes, mosquito nets, and more to send over to the Pacific War.

Alongside her husband William (whose role was that of honorary secretary of the Douglas Shire Patriotic Fund, Mossman), Florence encouraged the implementation of “Insurance Premiums on Policies Held By Members Of Australian Fighting Forces” (reference to a letter addressed to

the Secretary, Country Women’s Association, Mossman, dated 3rd February 1941).

Florence became interested in the QCWA in Mossman and in 1939 joined the organisation.

At the Annual Meeting held on May 16, 1941, nominations were called for branch president with Florence’s name being put forward.

Florence declined the nomination and was subsequently nominated for vice president, which was moved and seconded - completing her appointment to the position (reference Annual Report May 16, 1941).

Florence’s next appointment occurred the following year at the Annual Meeting held on May 25, 1942.

It is noted in the minutes of the meeting that the chairwoman called for nominations for president; Florence was nominated, moved by Mrs W Johnston, seconded by Mrs Stapleton and the appointment confirmed; this was carried by acclamation.

Florence resigned from the QCWA Mossman Branch in 1946 with the transfer of her husband William to another branch of the Queensland National Bank in Ayr, followed by a transfer to Innisfail.

The family returned to Mossman where William was appointed as Secretary of the Cane Growers Association in 1953 (reference Northern Post page 108).

Florence passed away at the Princes Alexander Hospital, South Brisbane on April 14, 1975, aged 75 years old after a battle with a myocardial infarction.

Words and Images by Claire Kruse

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Cake, commitment, creed

A cup of tea, an elegant slice of sponge cake. Heaven.

Words and Images by State Library of Queensland

Queenslanders love a piece of cake (or a pumpkin scone) and have happily handed down tried-and-true recipes to family members over the generations. These dog-eared, batter-splattered gems are beloved parts of a family’s history.

At the State Library of Queensland, we have the pleasure of working with mementos, treasures and even recipes of the past. Stories of Queensland’s people, their lives and

accomplishments fill our repositories as we collect, preserve, and share the stories of our state’s diverse history.

The story of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) is an integral part of that history (and also includes some lovely references to cake). So, let’s go on a guided tour of some of our treasures that help tell the stories of friendship, community and connection at the QCWA.

RAINBOW CAKE AND PINEAPPLES

State Library holds QCWA cookbooks from all over Queensland, from the outback to the tropics. Many bear the splashes, smudges, and cook’s annotations of a lifetime of faithful use.

The ‘tried-and-true favourite’ entries in Capricornia Division’s Kokotungo Branch Autographed Favourite Recipes 1958-59 include the names of contributors, and many entries are ticked in pencil and annotated as being ‘good’ including a recipe for small ball-shaped chocolate and coconut treats dubbed ‘Mysteries’.

Another handwritten note describes the order of colour for a rainbow cake: ‘Brown on bottom, pink (not too deep a colour) and white on top.’ Browsing the mouth-watering cakes, tarts, scones, biscuits, and puddings, the cookbook also reveals a few classic recipes containing Queensland tropical staples such as mango and pineapple.

We have copies of the Kilkivan Branch Silver Jubilee Cookery Book [photo] and Mt Alford: The Golden Jubilee Cook Book, each published to celebrate specific anniversaries. Others were named after the patroness of the day, such as the Lady Lavarack Cookery Book. Lady Sybil was the wife of Sir John Lavarack, Governor of Queensland 1946-1957.

SAY CHEESE PLEASE

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, and the dozens of QCWA photographs in State Library’s collection say plenty about the many amazing women involved in the association over time.

We love the fun, festive nature of a photo of the QCWA cake competition held at Brisbane City Hall in 1962 [photo].

The annual competition has been held since 1959 and according to a State Library of Queensland magazine article from 2010:

“The contest has up to 16 classes, mostly cakes, and these follow set recipes. The cakes are old Queensland favourites, such as Peach Blossom Cake and Orange Bar, and competition is fierce – ‘umbrellas at 40 paces’, remarked an organiser.”

On the hunt for the oldest QCWA photograph in the collection we found a charming image of members gathered on the verandah and steps of the CWA hall in Goomeri from 1927. [photo]

Other group photos record special occasions such as the opening of rest rooms or halls, including one particularly lovely photo taken to commemorate the State Conference at Mackay in 1954. The image shows a large group of elegantly dressed ladies standing in front of their Art Deco QCWA Hall in Gordon Street, Mackay. [photo]

Several portrait photographs can be found in our online catalogue including one from 1928 of the State President Mrs Fairfax and the council members of state divisions. [photo]

Over the years, the QCWA has lodged hundreds of documents with State Library for safekeeping. Most of these are minute books for closed branches, including Younger Set meetings. If you have been part of the QCWA for some years you will have certainly seen changes in your branch over time, and documents such as

meeting minutes paint a picture of how branches worked and what was important to members in years gone by.

We also have the minutes of the Cambooya Branch meeting of August 21 1943 during the Second World War where it was noted “the members said the creed and observed a minute’s silence for those on active service”. [photo]

Annual reports, issues of Queensland Countrywoman, and published branch histories such as Blackwater Branch’s 70 years of history: 1927-1997 can also be found within our collection.

AN X-RAY PLANT AND A WHISTLE-STOP TOUR

A book called the Tour of Branches of the Northern and Central Divisions by Mrs. Fairfax and Joan White traces a whistle-stop tour that took almost three months from June to August in 1927.

The intrepid Mrs Fairfax and Ms White travelled 3000 miles by road and another 3000 by rail, through drought-stricken districts, to attend gatherings and personally meet with members. The tour was also an opportunity to see first-hand the achievements of the branches.

When the pair were in Hughenden it was noted: “At 10 o’clock we met members of the branch. There are about 70 members and they have done a great deal for the hospital in the four years that the branch has been in existence; they have given an operating table and two dozen chairs and are now working to present an X-Ray Plant to the hospital”.

Other collection items of interest include two pieces of sheet music composed for the association in 1931 to be sung around the piano. My Creed was composed by Laurie Annette Sterne with lyrics by American Howard Arnold Walters. [photo]

Published in Warwick, the piece was dedicated to then State President Ruth B. Fairfax. Forward! Ever Forward! Song of the Country Women’s Association was composed by Queensland’s own Boonah-born teacher and musician Meta Maclean.

TEA TOWELS AND TENACITY

A search through our repositories also located memorabilia such as cookery contest brochures, competition schedules, a membership card, tea towels and a Harrisville Branch Golden Jubilee 1927-1977 commemorative dish. [photo]

In 2013 the QCWA was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, recognising its significant contribution to the social and economic wellbeing of country women and rural communities. An interview with Norma Lovelace OAM and Jennie Hill discussing the history and development of the association can be found on our website.

Our trip down memory lane and through our collection has revealed some wonderful achievements during the QCWA’s first 100 years and we look forward to collecting, preserving, and sharing their journey for many years to come.

By the way, State Library celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, so check out our website to discover a world of surprises and treasures from Queensland’s past and present.

Happy birthday QCWA. Time for some cake?

Research by State Library’s Maxine Fisher (Specialist Librarian) and Robyn Hamilton (Lead, Collection Building) Images for the story: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/ IhwJZ3IMfE

Kicking goals

The QCWA branch in Pine Rivers has a long and successful past

Words and Images by Anna Mead, Pine Rivers branch secretary

Pine Rivers Branch was established on June 29, 1938 in what was then known as the Pine Rivers Shire, a rural area located about 25 kilometres north of Brisbane.

QCWA

In 2008, the area was incorporated into the much larger Moreton Bay Regional Council, which was an amalgamation of the Pine Rivers Shire Council, Redcliffe City Council and Caboolture Shire Council areas.

Prior to the building of the QCWA Hall, where it still stands today on the very busy Anzac Avenue in Petrie, memories of one long serving early member of the branch, Alice Peters, whose daughter is a current member of the branch, recalled having to trudge through paddocks of waist high grass to attend meetings (at an unknown venue).

Alice also recalled that she and her colleagues had to manhandle crockery and tables to the local cattle sales, kill, pluck and cook poultry and use wood fired coppers to boil water to provide catering services for the hungry livestock traders.

Unfortunately, the information relating to the early days of the QCWA Pine Rivers Branch is very limited or non-existent, so we have been unable to ascertain where meetings were held and sadly the details of founding members and the membership up until the building of the hall, appears to have been lost.

In June 1962, the Pine Rivers Branch moved into the brand new QCWA Hall which was built on land on Anzac Avenue, which in those days was the main road to the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

The land had been gifted to the Pine Rivers Branch for the benefit of members. The building cost around £800 ($1600).

The branch members celebrated on opening day with a fete and £85 of the money raised that day went towards purchasing a piano. By 1996, the hall was debt free.

Photographs taken in 1962 show members in front of the new hall, all with hats and handbags and some also wearing gloves. Times have certainly changed and these days, much more comfortable and casual attire is acceptable.

The hall was used for branch meetings and hired for various community and private events until 2014, when members had to temporarily relocate due to the need to have asbestos removed from the building.

The monthly meetings were moved to the Girl Guides Hut in Nightingale Road, Lawnton.

A business plan was prepared in 2014, with a proposal to not only remove the asbestos, but to re-roof the hall and replace the existing original kitchen with a registered stateof-the-art commercial kitchen, which would allow the branch to expand their catering opportunities and provide a suitable kitchen for the preparation of food items, jams, pickles, etc, and a venue for conducting small group cooking classes and demonstrations. Members returned to the hall in 2017.

In 2019, the branch was lucky enough to receive a Federal Government grant to have air conditioners installed — something that is very much appreciated on hot steamy days.

Throughout the years, members have been heavily involved in handicraft and cookery competitions and in more recent years, photography.

The branch has also had a long association with the Pine Rivers Show Society, catering for volunteers and the public during their annual show and providing ribbons for some of the handicraft competitions.

The branch also sometimes utilise their facilities for functions larger than can be managed at their own hall.

Over the years, members of the branch have also been involved in various positions in QCWA beyond those of the branch and also taken on involvement with domestic violence, Hugs for the Heart and the EKKA.

Each year the branch holds activities such as craft days and Country Kitchens day, along with fund-raising activities, including stalls, fashion parades, cent auctions, raffles, etc, all of which are well supported by members of other branches and the public.

This year, the major fund-raisers will be an Australian-themed cent auction on June 4, and a fashion parade on October 22.

The branch is also excitedly planning the QCWA Centenary Ball to be held on September 24 at the Pine Rivers Showgrounds.

We are hoping that up to 120 invited guests and members of the public will join with branch members for an evening of music, dancing, supper and lots of prizes (tickets will be $50 a head and available from the branch from July 1).

The branch also hires the hall to a number of regular hirers, providing a venue for their various meetings and an additional small income for the branch.

As a branch, we are also very fortunate to have the wonderful support of a number of husbands and friends of members, who willingly provide the additional physical assistance that is often necessary and can’t be entirely provided by members due to age or physical limitations.

Members also enjoy a social side with craft sessions,

luncheons, morning teas, etc, and there is always the Christmas Lunch that we all look forward to at the end of each busy year.

As with all other QCWA branches, 2020 and 2021 have presented the branch with limitations and disappointments, with events cancelled and fundraising activities curtailed.

The QCWA Pine Rivers Branch of today is a friendly and enthusiastic group of 23 members, all looking forward to a future different to that envisaged prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also one that sees the regaining of the ability to hold the many and varied events, fundraising activities and community service that we all so much enjoy.

As a group, we have found that each of us are able to contribute to the good of the branch in our own way — we all seem to find that niche which allows us to be ourselves and foster our own interests and talents whilst contributing to the overall success of the branch.

We also look forward to growth, with great support from all levels of government in the area, an active Facebook page and a renewed awareness in the community.

This has brought interest from a number of prospective new members, confirming that QCWA Pine Rivers Branch is alive and well!

QCWA STATE PRESIDENT’S BLOG

Whatdrew me to become a member of the Queensland Country Women’s Association?

I would say it was the move from town to a small beach-side suburb north of Mackay, which happened after my boys had all left home.

There were no more school parents and citizens meetings to attend, no more tuckshop days — leaving a space in my life that needed filling.

When we moved to Seaforth, we knew no-one and in order to make new friends, I needed to find something to join; the choices offered, either the Bowls Club or the local Seaforth branch of the QCWA.

Not knowing anything about CWA, I went along to the meeting that was advertised on the post office notice board.

That day in August 1996 I made one of the best decisions of my life; I joined a group of women who would become my friends, my mentors. It was a journey that would take me around Queensland, opening opportunities to take on roles I had never done before: secretary, treasurer, International Officer and much more.

I would encourage women of all ages to

join this Association — an association that has been around for 100 years helping women and children, families; providing assistance through flood, fire and drought; an association that has been responsible for making change happen in rural, remote and urban communities; a voice that the government listens to.

So to those readers who are not already QCWA members who are looking for friendship or wanting to help improve the life of women and families in their lives, this is a call out to you to join.

Help us celebrate our 100 years and see us continue what we do best in our communities, whether they be rural or urban.

Check out our website qcwa.org.au click on membership and join us. I guarantee you will be welcomed and you will never be without friends.

To those who are members of the Association this is your opportunity to encourage friends, daughters, sisters to join what you know is a great organization.

100 years and beyond.

Sheila Campbell State President

President Sheila Campbell reflects on her time with QCWA as the Association celebrates 100 years.

Centenary Dinner

TheQueensland Country Women’s Association is not just about knitting, fundraising and advocacy, it has been connecting people for more than 100 years and that’s what he loves about QCWA, said ABC Breakfast Presenter and Centenary Dinner co-host Craig Zonca. Craig led an influential gathering of dignitaries, supporters, sponsors, office-bearers and members gathered in Brisbane on March 30 to acknowledge and celebrate the centenary of service and advocacy by the QCWA for country women and their families. He said QCWA was about compassion and practicality, full of people who demonstrated pragmatic hands-on support in times of need and provided a shoulder to lean on, and who maintained steely determination to makes things happen.

Special guests at the stylish celebration at Victoria Park, Herston, included grazier and philanthropist Tim Fairfax AC, the grandson of Ruth Fairfax who founded the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) in August 1922 to offer friendship, support and connection for rural women facing the tyranny of distance.

Mr Fairfax said Ruth and other QCWA founders were seeking the common good, banded as one body and one spirit that worked to make each other’s lives better. They shared trials and hardships, to help each other, to look up and laugh and lift.

Dame Quentin Bryce AD, CVO, officially launched the Centenary Celebrations and paid tribute to the visionary founders and their inspirational effort in enabling QCWA to celebrate this distinguished year and become a much-loved iconic force across Queensland.

Dame Quentin, who famously acknowledges her childhood in Ilfracombe in central western Queensland at every opportunity, said her mother thrived on QCWA involvement as a member of the Winton Branch in the mid-1930s then Ilfracombe Branch in the 1940s.

She spoke about service, selflessness and accomplishment, how for 100 years the membership was always contributing, advocating and being progressive while maintaining lovely traditions that are key to sustainability.

Patron and Governor of Queensland Dr Jeanette Young PSM cut the Centenary Celebration cake alongside Mr Fairfax and Dame Quentin in an actionpacked program that included a digeridoo solo by Eckybow as part of The Acknowledgement of Country and a keynote address by mining magnate Ms Gina Rhinehart AO, speaking via video link.

Renowned bush poet Gary Fogerty delivered his special CWA Centenary Poem, a new QCWA Centenary Anthem composed by Yeppoon Branch member Narelle Schirmer marked the 100 years & beyond, while musical entertainment was provided by soprano Ashleigh Denning and the Centenary Songbirds.

The 100-year QCWA history was presented through an archival display across 12 tables reflecting early moments and milestones of the Association gathered by the Archives Committee led by State Vice President Northern Region Dr Christine Reghenzani OAM.

Centenary Committee chair and past president Christine King said the QCWA model of branch membership endures and continues to promote the interests of local members, reflecting the grassroots laid down by Ruth Fairfax and the founding group of women, whose passion, commitment and desire to improve the lives of others still underpins the Association.

Current QCWA State President Sheila Campbell said QCWA had grown and evolved during the past century to prevail as a trusted, iconic and relevant organisation which, through more than 200 branches and 3500 members, influenced governments at local, state and federal levels.

Through fundraising efforts and partnerships, the Association provided practical support to rural women and their families in times of drought, flood or other emergencies, with its Public Rural Crisis Fund distributing nearly $11m between 2011-2019 to more than 4878 families in need.

At this time of change and uncertainty, Ms Campbell said the Association continued to respond by providing opportunities for women ranging from education, cooking and craft competitions, workshops, networking events, international study, fundraising and advocacy.

QCWA was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2013 and in 2019, and received a Queensland Great Award for empowering and inspiring women across the state.

QCWA provides support and friendship for women of all ages in all areas of the state, both rural and urban.

QCWA lobbies to improve conditions for women and their families.

Handicraft, cookery, photography and international study are some of the association’s many activities.

WINTER QUIZ

by Jessica Kramer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What is QCWA’s 2022 Country of Study? a) Malaysia b) Japan c) Australia

QCWA founder, after which this magazine is named: Ruth ___ Fairfax.

How many marsupial species live in North America?

What year was Ruth magazine started?

A 330ml can of Coca-Cola has how many teaspoons of sugar in it?

What year was Ruth Fairfax OBE born? a) 1879 b) 1878 c) 1877

How many grandchildren did Hubert and Ruth Fairfax have?

Australia’s largest cattle station is ___ Creek.

In which Australian state was the first Country Women’s Association branch formed?

How many time zones are there in our country?

What confectionery is traditionally used to play the game Chubby Bunny, causing a potential choking hazard?

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Who won State of Origin in 1984?

What event is presumed to be the origin point of the QCWA being linked to partaking in tea and scones?

What element on the periodic table has the symbol K?

Which came first: Associated Country Women of the World or the Country Women’s Association in Australia?

True or false: brown eggs are more nutritionally rich than white eggs.

How many QCWA branches were there by 1928? a) 283 b) 311 c) 197

The second-best selling album of all time is: a) Thriller by Michael Jackson; b) Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf; c) Back in Black by AC/DC; d) Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

In 1948, what was the newly relocated QCWA state headquarters in Brisbane named?

What was the birth name of notorious Aussie bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt?

ANSWERS 1: c) Australia. 2: One - the Virginia opossom. 3: 2012. 4: Nine. 5: b) 1878. 6: Four - son Vincent had two daughters (Sally & Ruth) and two sons (John and Timothy). 7: Anna. 8: Queensland. 9: Three. 10: Marshmallows. 11: Beatrice. 12: The Maroons/Queensland. 13: The EKKA. 14: Potassium. 15: Country Women’s Association in Australia. 16: False. 17: a) 283. 18: c) Back in Black by AC/DC. 19: Ruth Fairfax House. 20: Frederick Ward.

Join

Members of the Queensland Country Women’s Association have been coming together since 1922 to provide friendship, inspiration and a voice on issues that affect communities, women and families. You can make a difference too.

There’s sure to be a QCWA branch near you.

For fun,

What we do:

• Advocacy — QCWA provides a voice for women on serious issues relevant to families, communities, rural life and education.

• Distributing Public Rural Crisis Fund

— hands-on help to Queenslanders affected by floods, droughts and fires.

• Fundraising for good causes — local, national and international.

• Workshops and classes to upskill and inspire — arts and crafts, music, cookery, public speaking, meetings.

• Improving the health of Queenslanders through Country Kitchens — a joint project with Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

• Holiday accommodation — we own and manage holiday accommodation throughout the state.