The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is the largest women’s organisation in Australia and aims to improve the conditions of country women and children. The CWA was formed in 1992 when country women were fighting isolation and lack of health facilities. 25 years on and the group continue to empower women and bring people together.
Canowindra CWA invite women from the community of Canowindra and surrounding areas to come and be apart of an organisa- tion making a difference.
“We are all about bringing local people together to a safe and supportive environment,” said Fran French, CWA member.
In today’s society we all still experience a degree of isolation, if not from where we live but from our ‘busy’ lives and the CWA are a means to meet people.
“Todays focus is not all just hard work, it’s about learning new skills and going to events, enjoying the social side,” said Fran.
Over the last couple of months the main focus of the Canowindra CWA was on revamping their hall, to create a small venue for services to come into Canowindra.
They now have podiatrist, massage therapist, physio, yoga, a childrens drama group and two church groups using the space.
“The hall is to create a space in the community, for the community so we don’t have to travel, that’s what we want the hall to be,” said Fran.
The CWA Hall now have had the main body renovated and a new kitchen installed. They are then in the process of doing outside repairs and putting in a disabled toilet.
CWA isn’t just on a local scale, it is global and money is often raised to help empower women and children all across the world, making a real difference to where it is needed the most.
Over the years the CWA have gained many different names and meanings from the Cranky Women’s Association to the old ducks. The CWA women are far from this and are a friendly bunch of women making a difference in our communities.
The CWA is certainly not just for the older generation, it is for all women who would like to be involved, make a difference, learn something new and to feel a part of something.
“There are a lot of women on their own and it can be very hard to go out and socialise, you can feel quite isolated. We bring people together and give each other confidence to walk into a crowd of people,” said Fran.
Come join in at their next meeting on Thursday the 22nd of June at 6.30pm for a 7pm meeting at the CWA Hall, or jump onto their website and send them an email. There is a CWA meeting every 4th Thurs- day of the month and all are welcome to come along.
“CWA is all about brining you into contact with other people in the community and giving back. It is about making a better and stronger community, it’s also a lot of fun,” said Fran