By LIA SPENCER
A LOT has changed in 90 years, but the aim of the Queensland Country Women’s Association is still the same.
The Warwick Condamine Branch celebrated its 90th birthday with a formal celebration on the weekend. The group’s main objective is to help women and their families through developing skill and lobbying governments.
About 100 people attended the event, including Southern Downs mayor Peter Blundell, QWCA Border Division president Joyce Bell, Minister for Health Lawrence Springborg, local members and representatives from surrounding branches.
Border Division secretary Jenny Whitsed said that the chairwoman of the committee Shirley Owen read a history of the brand, Penny Campbell-Wilson read the first meeting minutes and guest speak QCWA state president Robyn McFarlane gave an interesting talk.
Ms Whitsed said there had been a lot of structural changes in 90 years.
“In 1924, a branch formed which was the Warwick Branch Country Women’s Association, but about 20 people were going to resign if a separate branch wasn’t made, so the Condamine branch was formed,” she said.
“When the town of Condamine formed a branch, the Condamine branch became the Condamine Valley Branch. It eventually merged with the Warwick Branch.”
There are currently about 4000 members of the QCWA, with the hopes of expanding dramatically this year.
“Membership keeps dropping as the older members die out. There are about 4000 current members but we have the challenge to increase the membership to 10,000 in a year,” Ms Whitsed said.
“If we all get one friend to join we will be almost there with 8000 members.”
MS Whitsed said the CWA was an important part of the community.
“We know the local areas and the needs of people in the area and our objective is to improve conditions for women and their families,” she said.
“In some areas at the present time, even though we have had rain, people are still suffering from the effects of drought. We can give them food vouchers and things like that to help. We also have a young branch with young women who learn to cook and sew and the other basics.”
