Macquarie CWA Group - March 2023 report

Most recent meeting of the Macquarie CWA Group, was held at Dubbo RSL in early March, with the host being the Terramungamine Branch.

Ten branches were present at the event with the welcome by group president, Robin Godwin, who also chaired the meeting.

The guest speaker was manager of regional experiences at Dubbo council, Jamie Angus, who spoke on the upgrading and the new features at the Wellington Caves’ Cathedral caves; phosphate caves; and the museum.

He also discussed projects on the go including Old Dubbo Goal.

In her president’s report, Ms Godwin con- gratulated all branches on holding recent events to celebrate the CWA centenary in 2022, as well as a special mention to Dubbo Day Branch that was formed 100-years-ago and which is still serving the community.

Congratulations also went to all of the suc- cessful cooks and handicrafters who made the effort to enter in these competitions and thanks also to the judges.

The state executive report said that all branches must update their procedures manu- als each July and should not use out-of-date forms with all branches advised to download: ‘A Guide to the Food Safety Standards’.

For the annual Sydney show catering; volun- teers are needed and should contact the show committee secretary as soon as, if you can help at the CWA tea-rooms at the Royal Easter Show.

Congratulations also to all who entered this year’s handicraft competition, without which your beautiful items, there would be no compe- tition. There was such a large quantity of handi- craft, too numerous to mention with congratula- tions to all who participated. The judges were very impressed with the high-quality of entries: Well done, ladies, the winners were:

Natural Fibres: 

5-ply or finer: Marjorie Blatch. 

5-ply or thicker: First Marion Anderson; second Lyn Waterford.

Branch Challenge (four needle cases): 

First Wongarbon Branch; second Terramungamine Branch; third Dubbo Evening Branch.

International Handicraft Article: 

Ruth Cargill Dubbo Evening.

Cultural Report

It was announced that the CWA of NSW Cultural Woman of Note for 2023, is Dr Catherine Hamlin (AC).

Catherine was Macquarie Group’s nomina- tion, so please take the time to read her profile, which was published in the December issue of ‘The Country Woman Journal’.

There is also a photography competition at present.

The sections are as follows:

Senior photography section A (in colour) on the subject: ‘Down the Road’.

Senior Photography Section B (black-and- White) on the subject: ‘Portrait’.

So please get snapping.

The Land Cookery Report

This was a wonderful day with many entries, a total of 92 from 19 competitors, and it was great to see a range of members having success, with 15 of the 19, receiving a prize in at least one of the 13 entered sections.

The Jean Cowell Trophy for champion cook (for the best entry of the day), went to Joan Yeo of the Gollan Branch, for her ginger fluff sponge. Mrs Yeo was also the most successful exhibitor, with four firsts; two seconds; and two thirds.

The branch that raised the most funds (per capita) through Land cookery, was the Gollan Branch. Congratulations also to the Wongarbon Branch that had 46 entries in their branch com- petition.

The nine cooks who took-out one or more first places, now have the opportunity to put their skills to the test against the rest of NSW at the state conference which will be held at Bathurst in May - good luck to everyone. Social Secretary Report

In place is the accommodation/travel for the state conference in Bathurst with the ‘Twinning Dinner’ to be held on the Tuesday evening. Publicity Report

Our 100th celebration’s high tea held in December featured in The Gilgandra Weekly, Dubbo Liberal, Photo News, and will be in The Regional Lifestyle Magazine winter edition.

The publicity forum held in February hosted by the CWA of NSW CEO, Danica Leys, was also very enlightening with six ladies from the CWA of NSW having formed a committee to hold a publicity forum every three months.

Remember The Country Woman Journal reaches all members to keep them informed about events and the latest CWA news. In other publicity news, there will be a publicity stand at the conference in Bathurst.