By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on May 19, 2018
THE Country Women’s Association of Albany has begun a desperate search for new members in an attempt to return the group to its former glory.
Branch president Abigail Parker said the branch began in 1938 but was forced to fold in 2006 due to a drop in membership.
Since then, Ms Parker said the group’s current home – the CWA Hall on Serpentine Road – had been privately leased out, until earlier this year when the group took back the reins of the hall in February.
She said she hopes to reinstate the CWA branch and get the group involved in the community once again.
Ms Parker said she and secretary Anne Barton are now on the look-out for new, young members to continue the traditions and activities of CWA.
“CWA isn’t just for when you retire,” the pair urged.
“We need some young blood to keep it going and bring new ideas in.”
Ms Barton said she remembers the CWA Hall being a hive of activity back in its day, hosting birthdays, social gatherings and ‘28 and Overs’.
She too wants CWA Albany to grow again and bring women across generations together to encourage friendships and lesson sharing.
“It’s not just about scones and tea,” Ms Barton said.
“Our goal is to create a vibrant branch that gets out with the community,” Ms Parker added.
“CWA is about what women want it to be about, and the projects we do are based on what the members want to do.”
The pair said in order for the CWA Hall to offer classes such as the traditional cooking classes, it requires refurbishment in the kitchen, a disabled toilet and disabled access.
They said they are currently in the process of applying for grants to fund these fixes, and hope more people can join the group to increase the group’s likelihood of attracting funding.
If you would like to join the CWA Albany branch, you can contact Ms Parker on 0403 783 669 or Ms Barton on 0412 937 641.
