The Right Stuff
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
A sledgehammer isn’t the image you’d visualise for an almost-100-year-old women’s organisation, but while a lingering image of ladies in lace gloves making scones and tea may have its place in a ‘backbone of a nation’ story, the Country Women’s Association (CWA) is a force to be reckoned with as a lobby group and voice for women everywhere – especially in rural, regional and remote Australia.
There are currently 25 key issues which CWA NSW advocates for. These include calling for relevant governments to utilise existing research reports and relevant recommendations to protect survivors of domestic violence, as well as encouraging the adoption and implementation of men’s behaviour change programs, as defined by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.
Former Associated Country Women of the World president – and Dubbo local – Ruth Shanks AM, pictured above, believes holding the highest office in the organisation reinforced for her the need for local community groups like the CWA, and for women in particular to become active members.
THE Country Women’s Association (CWA) was formed in 1922 when country women were fighting isolation and a lack of health facilities.
By 1923 the Association was setting up baby health care centres, funding bush nurses, building and staffing maternity wards, hospitals, schools, rest homes, seaside and mountain holiday cottages – and much more.
According to the organisation, the women of the CWA have been initiators, fighters and lobbyists.
This trend continues in its 99th year, giving women a voice in the nation’s affairs, structured opportunities to socialise with others, and individually and collectively assist their local communities.
Dubbo’s Ruth Shanks AM reached the highest levels of the organisation to become an Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) president.
She no longer holds an executive position, even at the branch where she’s a member, the Dubbo Evening, but her main aim is trying to encourage younger women to get involved.
“There are many women out there who, I am sure, would make wonderful members of CWA and sometimes all it takes is a visit to a branch to experience what we do,” Mrs Shanks said.
“There is no need to wait for an invitation. Information about when and where branches meet can be obtained from myself and/ or state office.
“I never imagined where my life would go before I became a member 51 years ago.”
In 2013, Mrs Shanks was elected as president of the ACWW, overseeing global operations from her Dubbo home and in daily contact with the London central office.
“I think one of the proudest moments of my tenure, after much advocacy work in conjunction with other international women’s organisations, was in the outcome statement at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in the United Nations, 2018.
“The words ‘rural, regional and remote’ were added to this document which is the backbone of our work. The opportunity to attend CSW and be in the General Assembly of the UN was also an amazing experience.”
Mrs Shanks says her experiences reinforced the need for local community groups like the CWA, and the need for women in general to become active members.
“The most significant attribute of all CWA branches is that we provide a voice for all women, especially regional, rural and remote women, but of course we have wonderful branches in city and coastal areas as well, and they are a significant portion of the membership and support network.
“Country women (in fact ALL women) the world over have all the same issues, for example health care, access to fresh water and sanitation, education, domestic violence, bullying, but in varying degrees.
“So, when we have general discussions, we can all understand in some way, shape or form.
“We can’t really compare CWA in Australia with many other parts of the world, especially the developing world, however we have the opportunity when we identify an issue or issues – we have the capacity to work on it ourselves and also we have the voice of all tiers of government to initiate some action when required,” she said.
All Australian states have Country Women’s Associations, of which NSW has the largest membership.
“I think CWA is unique because the branches and members can do whatever is suitable for their communities, their regions, their country and their members, and they can also – in some small way – have the ability to support women in other countries who may be more disadvantaged than them,” Mrs Shanks said.
CWA of NSW and Queensland CWA both celebrate 100 years in 2022.