THE Tallangatta Country Women's Association celebrated its 70th anniversary this week with 90 guests gathered to cut the cake and reflect on the women who shaped the town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Over the past seven decades, the branch has been a source of support for the community during the relocation of the town, devastating bush fires and the opening of the Dartmouth Dam.
Group president of the Upper Murray region Joy Lowry said the CWA is about friendship and supporting the community.
“Everything we do is at grass roots level. We’ve raised some money today which will be split up around the community groups who need it,” she said.
“We do a lot of work in regards to social issues. It’s mainly about women, children and schools and it always has been that way,”
“We raised money for Nepal which will go to the Nepalese women’s groups to help with the schools. The women’s groups there are the same as us,” she said.
The group has always been strongly involved with government lobbying campaigns. One of their biggest achievements was a 17 year campaign lobbing the government to open a secondary college in Tallangatta.
Mrs Lowry moved to area from Darwin and found joining the CWA was a fantastic way to meet people in town.
Membership chairman Margaret Wood said the CWA had recently come back in fashion, with many young mothers joining their local branches to learn new skills from older members.
“We’re really getting an influx of younger people which is marvelous because some of the branches are getting too old and they just can’t go on.”
Tallangatta is one of the oldest branches of the CWA in the area. Wodonga celebrated its 70th last year and Cudgewa will celebrate the same next year.
The CWA Upper Murray Group is holding information nights for expressions of interest for new members to start up branches in Rutherglen, Mitta Mitta and Eskdale.
Anybody interested in joining their local branch is welcome to contact Joy Lowry, on 0417 986 568.
