There has been much cause for celebration at the Echuca-Murray CWA.
In recent months, a number of local branch members have reached major milestones with what remains the largest regional and rural advocacy group in Australia more than a century on from being founded.
Gwen McDonald has been a member of the CWA for 64 years.
“My mother-in-law got me into it,” she laughed.
“I had only been married a short-time, about eight months or so, and there had been a CWA meeting in Rochester where my mother-in-law joined me up.
“She came home and said there’s a craft demonstration on lamp shades coming up hosted by a lady from Melbourne and they didn’t have enough names on the list, so she put me down.
“That was the start and I’m still involved today.”
Gwen started at Rochester before a five-decade long association with the Nanneella branch.
When the Nanneella branch folded, Gwen joined Echuca-Murray.
“I’ve got great friends at the CWA, it is lovely companionship,” she said.
“We all help each other, there’s no cross words, we have a lot of fun.”
June Milgate recently brought up 60 years of membership with the CWA.
“We were share farming at Calivil with my husband Bruce, who was a good footballer, and it was a way of getting to know people in the community,” she said.
“You could take your kids to the CWA, they would take their shoes off and entertain themselves as the adults met and socialised together.”
June, who was then June McGregor, said there were 35 members at the Calivil branch, which has now disbanded.
She held the role as group president in 1995-96 and after moving from Calivil, was a member at Moama CWA before joining Echuca-Murray.
“For me, the CWA is fun and fellowship,” June said.
“You help each other when times are tough, there’s always someone there to help you.”
Barbara Higgins celebrated a golden 50-year milestone as a member of the CWA.
“I joined the CWA in Swan Hill when my daughter was born after a lovely friend invited me,” she said.
“I love singing and in those days the CWA staged a number of music shows, there used to be a state festival that put in acts each year.
“I spent seven years with the CWA in Swan Hill before moving to Ararat for five years and I’ve been at Echuca-Murray for the past 38 years.
“We had a beautiful choir here for many years, I love the crafts and love the friendship of those involved in the club.
“You become part of a group of like-minded people. I’m proud of the work we do for disadvantaged women and children, both in our own community and overseas, quietly and without a fuss.”
Barbara was the region’s group president in 2020-21 and fellow Echuca-Murray member Delia Currie, who has an association stretching back nearly four decades, is the current region president.
Heather Bradley is another closing on a milestone, with her 50 years of service coming up.
Echuca-Murray has also welcomed members Dale Rose and Liz McDonald from Deniliquin after that town’s CWA branch closed.
The Riv was in attendance as the branch welcomed its newest member in Glenys Mayer, who has recently moved to the region from the Castlemaine district.
Barbara said that Echuca-Murray CWA welcomed anyone interested in joining the branch.
You can contact Barbara on 0408 825 301 or visit the CWA Hall in High St, Echuca from 10am on the second Tuesday of each month.