General News
7 July, 2024
CWA Evening Branch News
Eleven members brave cold to attend Gilgandra CWA meeting.
By Hilda Newstead, publicity officer
The Gilgandra Country Women’s Association (CWA) Evening Branch’s June 19 meeting was held on a very cold winter’s night. Eleven members arrived and inside there was warmth and friendship.
President Rebekah Makila welcomed everyone, the CWA Motto was recited, and then it was down to business. Secretary Jennie White read the apologies and minutes of the last meeting and correspondence/incoming mail etc. The NBN will be installed this week to enhance the leasing of the rooms. The outside light has been fixed which makes for easy access into the room from the Warren Road end. The treasurer’s report was moved and seconded.
General Business:
June is national bowel cancer awareness month. Bowel cancer claims the lives of around 100 Australians every week. The importance of completing your simple free bowel screening test is paramount. Program participation rates are only 42 per cent, lower than half of all eligible Australians. Participation rates are even lower in some communities. Eligible Australians aged 50 -74 can do a free test at home every two years. Do the test and save lives.
Secretary stands down:
Jennie White our wonderful secretary has stood down due to a busy work commitment. She received a huge round of applause for her contribution to CWA. Jessica Reed has come forward as the secretary for the Gilgandra branch.
State conference motions:
A discussion on the many motions that were passed at the CWA of NSW Conference held in Coffs Harbour:
1. Cash policy:
That the policy of CWA of NSW be to advocate that the option to use cash always be available, even the social disruption caused by natural disasters and failure and or breakdowns of technology and infrastructure we must include cash as an authorised payment option. Federal member for Calare Andrew Gee had a great write up in a newspaper about the availability and importance of cash. Mr Gee has already introduced the Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia bill 2024 to parliament.
2. Motor Neurine Disease support:
That the CWA of NSW advocate that Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is listed as a notifiable/communicable disease, an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. MND causes weakness that gets worse over time.
International report:
The international report discussed popular fruits and vegetables in France (country of study 2024) including une poire (one pear), des cerises (cherries), un choer (a cabbage), un oginon (an onion) and une pommel de terre (one potato).
Handicraft report:
“We need to try our hand to do four pin cushions of our choosing, which must all fit in a large shoe box. For conference next year held in Wagga 2025, a handicraft workshop will be held in August at Bourke.”
The Land cookery schedule for 2024/25 is available:
With lots of wonderful recipes to choose from, remember you do not need to be a CWA member to enter the cookery competition.
Publicity report:
The publicity report included the most recent CWA meeting report being published in The Gilgandra Weekly.
Publicity Webinar:
A state publicity support forum was held on Saturday, June 29; it was a very interesting webinar. The guest speaker at the webinar was Vivien Valk, who has a long history in the publicity industry with the design of a cookbook and “The Women Who Changed County Australia”. Vivien shared her skills regarding flyers for our events. She discussed the key elements of designing flyers such as:
- The colour layout and how to put an interesting flyer together.
- Consider setting up a template for your flyer i.e. CWA logo for added brand recognition.
- Make it bold.
- Easy readable. Plenty of white space makes it less overwhelming.
