CWA more than knitting and scones

TASMANIA’S largest women’s organisation has been supporting the welfare and equity of women and children for more than eight decades.

Established in 1936, the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of Tasmania has more than 600 members spread across 33 Tasmanian branches.

“In 1936 the first meeting was convened by Lady

Clarke in Launceston with an attendance of more than 80 women,” CWA Tasmania president Maureen Hindley said.

“In the 1930s women were confined to their homes and CWA of Tasmania was the first organisation of its kind where women could connect and share skills and knowledge.”

In the organisation’s early days members worked to organise child health clinics and raise funds for various community projects through the sale of knitted and baked goods.

“The CWA of Tasmania has since evolved from an organisation that primarily supported rural communities to something much larger and more involved,” Ms Hindley said.

“Since the organisation’s establishment it has lobbied government on some important public issues.

“The members have helped to mandate seatbelts in cars, add warning audio to pedestrian lights and decrease speed limits in high density areas, to name just a few.”

Each year the CWA selects a Tasmanian charity to support through fundraising efforts.

This year the organisation will donate all its fundraising to the Royal Flying Doctors (RFD) of Tasmania dental service.

“The service provides initial dental services, but it found that patients were not seeking further assistance with regard to their dental health,” Ms Hindley said.

“The RFD wanted some funding to go back into these rural and remote communities to offer follow-up appointments and continue that service.”

Ms Hindley said CWA member numbers had been slowly decreasing, but the organisation had recently established an online branch to accommodate the changing work and life commitments of members.

“The lifestyles of Tasmanian women are evolving and the traditional structure of the association is no longer practical for women in the workforce,” Ms Hindley said.

“It is our hope to rejuvenate the community branches and attract more younger women to join.

“The CWA is so much more than just knitting booties and baking scones, and we are calling for strong and bright women who want to work to enhance their community to join us.”

To find out more about the CWA of Tasmania visit www.cwaintasmania.com.au