A century of friendship, fundraising and community service was celebrated on Saturday when the Cobar branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) marked its 100th anniversary with a luncheon at the Cobar Services Club.
Almost 60 people, including current and former members, representatives from other Far Western Group branches, family members and guests, gathered to celebrate the milestone and reflect on the branch’s history.
Current Cobar CWA president Colleen Boucher OAM shared some of that history, dating back to October 1926 when a group of local women gathered at the School of Arts building in Becker Street to discuss forming a branch.
“Mrs M R Bannister was elected as the first president, Miss E Condon as secretary and joint treasurers were Mrs R Prosper and Miss M Irwin,” Mrs Boucher said.
From those early beginnings, members set about raising money to help those in need and extending a hand of friendship throughout the community.
Their fundraising efforts included street stalls, wool days, balls, catering and selling homemade cooking, knitting and handicrafts.
Mrs Boucher said money raised helped furnish the maternity ward at Cobar Hospital, while members also knitted clothing for newborn babies and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
Over the years, members travelled hundreds of kilometres on dusty roads to attend CWA gatherings, sometimes getting bogged along the way and stopping to boil the billy before continuing their journey.
One of the branch’s biggest achievements was building its own rooms on the corner of Becker and Linsley streets.
Through fundraising and donations, the brick building was completed and officially opened debt-free in 1949 by acting CWA NSW State President Mrs G Brooks.
The building remains the branch’s home today, with its original bedroom recently returned to use to provide short-term overnight accommodation for CWA members.
Another lasting contribution has been the establishment of scholarships for Cobar High School students, an initiative introduced under the guidance of Mrs George Knight.
The scholarships continue today, with two students from Years 11 and 12 receiving assistance towards their education costs each year.
Throughout its 100 years, the branch has supported numerous organisations and causes, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Royal Far West, Macquarie Home Stay and emergency relief appeals for communities affected by drought, floods and fires.
Mrs Boucher acknowledged that changing times, particularly the increasing number of women in the workforce, had made it more challenging for community organisations such as the CWA to attract and retain members.
However, she said resilience and perseverance had helped keep the Cobar branch going.
Saturday’s celebration was also an opportunity to revisit old photographs, share memories and recognise the generations of women whose hard work and dedication have helped the branch reach its 100-year milestone.
