The latest From The CWA

CENTRAL VIC GROUP of the COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

September Newsletter 2013

Another action packed three days at Lansell Road, Toorak. 

The meeting started with a Candle of Honour for Frank Metzke. He had achieved wonders with simplifying the accounting, and with sorting out the land tax CWA had been paying. The huge amount not only applied to the Lansell Road property, but included about 50% for all the properties held by CWA in the State. The current land tax has been paid, with a refund of $118000 to cover overcharging for the last few years.

I have great admiration for Dorothy Coombe – she reported on her first 100 days as State President – over 2000 emails and 15 disasters – mostly with the Lansell Road property (bits of the roof blew off, hot water pipes leaked, sewerage problems). Dorothy was very good at making sure all the representatives from the Groups were heard. You can all rest assured that any items you want discussed will be.

Now that we are nearing the end of our New Zealand adventure the next destination has been voted on – MONGOLIA. The theme for 2014 is “Challenging Perceptions, Changing Lives”. How about that for food for thought? We can apply it to ourselves to look at things from another point of view; to our branches to try to see what the community thinks of us. You will all come up with ideas before the round of annual meetings, won’t you?

The bid to hold the 2019 ACWW World Conference has been accepted at ACWW in London, a committee formed and a brochure produced. The announcement of the successful application will be made at the World Conference in India. The committee has to prepare a 15 minute segment to promote CWA in Melbourne, Australia.  WhileState President Dorothy Coombe and Vice-president Machelle Crichton are in Chennai, India for the conference the Immediate Past State President Carol Clay will act in the position of State President.

CWA is represented on a lot of State committees. The latest is Carers Victoria. Did you know that if you are caring for someone – helping them to visit the doctor, or just being with them when travelling you are entitled to free travel?

 This service is open to all carers – not just those carers with government assistance. Foodbank Victoria’s representative is our State President, Dorothy Coombe.

THE ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW is the next big event. Contact CWA on 03 9827 8971 and leave a message for Kaye Kyle if you can help out – volunteers were still needed for the last few days of the show.   

THE CHRISTMAS FAIR on 7^th December at Lansell Road would like donations of Christmas cooking etc.  

 THE STATE FAIR on 1^st March 2014 is focussing on “Gardening for All Ages”.  All the usual donations of produce, plants, jams, cooking will be welcomed. There will be a stall for good quality second hand gardening books and kids toys.

Plans and programmes are under way for the 2014 State Conference in Geelong , and the next State Creative Arts Exhibition will be in South Morang on 8^th and 9^th August 2014.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS – the next big item on our agenda. I have been most impressed by the organisation of CWA. The two year limit for president – of State, Group or Branch means that there is a continual change in the way things are done – but not big changes. These new beginnings every two years really keep the Association alive. The wisdom of having the really hard-working secretaries and treasurers around for longer makes sure CWA doesn’t fall in a heap.

Now is the time to start thinking about next year. All office-bearers are elected for one year. The president may be elected for a second year, but must have a year off before taking office again. The secretary and treasurer may also be elected for a further year – up to a maximum of five years. 

Nominations should be made by branch members and are open until the AGM. This means no nominations or appointments are finalised until the AGM. It would be quite good fun to have a vote or two.   

Any branch executive formed must include ALL the branch office bearers (President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer) and any other members appointed at the AGM. They can prepare the agenda and plan events – but all their decisions must be ratified by the branch.

Now that I have seen just what can be accomplished following the CWA rules and objects at State level, my aim is to see what we can achieve together in the Central Vic Group.  

REMINDERS

Please try to send invitations 6 weeks before any event (to me as well as the branches), so that I can add them to a newsletter and try to make sure events don’t overlap.

Tuesday 10^th September   9.15 am      Morning tea at Woop Woop with parents of children at the Harcourt Valley

                                                                   Primary School

 Monday 16^th September   10am       Heathcote   Perennial Fashions

Sunday 20th October      11am – 3pm   Bridgewater Wool, Wheat and Wine Festival  and CWA promotion

Tuesday 22^nd October      12 noon      Inglewood lunch at the Royal Hotel Cafe  Hopefully – a new branch formed!

Wednesday 23^rd October 10.30am Lansell Road   ACWW meeting and luncheon .   Book with Lansell Road 9827 8971

                                                              and come with  us on the 8 o’clockish train from Castlemaine

Thursday 24^th October    1.30pm      Maryborough           Kaye’s Fashions

Tuesday 19^th November  12 noon   White Ribbon Day Luncheon at 3 Lansell Rod, Toorak.       Bookings 9827 8971

Tuesday or Wednesday 28^th or 29^th January will be our CENTRAL VIC FRIENDSHIP DAY to begin 2014 ay Maryborough.

Saturday December 7^th   State Christmas Cooking Fair  at 3 Lansell Rd Toorak.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

Castlemaine                    Monday 21^st October     6pm

Harcourt                          Thursday  7^th November     10.30am

Heathcote                       Wednesday  13^th November   12 noon

Newbridge                      Tuesday 19^th November     10.30am

Heathcote                           “                          “               1,30pm

Sutton Grange               Wednesday 20^th November    2pm

Dunolly                            Thursday  21^st November     10.30am

Maryborough                       “                          “               1.30pm

Havilah                                  “                          “                7pm

Please contact me if these need to be altered.

                      

GROUP CONFERENCE  Thanks to all who helped make my first conference a great day out – not the trial I thought it would be. It was a greater trial for Allison and the Castlemaine Branch to cope with the catering – thanks to those from other branches who helped with trading table and raffle etc.  The speakers were excellent. I thought the venue and the set-up for lunch was terrific and I was really pleased that you all thought we should start the 2014 year with a Group Friendship Day. Thanks to Maryborough Branch for offering to host the day -  

Results -    Door money  to Castlemaine Branch

                   Trading Table    $19.00    to Central Vic Group

                    Raffle                    64.00            “

                    CWA Goods         80.50            “  

THE FEBRUARY AGM AND HALF-YEARLY CONFERENCE will be at Dunolly.

The competitions:

        Nut loaf – no fruit, and cooked in a cylinder tin

        Jar of Lemon Butter

        Posy of flowers – no more than 18cm in diameter

The Group Effort for the hospital:        

       Tactile knee rugs – mad of materials that are washable in very hot water.

2014 CWA DIARIES     $7.50   Please post any orders, with a cheque made out to CWA Vic to me at P.O. Box 48, Harcourt as soon as possible. I can then collect them at the ACWW Luncheon in October.

Anything left out I’ll put in next month’s newsletter.

As we say in PNG:   Em tasol.  Or Over and Out.                                     

Ayron

click on the Harcourt CWA page here