Country Women’s Association national president Dorothy Coombe said having “fair, accessible, quality, non-interrupted” mobile and internet services remained a priority for her organisation.

“We know the opportunities derived from telecommunications,” she said.

“But if you don’t have the network or the capacity or the tools to do that in a proper way, people in the bush have got this divide, which is getting greater and greater, and quickly because telecommunications evolve quickly.”

Speaking at the Murray group conference in Holbrook, Ms Coombe said modern solutions in many areas were so often technology-based, disadvantaging those who could not access them. Most decision-makers lived in cities and politics often determined reactions to the situation.

“We’ve got to get past all that stuff to what is actually working and what isn’t,” she said. “We have congestion, we have non-access, we have black spots.

“We know they’re real, we still have people who have to go down to the dairy to make a call, which isn’t really crash hot in an emergency.”

Ms Coombe, who once worked for Telecom Australia and ran her own telephone marketing company, said the CWA also focused on issues such as domestic violence and improving rural health services.

About 46 members and guests attended the annual conference in the Anglican hall on Thursday.

NSW secretary Ann Adams, a Riverina group member, talked about the present restructure review.

The Oaklands branch presented motions that included a request for new mental health criteria to include psychological distress for people living with advanced chronic and terminal illness. These will now be submitted to the state conference.

Jindera’s Mary Fielder won the Margaret Jelbert Award for best floral arrangement and also received CWA life membership at a recent branch meeting.

Branch trophy winners –

Schulz Cup: Albury Evening, greatest increase in membership. 

Eleanor Hulme Trophy: Gerogery, for best average attendance at meetings.

Zweck Trophy: Holbrook, most active branch in International activities.

Lister Trophy: Albury, best international report submitted by branch member, Evelyn Burke.

Rita Ross Trophy: Jindera, most active branch.

The Murray group executive for 2017-18 includes president Genevieve Knobel, secretary Rita Bowler, treasurer Heather Kerr, vice-presidents Olivia Hanel, Judy Haynes, Margaret McMaster and Josie Kilpatrick, international Rhonda Scott, handicrafts Gush Kipper, cultural Lyn Buck, Land cookery Clare Oliver, agriculture and environment Roma Freeman, publicity Barbara Mackenzie.