Snapshot of the past

The Drouin branch of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria celebrated its 83rd birthday in March 2022. The club has the distinction of being the longest, continually serving, service club in Drouin.

The Drouin CWA was formed after a public meeting at the Drouin Mechanics Institute. Sixty ladies were present. First president was Mrs Jessie Goudie with Mrs Priscilla Kraft secretary and Mrs Anne Porter treasurer. Thirty ladies immediately joined, including Miss Hazel Porter who was to be a ‘guiding light’ of the Branch for more than 60 years. Times were difficult and Australia was on the brink of war. Local membership hit 100 in 1943.

In 1939 the Drouin Branch, sponsored the work of the Voluntary Aid Detachment gaining practical experience in first aid and home nursing training provided by the West Gippsland and Royal Women’s Hospitals.

This 1941 photo shows Hazel Porter (Assistant Commandant) in long coat with the CWA Victoria resources van. Miss Porter used to travel with other volunteers around the state in this vehicle conducting classes in glove making, hat restoration and other useful crafts.

Drouin CWA provided food for the Australian Comforts Fund. Contact was kept up with local lads and members wrote letters with a parcel which contained knitted socks, scarves, caps and other clothing.

It is recorded that in 1941, 47 hampers were sent through the Australian Comforts Fund to local members of the forces overseas. Drouin CWA members also collected sheep skins for the Sheepskin Vest Appeal for Empire air force trainees.

By war’s end, 14,000 sheepskin vests had been collectively given, together with thousands of gloves to the Navy and Airforce, as well as slippers to prisoners of war and children in Britain and Russia.

In June 1941 an opportunity shop was set up in aid of the Buln Buln Spitfire Appeal in one of Mr JD Grubb’s shops in Main St. The shop closed in July 1945. Drouin had its own Women’s Land Army and the CWA also made camouflage nets from twine. The total number of nets made by CWA groups was 100,000.

Hear more of the Drouin CWA story told by Yvonne Tindle at www.storiesofdrouin.com.au

Photo courtesy Drouin CWA.