FRIENDSHIP, new challenges and advocacy are just a few of the factors that attract women to the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW.
The CWA is currently running its “Find Your Place” campaign, which urges women to consider joining their local branch to take part in activities ranging from fundraising for community and broader causes, to helping set association policies as part of a wider advocacy agenda.
The CWA of NSW has 8000 members and each has a different story to tell about why they joined and what they value most.
The one thing they all have in common is a firm belief that they’ve “found their place”.
It is the diversity of programs that has kept Edwina Whitworth, 85, active in her local branch in Dorrigo and, before that, in Wagga Wagga Evening for 50 years.
From Nottingham in England, Edwina and her husband emigrated to Australia in 1974.
“A neighbour suggested I accompany her to the local CWA meeting,” she told News Of The Area.
“I’d never heard of the organisation but went along as a way to meet people.”
She signed up in October 1975 and in February 2025 was recognised as a Life Member, with Michael Kemp MP joining her for a celebratory morning tea.
Edwina has taken up various official positions on committees and also prides herself on her work behind the scenes.
“I wish people would see the CWA as more than ‘jam and scones’; we are a force to be reckoned with,” she said.
“The CWA advocated for white lines down the centre of roads, particularly in rural areas, which led to their implementation as a safety feature, and for many road safety initiatives, including seatbelts in back seats.
“They also advocate for education and social services.”
Edwina is also proud of what the association offers local communities, such as the Dorrigo CWA’s “Sconversation” morning teas held on the first Saturday of every month.
“We have members and visitors attend and our comfortable rooms are always full; there’s not a mobile phone in sight.”
Kae Anforth, who lives in Urunga, is one of the six members making up Repton Raleigh CWA who meet at Mylestom Hall.
She joined the CWA 20 years ago and enjoys “putting her hand up” to help, including in the Tearoom at this year’s Royal Easter Show in Sydney.
“I was in charge of the fish and chips and worked for seven days from 5am until 9 in the evening,” she told NOTA.
“The team served 40,500 homemade scones at the show.”
Kae is also a keen supporter of advocacy work.
“The CWA is a strong organisation and because of that the government listens to us.”
Trish Stabback is a member of CWA’s Woolgoolga branch.
She’s held a range of local and state positions and is currently President, Secretary, Vice President and Hall Booking Officer, and she has been a delegate to group and state conferences.
It was only when she retired to Arrawarra that Trish was “finally able to go to a CWA meeting”, where she said she felt “warmly received”.
“I knew that I had at last found what I wanted to do in my retirement.
“Tweed Heads 2007 was my first State Conference, and I have not missed one since.
“I lost my husband to a fatal heart attack while playing golf in 2020, and CWA has been a comfort and a blessing to me.
“[It] offers incredible opportunities for women of all ages, backgrounds, and interests to work together, to learn from and to support each other.
“CWA has taught me so much about advocacy, handicraft and cookery, but I feel that I always have more to learn and to contribute.”
For more information about the CWA go to cwaofnsw.org.au/branches.
By Andrea Ferrari
