Souvenir glass commemorating 1982 Victorian conference of Associated Women of the World South Pacific Area, squat tumbler style with gold rim and gold lettering.organization, society, country women of the world

Members attended “Australia Presents and other A.C.W.W. events. Mrs Edna Barrie was in the choir. Edna a member of the State and Australian Choir ASSOCIATED COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD TENTH TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE Melbourne October 1962 Melbourne Town HallItems from the conferencelocal significant groups, local identities

Historical: This book covers all aspects of the C.W.A. including its history. The Tawonga branch of the C.W.A. commenced on the 7th Feb. 1946 and often combined activities with the other branches in the Kiewa Valley. The C.W.A. aimed to improve health, welfare and education for women and children in the country .Women living in Tawonga were mostly on farms and, in 1946, when the branch commenced, would have been feeling more remote with WW11 having had an effect on available workers and the well being of the women and children.Small 17 page book with white cardboard cover and green writing. Pages are held together with 2 staples. Cover: "The Country Women's Association / of Victoria Inc. / For Country and City Women / Victoria (with logo underneath) Address and contact details beneathcountry women's association of victoria. c.w.a.. tawonga.

Country Women's Association of Victoria was a popular widely known organisation throughout Australia. The CWA aimed to improve health, welfare and education for women and children in the country.Each town / area in the Kiewa Valley had an active CWA. The Tawonga branch commenced in Feb. 1946 and often combined activities with other branches in the Kiewa Valley.1. Nov. 2000, Vol. 46, No. 10. Cover: Purple & red tulips 2. October 2004 Vol. 50, No. 9 x2 Cover: Olive Green surrounding oval shaped photo 'The Log Cabin' 3. April 2001, Vol. 47, No. 3 Cover: Mustard surrounding square portrait of 'Nursing Sister Atherton, N. Qld.' 4. Agenda for the Annual Conference of the Kiewa Valley Group of the CWA of Vic.Also includes National Anthem, CWA Collect & Mottocountry women's association, journals, kiewa valley group of cwa

The Country Women’s Association of Australia advances the rights and equity of women, families and communities in Australia through advocacy and empowerment, especially for those living in regional, rural and remote Australia. The Country Women’s Association of Victoria was founded in 1928 and the Warrnambool Branch was founded in 1931. The branch has given assistance through the years to the Red Cross, Baby Health Centres, the Warrnambool Hospital, bush fire relief, mental health and aged care and it has regular displays of country arts and crafts. In 1961 the C.W.A. Centre and Rest Rooms were opened in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. In 2016 the group celebrated the 85th anniversary of its founding.This booklet is of interest to researchers and others wanting a brief outline of the history of the Warrnambool Branch of the Country Women’s Association. This is a small booklet of 12 pages. The front cover is white with black printing and it has a yellow back cover. The booklet has black plastic spiral binding. The pages contain printed information, photocopies of newspaper articles, a knitting pattern and other photocopied material. The booklet has been produced in-house by the Warrnambool Country Women’s Association.‘Looking Back at 85 Years, the History of the Warrnambool Branch of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. 1931 until 2016 and Still Going Strong.’country women’s association, history of warrnambool

The Country Women's Association of Victoria was founded in 1928. It was formed to promote the interests of women and children in rural areas. Mabel Hedditch (1897 - 1966) moved to Australia and was postmistress in Bridgewater. Aswell as being elected to the Portland Town Council she was a founding member of the Country Women's Association of Victoria. Programme for Country Women's Association Choral and Drama Festival 1990. Yellow front and back cover with a green content page. Three pages in total stapled together. The cover page shows pixelated images of four drama masks with title information. Held at the Portland Civic Hall, 9th-10th Oct. 1990. Cover page: The Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc. / Choral & Drama Festival, Portland Civic Hall, 9th & 10th October 1990 / Convenor - Mrs M Stratford / Adjudicators, Mrs J Irving - Drama, Mr P Sargeant - Choralcountry women's association, cwa, fesitvals, choral and drama festival

The Tawonga branch of the C.W.A. commenced on the 7th Feb. 1946 and often combined activities with the other branches in the Kiewa Valley. The C.W.A. aimed to improve health, welfare and education for women and children in the country.Women living in Tawonga were mostly on farms and, in 1946, when the branch commenced would have been feeling more remote with WW11 having had an effect of available workers and the well being of the women and children. This tea towel would have been used at a later date possibly for fund raising as the group continued to meet and work together.This large blue green, yellow, brown and black with a white border, linen, tea towel has the CWA logo in the middle with pictures of handcrafted items surrounding it. Along the bottom is printed: "Handicrafts / of the / Country Women's Association of Victoria."Handicrafts / of the / Country Women's Association of Victoria - along the bottom Pure Irish Linen - bottom left Dummay - bottom righttea towel, cwa, tawonga, kitchen, linen

The Country Women's Association (CWA) began in Victoria in 1928 with the aim of improving the opportunities for women and children. They are a philanthropic and advocacy group and part of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). There are currently over 5000 members and Bendigo has several groups.Small yellow bi-fold Syllabus (1959) for the Country Womens Association, South Bendigo Branch. Contains monthly syllabus events and competitions for the 1959 year. Green print with CWA logo on the front.cwa, country women's association

The Country Women's Association of Victoria was established to support and promote the interests of women and children living in rural areas.Square ticket made from yellow cardboard. Ticket is for the Country Women's Association Choral & Drama Festival 1990. A date stamp of 10 October 1990 on the front. Printed with C.W.A FESTIVAL.10 OCT 1990 / C.W.A / FESTIVALcountry women's association, cwa, festival, women's history, women

In 1944-1996 Edna Barrie was a member of the Melton Branch Country Women’s Association (CWA), Melton Branch, Secretary of the Branch in 1945 – 1946 and Branch International Secretary 1970-1971. She worked with choir, music and drama interest groups within the branch attaining both first and second place in 1959, second place in 1952 Exhibition and second in Music in 1960 in the state. She was involved in their handicraft craft events, fund raising and musical events and singing competitions. During the 1950s she trained Trios and Quartets in part singing for the CWA competitions in Ballarat and Melbourne. It was at this time that she developed her skill as a conductor and trainer of choirs. She later auditioned for the Victorian Choir for alto parts believing she would stand a better chance of being chosen, because of her ability to sing in natural harmony. In 1962 she participated in the Tenth Australian Country Women of the World (ACWW) Triennial Conference “Australia Presents: CWA Massed Choir” in the Melbourne Town Hall. This event was recorded by Super Sound Spotlight on 45 extended play vinyl record. The songs were Australian music and words, for example The Silver Stars are in the Sky, The Graceful Swaying Wattle and Kookaburra. Edna continued with her interest in the Victorian Choir regularly meeting at the CWA Headquarters in Toorak for rehearsals. In 1974 she took part in the Australian Choir at the fourteenth Triennial conference of the ACWW Interfaith Service held at the Perth Concert Hall on the 13th of October. Items celebrating 80 years of Country Women's Association and the closure of the Melton branchlocal significant groups, local identities, local special interest groups

Country Womens Association taken at their twenty first birthday celebrations 1956 - identified are inside back row Vera Harbeck dark hair and glasses and Rita Lawson short hair, Centre Back Eva Hetherington nee McGuiness of Merrangbaur House with dark hat floral dress Inside back row from right Mrs V Paton white hat and necklace dark rimmed glasses In front of Mrs Paton Mavis Smith floral dress, In front of Mavis, Barbara Ray short hair white earrings Extreme right Miss Bertha Hansen of Venga Guesthouse, Senior woman in front Mrs Stanbury mother of Elsie Ball Victoria House Elsie Mai Bell Fashions, at Lakes Entrance VictoriaBlack and white photograph of thirty five members of Country Womens Association Lakes Entrance Victoriaclubs, social history, fashion

This flag was used by Country Women's Association (C.W.A) Kiewa Valley Branch circa 1950's. This was in a period when the C.W.A. was the major women's organisation which had the greatest influence amongst rural women (especially in isolated areas). This was a period when broad based communications were mainly by radio,women orientated magazines and the telephone. The CWA was an organisation that catered exclusively to country(rural) women's needs. The atmosphere was one of "sisterhood" and covered nearly all the needs of rural based women. This one organisation incorporated knowledge and learning targeting women who physically may be isolated but not mentally.The Kiewa Valley Group of the C.W.A. was a focal point for women in this still relatively isolated rural region and the need to have a place of refuge from the heavy domestic demands that family and business exerted. It was place where the need of a time and space to gain all the mental relaxation and group bonding necessary to balance the sometimes harsh environment that rural life presented existed. The C.W.A. motto "Honour our God, Loyalty to the throne, Service to the country, Through country women, For country women, By country women."This flag is made from dark green cloth and has the Country Womens Association of Victoria insignia embroidered on it in gold and white lettering.This insignia is contained in a circular motif."C.W.A." (each letter layered over each other) cwa flag, national cwa victoria, country women's association, jan burnett, mt beauty

Information from research by Mabel Rogers from the first meeting in August 1939 – 1969 Notable Events of the CWA The document contains information about meetings and events and numbers of members who attended. December 2013 – a selection of some of the items of interest have been extracted by Wendy Barrie NOTABLE EVENTS Page 1 1938 August 10th 1938 Minutes of inaugural meeting of Melton Branch Country Women’s Association. Cr Coburn introduced Mrs Toose, Ballarat G.P. [Group President] 42 ladies were present, including visitors from Bacchus Marsh and Smeaton Branches. September – Miss A Raleigh was elected Magazine Secretary October- 26 members present. Penny Collection for Million Members Fund November December – Mrs Swan gave demonstration of basketry, using stringy bark, Eucalyptus bark and reeds 1939 February 1939 – 18 members present. Branch total 50. Donation towards Pedal Transmitting Set. Inquiries made of Shire Council re permission to fence War Memorial March April – cost of fence material beyond Branch Funds May- 24 members present June, July, August – birthday celebrations. September 25 members present October – Meeting hled at Toolern Vale Bird Sanctuary 36 members present November – 1st Annual Meeting December – Owing to harvest operations, only 11 members present. 1940 February electric kettle and urn to be purchased for Mechanics Institute. Also to install a power point. [Electricity was connected to Melton in December 1939] April end of page 1 Page 2 May – Council Permission to be sought, to plant trees on oval below Shire Hall P.M.G. to be asked to supply a seat outside telephone booth for convenience of callers after P.O. was closed. June- Wives of A.I.F. soldiers be made honorary members. “1d per week drive” for gift for the Empire. July, September, October November – Group President stressed the importance of keeping Branches together during time of war. Collection of sheep skins to be made into vests for fighting forces worthy of consideration. Group President, Mrs Morgan-Paylor. December 1941 February 30 members present March – Eight members attend Ballarat Group Conference. Approach Council re fencing and preparation of land for tree plantation May – Mrs Swan demonstrated making of slippers from pieces of sheepskin June – Empire Gift Scheme of 1d per week to be continued for another year or duration of the war. July – Demonstration on making camouflage nets August, September Group Conference at Smeaton, October, November meetings held 1942 February- Enquiries to be made as how to help with A.R.P. work March, April, May, June,- Headquarters busy on war work. July end of page 2 Page 3 August, September. October – 15 Camouflage Nets forwarded to Headquarters November- Mrs Glasson Group President presided at Annual Meeting. Meetings to be held at 3 monthly intervals. Overseas link, enquiries be made of Melton Mowbray had a C.W.A. Branch 1943 February- Overseas link to be Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales May- 7 Camouflage Nets to Headquarters. American overseas link Nov 5th Annual Meeting, letters received from Wales and America 1944 May – Approach to be made to Council re formation of Baby Health Centre July – Ball held for Baby Health Centre effort. Admission 3/- 1945 February- Mrs Lemke present at meeting May August- Miss Strahan of Womens Hospital gave a talk on “Work of Almoner Departments in Public Hospitals” November Annual meeting. eight food parcels sent to Britain, 2 to Lampeter 1946 meetings held every two months May- Congratulations to Mrs Swan, Group President Elect June – 20 members present. August- 8th Birthday celebrated with a Social Evening Music was supplied by Mrs E.W. Barrie September - Scone competition 1. Mrs Beaty, 2. Miss Robinson 3. Mrs Exell November- Eggs sent to Somers House 1947 February – Demonstration of Glove-making March – revert to monthly meetings April - decided to have an auto tray made for the Branch May – Branch decided to plant a tree for Princess Elizabeth’s 21st Birthday.. Council to be asked if agreeable to continue arrangements in 1940, to fence C.W.A. Plantation end of page 3 Page 4 June - Food parcels sent to Overseas Link July – Invitations to birthday celebrations sent to Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Sunbury, Mt Egerton August September - Collection of silver coin taken a donation from Branch towards wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth … forwarded to H.Q. November – C.W.A. together with Red Cross and Bacchus Marsh C.W.A. to provide afternoon tea and luncheon at Eynesbury sale. 1948 February – Food parcels sent to ex-Prisoner-of-war. Publicity agent appointed April – Decided to apply for trees to be planted in area already chosen a beauty spot May – Additional listeners to Broadcast Session were appointed June July – Gift of books received from Overseas Link. I was decided to stat a Library . Miss Raleigh to at a Librarian. August – 5 pound donation from Branch funds to “Save the Children” Appeal. September, October, November 1949 January – At Group Conference, delegates to vote in favour of resolution that State School children be allowed to sit for exams in own school March – Decided to contact Council for permission to fence off Water Reserve April, May – Another parcel to be sent to Ret. British P.O.W. Association June July – Fancy Dress Children’s Ball to be held for Annual Effort August – 11th Birthday September – Bank Balance November – 11th annual Meeting. Members agree to supply small gifts to Ballarat Mental Hospital 1950 February – Five books were received from Lampeter March – Branch to support idea of holding a Music Drama Festival in Group April – Miss Smith elected Group President May – C.W.A. Science Van visited Melton June – Demonstration of Macrame work - July August – 12th Birthday Celebration end page 4 Page 5 September, October November 12th Annual Meeting, Miss Smith Group President. Melton's Country Women's Association Choirlocal special interest groups, local identities

Country Women's Association of Victoria Awardlocal significant groups

This tea towel was manufactured in 1978 in Ireland and shipped to Australia. This was in a period when the C.W.A. was the major women's organisation which had the greatest influence amongst rural women (especially in isolated areas). This was a period when broad based communications were mainly by radio,women orientated magazines and the telephone. The relay of television to "remote" rural areas was not yet established. The CWA was therefore a very important organisation that catered exclusively to women's needs. The C.W.A. motto "Honour our God, Loyalty to the throne, Service to the country, Through country women, For country women, By country women." The atmosphere was one of "sisterhood" and covered nearly all the needs of rural based women. This one organisation incorporated knowledge and learning targeting women who physically may be isolated but not mentally. On the tea towel are portrayed all the activities that would be beneficial to rural women.This tea towel with its respective motifs is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it related especially to women who felt the limitations of social interactions within a rural area. This tea towel represents a era where communications was relatively based on radio, magazines, books and limited telephone access. Within these restrictive interactive communication levels, the isolation of a "back o' Bourke" location applied tremendous mental fatigue on women more than on men.This CWA Victoria Golden Jubilee (1928-1978) tea towel is made from Irish flax at the Blackstaff Flax Spinning and Weaving factory. It is therefore of high quality and very durable. The major colours projecting from a light blue background are red, yellow, green, orange and black. The motives portrayed the activities of the CWA in 1978. These activities are embroidery, crocheting, dress making, knitting, cooking, art, macrame, drama, music, patchwork, toy making and community relief, pennies for friendship, emergency relief and welfare, residential club flats, the thanks giving and Papua New Guinea.The main or central theme of this tea towel is presented in the central area within three rings. "1928" on the left and "1978" on the right. On the top part "GOLDEN JUBILEE" and at the bottom "COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA" There are various shapes representing the activities listed above.cwa promotional material, cwa golden jubilee, women only organisations, country women's association

Associated Country Women of the World C.W.A. Melton local special interest groups, local identities

The Real Story of the Country Women's Association of Victoria 1928 - 2008cwa

Front page of the 33rd Country Women's Association Finley Branchlocal significant groups

Mrs Sheila Parkinson was born in Wagga in 1916 and came to Beechworth as a young woman around 1938. Sheila trained as a psychiatric nurse at Mayday Hills hospital prior to the second World War. At that time, unmarried women were accommodated and received nursing training on-site. Shiela was obliged to cease professional training and employment when she married in 1941, which disrupted completion of her final nursing examinations. Following post-war changes to the law that allowed married women to work, Sheila returned to Mayday Hills. Sheila's husband, Don, returned to Beechworth after four years abroad as a serviceman in the Australian Air Force. Beechworth's institutions were a major source of local employment throughout the twentieth century. As well as providing limited employment opportunities to young women like Shiela, post-war European migrants from Bonegilla Migrant camp found at Mayday Hills, encouraging European migrant settlement in the district. Mayday Hills was renamed several times since its establishment in 1867. At the peak of operations, it comprised sixty-seven buildings housing over twelve hundred patients patients and five hundred staff. The hospital officially closed in 1998. Today, the decommissioned two-storey Italianate style main building stands on eleven hectares of botanical gardens under National Trust protection. The site remains a popular cultural heritage destination for visitors. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. The cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Employed as a psychiatric nurse at one of Beechworth's large welfare institutions, Mayday Hills, Mrs Sheila Parkinson recalls the conditions faced by staff and patients at the hospital, which cared for chronically ill people from the Ovens region and patients from the Yarra Bend Asylum, Melbourne, which closed in 1925. When Sheila first began her nurse training, Mayday Hills suffered from a lack of resources and rudimentary facilities and patients frequently suffered from the cold due to poor heating and inadequate clothing and bedding. However, as the twentieth century progressed, Sheila recalls how conditions and treatments improved as a result of increased government funding of services and advances in psychiatry and pharmaceutical medicine. Mrs Sheila Parkinson's oral history recording is historically and socially significant for its witness to life in Beechworth in the pre- and post-WWII period. Sheila's story enriches our understanding of processes of modernisation with regard to psychiatric and welfare services, while the course of Sheila's professional training and employment brings attention to systemic and socio-economic barriers faced by women, as well as the valuable contribution women and migrants make in the delivery of care and ancillary services. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the twentieth century, many of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Sheila Parkinson /twentieth century beechworth, mayday hills, psychiatric care, benevolent asylums, nursing, wwii, psychiatric treatment, country women, psychiatric hostpital, beechworth's institutions, local employment, government institutions, listen to what they say, oral history, burke museum, sheila parkinson, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hospital, beechworth hospital for the insane, the kerferd clinic, bonegilla migrant camp, working women, white australia policy

This photograph was taken around 1958.Scanned from a coloured slideView from this sidepapua new guinea, country women, cwa, port moresby

This photograph was taken around 1958.Scanned from a coloured slideView from this sidepapua new guinea, country women, cwa, port moresby

MABEL nee ABRAHAM ROGERS 1920 - 2004 Publications: The First One Hundred Years 1870-1970 Melton State School No 430 Co Author with Edna Barrie The Mechanics [Melton] 1985 Mabel Abraham was daughter of Herbert G Abraham, Butcher of High Street Melton. She attended Melton State School from 1928 qualifying for her Merit certificate in December 1928 and continued her education at Melbourne Girls High School [soon after known as MacRobertson Girls High School] She studied piano and elocution as a school girl. Mabel was associated with many activities in the Melton community. She was a natural writer and interested in research and was committed to documenting and preserving Meltons History. Mabel produced, wrote and acted for the “ Melton Amateurs” theatrical group established in 1950. The group performed Revues, Pantomimes, one and three act plays, Musical Comedy and Melodramas. In 1960 it lapsed for a time and from 1967 onwards more shows were successfully produced by Mabel. A creative producer and writer, audiences at the Melton Mechanics Institute enjoyed the performances of Gilbert and Sullivan and excerpts from the many Musicals of the era. She skilfully wrote scripts interweaving with songs and topical local dialogue successfully drawing out the talents of all the cast members. Mabel was a member of the C.W.A. holding position of Secretary. She was a member of the Melton and District Historical Society at its inception in 1968 and was a Member of The Willows Committee of Management. She was supporter of the first historical display and the Mechanics Hall and the Historical Society Annual Art and Craft shows from 1974 until 1982. In 1961 she was involved with Melton Development Association and in 1969 with the establishment of the first “Carols by Candlelight” held in Melton. Mabel was a member Anglican Church and Committee. She was a member of the Melton Mechanics Institute and made a Trustee and Life Member in 1965. She was a member of Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee. She was Guide Leader, member of the Red Cross and School Committee. In November 1982 she was a recipient of the Annual Rotary Community Service Award for outstanding service to the Community of Melton over a prolonged time. Mabel married Eric Rogers in August 1944 the wedding reception was held at the Melton Mechanics Hall. Their are children John, Ron, Francis and Judy. The family lived in High Street Melton between the Mechanics Institute and earliest Shire Hall eastern end. Eric was grader operator on the district roads. In their latter years Mabel and Eric lived in Bacchus Marsh. Eric died in Bacchus Marsh in July 2007. Country Women's Association Melton Branch lyrics from Mabel Roger's handwritten noteslocal identities, local significant groups