‘More than scones, jam and cream’
For many people, the Country Women’s Association is synonymous, at its core, with a traditional favourite: scones, jam and cream.
For Country Women’s Association, CWA, West Wimmera group president Judy Pymer, it’s about time this changed.
The CWA member, responsible for seven branches spread between Horsham, Drung, Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva and Serviceton, is preparing to showcase the group at its annual Wimmera Machinery Field Days site in the Country Lifestyle precinct.
Mrs Pymer said this had typically seen the group fill their space with merchandise such as cookbooks, with little room for examples of craft projects, demonstrations or information.
She said this year, the CWA Wimmera Machinery Field Days site will be revamped to better display what its members make and do for charity, and help kick-start a conversation that the CWA is ‘more than recipe books’.
“There are lots of things we do that I don’t think people are overly aware of,” she said.
“Reading the annual reports this year I actually saw how much our members are doing for charity, whether it be here in Horsham district or further afield, that can go overlooked.
“So, what we’re looking at this year is actually redesigning how we display things in our limited area at the
Field Days to allow us to have people demonstrate some of those home crafts that are a big part of CWA, but that we feel are being lost in some ways.
“For example, the Horsham branch makes cuddly toys, pencil cases and all sorts of things for children in Ronald Mcdonald House – not necessarily the kiddies who are in hospital, because lots of organisations make things for them – but the children who are siblings of sick children or are in the house going in and out of hospital for treatment.
“We also do a lot of the mastectomy cushions here for the Wimmera Cancer Centre, as well as chemo bags and knee rugs, and I’m not sure that the general public realises those things that we do.”
Mrs Pymer said the CWA’S major site theme for the year was ‘improve, grow and connect’.
She said, in reference to the theme and by changing the site, she wanted to improve people’s awareness of what the Wimmera branches do, grow the group and connect with more of the community.
“We also have a craft theme for this year which is ‘seashells on the shore’,” she said.
“With that, I’m hoping to have decorations like fish netting and a big treasure chest with examples of all the things we make for charities – not for sale but to show people.
“When I’ve been to the Field Days before I’ve never seen those things on display, and I don’t know if they ever have been, so I just thought if there are people coming through, they will be able to see what we do for people in need.
“I also have ladies who will be demonstrating crafts on each of the days, like ribbon embroidery, poppies, and teddy bears.
“I’m hoping having people sitting there and doing craft might actually promote conversations and sharing of information.”
Mrs Pymer encouraged Field Days attendees to visit the revamped site, bring their curiosity, and ask some questions about the CWA and its Wimmera branches.