Boorowa CWA Branch Celebrates their Centenary Year

Members of Boorowa CWA Branch celebrate 100 years within the Boorowa community.

The Boorowa Branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of New South Wales, one of the community’s most recognisable groups, is celebrating its centennial year in 2023.

Their centennial year, marked by a rise in membership, several accomplishments, and community fundraising activities has made it a fantastic one.

The women of Boorowa CWA have the chance to celebrate their forebears during this centennial.

On July 20, 1923, The Burrowa News reported that there was initial interest in starting a Boorowa CWA Branch. The Mechanics Institute on Pudman Street served as the venue for the branch’s inaugural meeting.

Mrs Ada Bevan, born in Boorowa in 1877, was the first president of the local CWA branch.

The Boorowa CWA Branch has had numerous notable moments over the last 100 years, including:

The founding of the first Travelling Baby Health Clinic in NSW, where a nursing sister from Boorowa toured district centres.

The contributions made by participants to the war effort during World War II, such as Clara Montgreenan Stevenson’s Sheepskin Vest Scheme.

The noteworthy contribution made over the past century to causes and charities in Boorowa and the surrounding area.

With the loss of the CWA Hall and a steadily declining membership, the Boorowa CWA Branch has seen ups and downs in recent years.

The Boorowa Branch kept their hands dirty and supported their community in spite of the dwindling population.

When Boorowa CWA Hall was declared unsafe by construction inspectors in 2000, meetings were shifted to the Boorowa Ex-Services Club.

Following the sale of the CWA Hall, the State Office awarded the Branch $5000 from the proceeds.

The sale of the CWA Hall was reported to have caused great regret among the neighbourhood and CWA members, but in keeping with the CWA spirit, all $5000 was donated to the neighbourhood.

Boorowa Central School, St Joseph’s School, Boorowa and District Historical Society, Burrowa House, and Boorowa Hospital were the five local organisations that received $1000 each.

The Branch was able to give a picnic table and chairs, which were appropriately engraved and installed at the Boorowa Court House picnic area, thanks to the sale of the Hall’s contents.

The Boorowa CWA saw a further decline in membership during 2010. Despite this setback, the Branch carried on supporting the Boorowa community by sponsoring events for International Women’s Day, buying Christmas gifts for Burrowa House residents, holding market stalls and raffles with proceeds going to drought relief, the Boorowa Historical Society, Diabetes Australia, and more.

As “Fun in the Park”, the centennial celebration of the Boorowa CWA approaches, there is a lot of excitement.

The event is scheduled for this Saturday, November 25 from 10 am to 2 pm at Boorowa Recreational Park.

To make this a fun-filled, family-friendly event, the Boorowa CWA Branch has collaborated with Anna Dreverman and her group of eager volunteers from The Hilltops Youth Action Group.

With a range of entertaining games for both children and adults, including a jumping castle, archery boards, mini soccer, lawn games like Jenga and Connect 4, Finska, and classic games like tug of war and egg toss, Fun in the Park is suitable for all ages.

Aspiring volunteer firefighters will find great excitement in the arrival of the RFS fire truck.

Anna Dreverman from the Hilltops Action Group will perform live. In addition to cold beverages to buy and a sausage sizzle to enjoy, there will be snow cones and fairy floss available for a gold coin donation.

Additionally, there will be a display of Boorowa CWA memorabilia, food and crafts for sale and Christmas crafts.

Hilltops Council Mayor Margaret Roles, Deputy Mayor Alison Foreman, Boorowa Councillors John and Sandy Piper, Jo McKay and CWA guests, including Jennifer Blinkhorn (State Rep, Wollondilly Group), Karen Pavey (President, Southern Tablelands Group), Tina Billings (President, Hume Group), Cecilia Klinger (President, Central Western Group), Colleen Cooper (President, Goulburn Branch), and Brenda Phillips (President, Yass Branch), will attend.

Publicity Officer for Boorowa CWA, Emma Jones said there had been much planning and excitement leading up to this event.

“We look forward to welcoming our special guests and our fabulous local families and residents,” Ms Jones said.

“This is an all-age community event so please come along, bring a chair and/or picnic rug, and even your fishing rod if you have an enthusiastic fisherman, and help the Boorowa CWA Branch celebrate 100 years of CWA in Boorowa.”

“We look forward to enjoying a fun day in the park; a wonderful way to bring our small local community together.”