Tom Parry
MEMORIES were made and shared as the Country Women’s Association (CWA) celebrated its 90-year presence in North Gippsland.
Over 40 members of the North Gippsland Group gathered at the Bundalaguah-Myrtlebank Hall last Wednesday afternoon, July 12 for lunch, games, music and cake to mark the occasion.
Officiating the event was Sale branch member and group president, Lesley Stergiopoulos, who has been involved with the CWA for 14 years.
Ms Stergiopoulos was invited the join the organisation by a friend: “she said, ‘Just come along to a meeting and see’.”
“I enjoyed the company, and (the members) made me feel welcome, and within twelve months I held a position,” Ms Stergiopoulos said.
She described being Group President as a privilege.
“There’s a lot of work been done with past presidents to help with the community, the women and the children, and I feel it’s a great privilege that I’ve been chosen or nominated to take this position,” she said.
Cobains branch member and former Group President Lois Neumann acted as chaperone for the Gippsland Times on the day, guiding its male journalist through the ins and outs of the North Gippsland Group.
Ms Neumann has been a member for 17 years, and initially became involved for the friendship.
“I think you’ll find that for most people, that’s why they joined: to make new friends,” Ms Neumann said.
Attendees at the function were treated to a homecooked two-course lunch, with “mains” consisting of lasagne, butter chicken, steamed and roasted vegetables.
This was followed by dessert, with the sticky date pudding proving a popular dish; and later, slices of birthday cake, which was ceremoniously cut by six former North Gippsland Group presidents.
Each meal was intersected with speeches from past presidents, who spoke about highlights from the organisation’s history.
Ms Neumann noted how difficult it was to source early information on the organisation, as record keeping was minimal – particularly when it came to recording women’s names.
At the time, according to Ms Neumann, members were always addressed formally – either by their surname (e.g. Mrs Smith) or their husband’s name (e.g. Mrs John Smith).
Attendees were also treated to a performance by the North Gippsland Group Choir, led by Marion Atherstone on guitar.
Ms Neumann told the Times that the choir is the only one of its kind in the state, following the dissolution of the CWA Victorian Choir.
Other activities on the day included a pop quiz, and a game of pass-the-parcel – resulting in frequent refrains of “I haven’t done this since I was a kid!”
Asked what changes she had witnessed in her 17 years as a member, Ms Neumann said the biggest change had been the drop-off in numbers.
“When we went to a group function (in the past), there would always be between 60 and 70 people present; these days – well, I believe there are 45 here today,” Ms Neumann said.
Knowing this, Ms Neumann admitted to being worried for the CWA’s future.
Photo: Tom Parry
“I am because unfortunately now, when most women work, they’re not able to join groups like this during their working life,” she explained.
“And when they retire, they’ve got a lot of things they’ve not been able to do, and they set about doing those things, so they don’t join the CWA.”
Presently, the North Gippsland Group has approximately 130 members across six branches: Sale, Cobains, Maffra, Bundalaguah, Giffard and Sale Starlight.
Ms Stergiopoulos has also observed the organisation’s dwindling membership.
“Unfortunately, my first job as Group President was to close a branch down, and that was Denison branch – they went into recess before I took the chair,” Ms Stergiopoulos said.
“That was a bit heartbreaking, in a way, because they’d put in quite a lot of work.”
But she is adamant that the CWA still has a future, particularly when it comes to supporting women and children: “Some are in abusive relationships, and we try to support them; and there’s the women and children that fall behind, so we try to encourage them to be united together.”
North Gippsland Group was founded in 1933, five years after the formation of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria.
There are an estimated 5000 members in the CWA’s Victorian arm, which itself is aligned with the Associated Country Women of the World, or ACWW.
Ms Neumann attributed the longevity of the North Gippsland Group to its friendly nature, and the dedication of its volunteers.
“I think we’re all grateful for the work that has been put in by members, by the office bearers of each of our branches, and by the office bearers of the group,” Ms Neumann said.
“And it’s the continuity of the work that these people have done that makes the CWA an enduring association.”
Anybody interested in joining the CWA is encouraged to visit the North Gippsland Group headquarters at 67D Macarthur Street, Sale, or send an email to nggcwa@gmail.com
Photo: Tom Parry
