THE Country Women's Association in Bridgetown and the rest of Western Australia is alive and well.
"We are looking for new members in the Bridgetown-Greenbushes area, women of all ages who would like to share in working for the aims of the CWA," Bridgetown banch president Peggy Campbell said.
Members of the Bridgetown branch at their recent meeting said the old image of the CWA ladies being all farmers wives, making jam scones and knitting scarves was long gone.
Mrs Campbell said the organisation has been instrumental in helping to achieve many things around the state.
"The CWA was formed to help improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those living in rural and remote Australia," she said.
"The CWA is also active in supporting many charities and local community projects as well as providing material aid to Asia-Pacific countries.
"Our achievements have included itemised telephone bills, untimed local calls to the nearest business centre, homes for the aged to be built in the country, safety grids inside wheat bins and silos, five year passports for the over 70s, town sites to have parks and playgrounds, country of origin on food packaging, hostels for country students where required, shelters in school yards, toilets for the disabled in all new public toilets, and the list goes on.
"Yes we do still make scones and other delicious cakes, but we usually do this as a fundraiser for some deserving cause either locally or statewide or even nationally."
Bridgetown member Elsie Sutton said Bridgetown CWA began in 1937 with 100 members.
"It was the women coming in from the farms to have their meeting with the friends and neighbours in town," Mrs Sutton said.
"We have always responded to any call for assistance," she said.
"One big call that we got was when the tsunami occurred, three ladies asked for us to take stuff in as a collection agency while they sorted it through and then organised free transport.
"When the Chernobyl tragedy occurred, about 16 of us knitted jumpers for the victims.
"The shire paid for the wool and the jumpers were all sent over to the Ukraine.
"When the big fire in 2003 started near Nannup and came right through to Peninsular Road, CWA members were out visiting people affected, taking them supplies of dairy foods to help them over the difficult period, as well as helping to supply refreshments to the firefighters."
"Now the Bush Fire Brigades have the support trailer," Mrs Campbell said.
"While it is a good thing, it has stopped a lot of people being able to give support.
"People don't really know what is happening at the fire front.
"Before the arrival of the trailer, everyone who was able would get out to ensure refreshment and food were got out to their men fighting the fire.
"Unfortunately many of the rules and regulations which have been put in place, while they are meant to protect people, they also deter people from offering spontaneous help when a disaster or serious event happens.
"It which also stops the community spirit which the town grew up with.
"These rule also restrict the activities of the CWA to a degree - consideration has to be given if we help out now are we within the law or are we going to be turned away.
"The money we raise or get in goes to organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, or tragedies like the cyclone in Tonga, and all branches put in what they can. This is then distributed.
"It comes in from lots of CWA groups which makes the payment or collection a big and powerful thing."
Four years ago the local branch sent Christmas parcels to Australian troops in Afghanistan.
The year before they sent parcels to drought stricken farmers.
"The things we sent them were the more luxury things to help give them a better Christmas, because the money was tight and they could just about keep themselves fed," Mrs Campbell said.
In July the Country Women's Association of Western Australia celebrates its 90th anniversary.
It will be marked by a special day of friendship and fun at Nungarin, 280 kilometres northeast of Perth, where the state's first CWA branch was formed.
As part of the celebrations, a conference is to be held at York beginning on July 21 at the York Town Hall.
Last year the Royal Flying Doctor Service celebrated its 85th anniversary and the CWA has agreed its gift for the state this year would be made to the service.
