General News
6 June, 2024
90 years of care and friendship
Dimboola Country Women's Association (CWA) has accomplished 90 years of service to the community, celebrating in style last Friday afternoon at the Dimboola RSL clubrooms.
Many attended and adhered to the 1930's dress theme while they enjoyed a nice spread of afternoon tea treats.
Dimboola CWA was formed in 1934 with Mrs A. C. Bennett as the inaugural president.
CWA meetings were social afternoons with demonstrations and speakers, and business was kept to a minimum.
The influence of CWA has been strong in the community over the years.
The ladies established an Infant Welfare Centre where 20 mothers attended weekly, and members cleaned and paid the electricity charges for the centre until it was taken over by local government.
Alongside the Chamber of Commerce, they began Dimboola's first library.
Members offered their services for national defence and emergency during the war years.
They created camouflage nets, sheep skin vests, slippers for airforce pilots, food parcels, clothing and small knitted quilts, and socks, with some sent to Britain.
After the war years, the ladies held flower shows, garden parties and concerts by the river.
They decorated boats and floats, entering them into processions and festivals.
Debutante balls became an annual event.
In 1960 they started an award for Dimboola Memorial High School students, which later spread to awards in Dimboola Primary and St Peter's Lutheran schools.
CWA established Domestic Art classes at the high school and, with the cooperation of the Mother's Club, provided the equipment needed for the classes.
In 2013, the branch held a morning tea at Allambi Elderly Peoples Home, whose residents helped the ladies to stuff "trauma teddies" which were later donated to Ambulance Victoria.
Over 50 years ago, Dimboola CWA took in a friend from Warracknabeal's Woodbine, Paul Hide, including him in their activities, and visiting him on his birthdays and at Christmas.
"We adopted him when he was three, and we're all like his Nanas," Dimboola CWA member Mandy Myers said.
Several long serving members who have sadly passed away were acknowledged at the celebration, including Nancy Clark, Gloria Frahn, Shirley Rankin, Rita McKenzie and Shirley Launer, who all had over 60 years of active service.
"The most recent passing of Rita Stewart and Margaret Menzel has been felt by us all," Ms Hunter said.
"Those ladies all held a wealth of CWA knowledge."
Over the last 10 years the branch has been active in group and state events with them entering the State Craft Exhibition each year and many winning prizes.
The CWA branch still leads the town in the local Australia Day celebrations every year.
Group president Margaret Hunter said membership numbers have remained between 15 and 24, and that their continuous fundraising efforts allow them to support local schools and organisations.
"We hope to continue for another 10 years to reach our 100th birthday," Ms Hunter said.
"There will be new members with different ideas, as there have been over the last 90 years.
"May Dimboola and CWA continue to support women and children here and worldwide in care and friendship."
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