November 11, 2014
by Deb Frecklington
Recently I had the real privilege of addressing the 2014 Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) State Conference held in Ipswich.
Hundreds of women from around the state gathered for their annual conference, and I felt very honoured to speak to this amazing group of women who do so much to support our community.
The QCWA have been at the forefront of flood and drought support for many years and continue to provide farming families with food vouchers and help to pay medical bills.
I personally know how much this assistance has meant to farmers suffering greatly in these ongoing dry conditions.
If you want to find out more about either donating or applying for assistance, see this link.
As a very keen baker, the State Conference was also a great chance to check out the entries in the Cookery Competition.
It was heaven to look at all the delicious goodies the ladies had made and while I was there, I ran into Shirley Cronk of Crows Nest. Shirley is the most amazing baker and had won four sections of the cookery competition.
It’s women like Shirley who keep the traditions of the QCWA alive.
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I was also really proud to talk to the conference about a newly formed branch of the CWA right here in the South Burnett – the Blackbutt/Yarraman QCWA.
I met this busy and happy group at the Bloomin’ Beautiful Blackbutt Awards Night in Blackbutt.
They explained that they had been looking for a group in the local area to join and came to the conclusion they should reform the QCWA group.
About 15 women are now members with Jan Bagdonas of Yarraman as President. That night they catered for the event and the food was amazing.
And from a brand new group to one that celebrated its 90th Anniversary this year: the Kumbia QCWA Branch.
They are busier than ever and I was delighted to let President Marian Mudra know that they had successfully secured a $21,000 Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant this year to upgrade their QCWA Hall.
So thank you to all the wonderful women who make up the QCWA!
You can see a small part of my speech at the QCWA Conference below (courtesy of Queensland Country Life Journalist Sarah Coulton – thank you Sarah):
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Remembrance Day and Anzac Centenary
I’d also like to touch on the Remembrance Day Services taking place throughout our region on Tuesday, November 11.
Around the South Burnett there are several services run by our dedicated RSL Sub-Branch members.
In the Nanango Electorate there are services in Nanango, Kingaroy, Yarraman and Blackbutt and I know that across the border in Callide, there are services in Murgon and Goomeri.
Please take the time to attend if you can and remember the sacrifice of our WWI soldiers, in particular as we celebrate the Centenary of Anzac from this year.
State Government funding has just been announced for the Anzac Centenary Community Grants program and I’d like to congratulate the following local groups who were successful:
- Yarraman RSL Sub Branch – $5836 to build a permanent display in the Yarraman Soldiers Memorial Hall to commemorate local WWI soldiers
- Wild Horse FM (Yarraman) – $3550 to deliver Anzac Day programming on Wild Horse FM
- South Burnett Regional Council – $12,000 to stage the theatrical production ‘Gallipoli’ for students and the community
- Maidenwell Community Group – $10,450 to repair and refurbish the Maidenwell Cenotaph
- RSL Crows Nest Sub-Branch – $55,148 to restore the Crows Nest Memorial in Centennial Park
- Australian Army Flying Museum – $14,000 to build a WWI full size replica aircraft (Sopwith Camel)
All these projects will add a unique and special dimension to our Anzac Centenary celebrations in 2015.
Next week, I’ll be giving my wrap-up on the end of school year Awards Nights and our new school leaders for 2015.
