Hume Group CWA Conference was held at the Ex-Services Club Temora on Wednesday, October 17.
President Tina Billing welcomed representatives from Sturt, Riverina, Murray, Murrumbidgee Lachlan, Southern Tablelands and South West Group.
Guest Speaker Lyn Braico, International State Officer, spoke of the importance of considering other people, being aware of how meetings are run, nurturing new members and learning from them.
The CWA of NSW has processed over 1500 applications, totalling over $2.42 million, with the simple one page application form that amounts of $3000 forwarded for household expenses.
Awareness in CWA increased again when 25,000 punnets of strawberries were donated to CWA. Growers were unable to sell their crop and city CWA members bottled over 1600 jars of jam to be distributed and sold to raise funds for drought relief.
Two motions of urgency were presented by Gail Commens , Eurongilly branch, and passed – “that harsher laws be introduced for rural crimes and that magistrates impose maximum penalties when sentencing Rural Crime offenders as well as examinations into proceeds of criminal offenders be taken into account”, and “that legislation be introduced to protect the privacy of individuals against remotely private aircraft.(drones)”.
Guest speaker Lyn then conducted the election of office bearers. Tina Billing returned as president, Eve Everingham secretary, Denise Hollingsworth, treasurer, Sue Woodward international officer, Helen Sheridan, cultural, Jenny Birtle, agriculture and environment, Elizabeth Bassingthwaighte, publicity, Margaret Smith, Land Cookery, and Patricia Herbert, handicraft. Vice presidents elected; Rhonda Widdows, Win Lowe, Jill Thompson and Veronica Chown.
- Bellarwi Branch: Helen Hillyer trophy for best branch report, best cultural book, Dora Eisenhauer trophy for handicraft report, Irene Hackett Memorial shield for best international book, and the A and E trophy for best report.
- Batlow: Gladys Brooks trophy for the best international report.
- Ungarie: Maureen Hainsworth trophy, for hands across the sea, the most money raised for Pennies for Friendship.
- Wallendbeen: Margaret Smith OAM trophy for branch report.
- Eurongilly: Heather Bell-Smyth trophy for best branch attendance.
- Cootamundra: Rita Harper trophy for increase in membership.
- The Gail Commens trophy for the best floral arrangement was won by Pam Brewer of Ungarie.
Hume Group members will meet at the Ex- Services Club in Temora on Wednesday, November 28.
