WHEN you hear the Country Women’s Association has won an award on Australia Day, you would expect an elderly lady to appear to accept the prize, but when two women barely in their 30s take the stage, you know something exciting is happening within one of Australia’s greatest institutions.
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Molong CWA was recognised as the community group of the year in Molong during the Australia Day ceremony.
“It’s just such a lot of fun,” said member Karyn Dive.
“I saw an article in the paper about their annual general meeting and they were talking about how they might close. So I grabbed some friends, took them along and it just grew from there.”
For the new members there was no introductory period, the older members told them if they wanted to join, they would have to take on positions.
“They’ve all been incredibly helpful and now they just sit back and are really happy to watch us build,” Mrs Dive said.
From only six members in October 2013 the Molong CWA now has 25 members, making it one of the strongest in the Central West.
The older members are still involved in the club and the fervour with which the newer members are engaging with the life of a CWA member is making quite a lot of money, as well as changing their ideas of happened within the group.
Member Lizzie Kelly said being a member was a very emotional experience.
“Everyone said that they were lovely ladies and that it was all about cooking, but we’ve discovered there’s a lot going on politically, and with the government, that we ever realised,” she said.
But the cooking, especially the cakes, is what most people associate with the CWA and the new members are learning that not only is it profitable, but they have a lot to learn.
“We’ve made a motza out of baking,” Mrs Dive laughed.
“But they wipe the floor with us every time we have a baking competition.
“None of us could call ourselves bakers.”
