Country women were back tackling the big issues and giving a voice to the bush proving they are still a force to be reckoned with.

More than 600 delegates from around the State attended the CWA of NSW annual conference held in Bathurst over four days from 8 to 11 May. 

Delegates from the Castlereagh Country Group attended included Purlewaugh member, Wendy Baldock (group president) and Irene Worrell and Evelyn Hampton from Baradine branch.  

The 101st Conference began with the Scots All Saints Pipes and Drums Band and featured Welcome to Country by Aunty Gloria Rogers followed by the official opening by Gail Commens, Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) South Pacific Area President, and State president, Joy Beames (Dunedoo), who was also re-elected for another term.  

Keynote Speaker, Shanna Whan, CEO and founder of Sober in the Country talked about the charity set up to encourage rural regions to address rural alcoholism and alcohol addiction and to encourage country pubs and gatherings to offer alternative options to alcohol.  A recovering alcoholic she has taken her message of ‘Booze in the Bush’ state-wide in an attempt to stop the high number of young country men and women who are being killed on country roads when under the influence of alcohol.

Members discussed and debated a range of issues that will inform future advocacy efforts. Motions passed included support for measures to boost the ranks of overseas nurses in rural and regional areas, the establishment of dedicated palliative care units in all regional NSW hospitals, greater protections for koala habitat, the cessation of online betting platforms and mobile phone apps, address the national housing crisis facing women and the mandating of a state-wide pet cat curfew.

Voting

Voting on the motions wrapped up with consideration of five urgency motions, all of which were endorsed by delegates. They included a call for mandatory life sentences for those who kill law enforcement officers and frontline emergency and health workers, and the need for increased support for those in rural and regional communities wanting to study at university.

It was announced that $36,500 had been raised over the past twelve months towards the CWA of NSW support for medical research into ovarian cancer.

An NBN representative talked about scams and encouraged members to block and report every online fraud to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission• A (ACCC) Scamwatch.  

The head of the State Rural Crime Prevention Team based in Dubbo, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside spoke about rural crime, which appears to be increasing. Apparently, 50% of rural crime is not reported and in the previous twelve months approximately 12,000 sheep and 5,000 cattle were stolen in NSW. He advised farmers to photograph tags and all machinery, and increase security and use unique identification marking and satellite tags.

Greg Sam, CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) advised that over 45,000 retrievals had been carried out in the past year from the service based in Dubbo and Broken Hill. He talked about the difficulty in competing for qualified staff and predicts approximately fifty rural towns will lose their general practitioner service within the next ten years. As a charity, the RFDS competes for donated funds. They currently have 60 aircraft, operate 590 clinics and assisted in giving out 32,623 vaccines over twelve months.

State secretary, Pam Wright reported there are currently 364 branches with a total of 8,600 Association members; a welcome membership increase over the past twelve months.  The Association also made a profit of $100,000 from selling 43,131 scones at the Royal Easter Show.  

ABOVE: Castlereagh Country Group members, Barbara Gow and Wendy Baldock accepted the trophy for coming second in the group handicraft challenge of eight articles. (Image;E. Hampton)

Competition

Castlereagh Country Group did well in the State handicraft competition winning second place in the group challenge of eight articles.

First prizes were won by Jenny Nott (Kandos) beaded embroidery, Margaret Skropeta (Mudgee) handsewn men’s trousers and Alice Dryburgh (Mudgee Evening) hand knitted cardigan. Barbara Gow (Mudgee) took out a second prize for her Zucchini and Capsicum pickles and Lyn Halpin (Rylestone) a second prize for her Date and Walnut Roll.

Emma Harris (Baradine Central School) came second in the student international Latvian postcard competition and Barbara Hale (Rylestone) won the Garry Prize for her essay entitled ‘What CWA means to me’.