The Country Women’s Association of Victoria was formed 12 March 1928 and today has over 5,600 members. Its original aim was to improve conditions by community service, more especially as they affect the welfare of women and children. The Wodonga CWA branch was formed in 1934 and has been an active group in the community until the present day. The CWA provided gathering opportunities for rural women and quickly became renowned for their street stalls, catering at Agricultural Shows and social events including debutante balls, handicraft classes and cooking demonstrations. Today they have become even more than that, participating in and organising a wide range of activities and initiatives in the community, always with the focus of service to others. The CWA is of significance on a local, state and national level as a critical service group. They conduct a range of social, educational and services throughout Australia with an initial focus on the support of rural women and children. This role has evolved over time to incorporate a wide range of initiatives, government advisory bodies and organisations.A wine glass decorated with a gold rim and gold logo of the CWA Victoria produced to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Wodonga BranchAbove the CWA logo "GOLDEN JUBILEE" Beneath the logo "WODONGA/1934 - 1984"country women's association, wodonga cwa, service groups, community organisations

Miss Olive Codling was a Foundation Member and a Life Member of the Wodonga Historical Society. Many of her prize-winning photos are held in the Society Collection, including a series of photos of buildings in High Street (formerly Sydney Road), Wodonga. The CWA Hall officially opened in 1938 having been built on land granted by the Wodonga Council. Wodonga Infant Welfare Centre also occupied part of the building until 1959. Last meeting of the CWA in that hall was in held in December 1983, with the Council resuming ownership of the land to build the current day Post Office. Country Fire Brigade’s new fire station opened in High Street on 31st March 1940. The building comprised an appliance room for housing the fire engine and plant. The floor had been especially treated to enable dancing when the occasion warranted. There was a meeting room, a station-keeper’s bedroom and a repair shop. A shower room and modern kitchen were also included. The Fire station relocated to Smythe and Stanley Street corner which opened in 1977. They have now relocated to Thomas Mitchell Drive, Wodonga.This photo collection is significant as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the 20th century.A series of black and white photos depicting the Fire Station and CWA hall located in High Street, Wodonga C1940 - 1983wodonga businesses, high st wodonga, wodonga fire brigade, wodonga country women's association, cwa wodonga

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies and the Belvoir Wodonga Rotary Club. Grace was an active member of several organisations including the CWA, Red Cross, the Wodonga Show Ladies' Auxiliary and the Victorian Agricultural Societies Association. This uniform was owned by Grace Hamilton-Smith. She achieved recognition for more 20 years of service to the Red Cross.This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It is part of a significant collection from the Hamilton-Smith family of Wodonga and reflects important aspects of social history including the roles of women and their contribution to the community. A tan coloured Red Cross uniform and badges worn C1940sred cross australia, hamilton-smith collection, wodonga red cross

Organisations that Dorothy Anderson belonged to included many items to represent their clubs eg. badges, spoons, activities eg. crocheting. Dorothy lived in Tawonga indicating that those clubs existed in the town/area and were typical of regional areas of the time. These items were the property of Tawonga Citizen, Mrs Dorothy Anderson, who passed away in 2014, aged 90 years. She belonged to local clubs which existed in the area and acquired memorabilia belonging to those clubs and activities thus giving an insight into the life of women in regional towns. A personal collection of memorabilia stored in a black and cream solid but torn carry case with handle and broken clasp. Items include spoons, trophies, serviette rings name tags, member bar, pins, tea towel brooches, embroidered and crotchet items dance card pocket, birthday card, photos, pocket watch, bell, medals. Organisations: Tawonga Bowling club, CWA, Redcross, Doilies. Also refer to KVHS 0991 and KVHS 0992 Bogong Hotel On top of case written in blue biro: Laurie Anderson, Tawonga / via Wodonga / Phone No. 17tawonga., dorothy anderson, clubs, cwa, red cross, bowling club, memorabilia

This is a collection ranging in dates from 1917 to the 1980s. It reflects a range of local and national organisations supported by people in the community. These include local schools such as the Wodonga Central School and Wodonga High School and local sporting clubs including the Wodonga Football Club and the Wodonga Bowling Club. National organisations like Red Cross, the Returned Soldiers' League, Legacy and the CWA are also represented.This collection commemorates a range of local and national organisations supported by community members throughout the 20th century.A collection of 50 different badges to commemorate a range of organisations and events. Included are several ANZAC Day and Legacy badges. Also in the collection are badges for Girl Guides, several sports clubs, Red Cross, Red Triangle Day 1917, the CFA and some church groups.commemorative badges, memorabilia, service organisations

In February 2001 the National Council for the Centenary of Federation called upon Australians to nominate someone whom they felt had significantly affected their lives, their community or our country. Thousands of these heroes and quiet achievers were selected. Betty Churcher, a member of the National Council, chaired the Peoplescape Selection Panel. Nominators then made life size, cutout figures to represent their "hero". The sculptures were installed in alphabetical order, on the hill at Parliament House and down to the Federation Mall in Canberra, each with a plaque at its base outlining the individual's achievement. This portrait was painted by Betty Barberis to represent her mother "Dolly" Barton. Dolly raised 12 children, lived through 2 World Wars and the depression. She kept the family dairy farm running whilst her husband was serving in World War 2 whilst still supporting the war effort through the Red Cross and CWA and the church guild. Betty’s great body of work included landscapes, banners, millinery, ceramics, and a bronze sculpture of her husband Vern Barberis who was a fellow schoolteacher and represented Australia as a weightlifter, winning a bronze medal at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. She was also an art teacher of 22 years. Betty passed away at The Grange, Wodonga on 26 November 2013.This portrait was created by a renowned and highly regarded artist from Northeast Victoria for a national celebration of the centenary of Australian Federation in 2001.A large oil painting depicting a portrait of Dolly Barton, mother of the artist Betty L. Barberis. The painting includes representations of her 12 children, her farming way of life, her commitment to the community and to the war effort. The image was painted on to yellow corflute for exhibition. It has since been covered with perspex to protect the image.betty l. barberis, myrtle ann 'dolly" barton, peoplescape 2001

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history. Two small round badges. The NSW CWA badge has a light and dark blue design with orange. The Victorian badge has a yellow, green and gold design.On Victorian badge: "VICTORIA/CWA". On NSW Badge: "COUNTRY WOMENS ASSOCIATION N.S.W./CWA".hamilton-smith collection, hamilton-smith, ellwood, charity, volunteer, voluntering, cwa, country women's association, rural, women, women's history, domestic, cooking, food, community

This crocheted sauce cover was made and used by Esther Elizabeth Hore at the Bogong Hotel. She was the wife of John Richard Hore who owned the Bogong Hotel from the early 1890s. In 1925 their daughter Myrtle Anne Hore (Dolly) moved to Tawonga with her husband Rod Barton. Rod worked to rebuild the hotel by constructing a series of bungalows behind the existing building. The next generation of the Hore Family continued to operate the hotel until the early 1950s. Rod and Dolly Barton later moved to the family dairy farm "Kent Meadows” in Gundrowing on land which had been selected in the 1860s by Rod’s father. Here they raised a family of six sons and six daughters through the hard years of the Depression and World War II. Dolly and the older children carried on the work on the farm whilst Rod was away on active service, as well as being actively involved in Red Cross, Church Guild, CWA and Fire Brigade. Dolly passed away on 28th February 1991. This item was donated to Wodonga & District Historical Society by Betty Barberis nee Barton, a recognised artist both locally and internationally, one of Dolly’s 12 children.This item is significant because it is representative of traditional crafts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was owned by a prominent Wodonga and District family.A crocheted cotton cover designed to be placed over a sauce bottle. It has been made for decorative purposes only.traditional crafts, handcraft, barton family of gundrowing