August 20, 2017
The Kingaroy branch of the Queensland Country Women’s Association marked its 95th birthday with a small celebration in its clubrooms recently.
The group cut a cake – naturally! – and also had a display of yesteryear embroidery and other historic items, including johnny cake baking tins.
QCWA members also saluted Kingaroy’s best-known citizen, Lady Bjelke-Petersen, who was celebrating her 97th birthday on the same day.
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From a history of the Kingaroy QCWA written for the 80th birthday, and incorporating some information gathered for the 90th birthday:
Ninety-five years ago, a meeting was called in Toowoomba to discuss the idea of an association to assist country women in Queensland.
Mrs Ruth Fairfax – wife of grazier Hubert, a member of the Fairfax family of media fame – agreed to accept the position of President.
A Mrs Oakes from Kingaroy was one of the six Vice-Presidents … and so the QCWA was formed.
The motto “Loyalty to the Throne, Service to the Country, Through Country Women, For Country Women, By Country Women” was adopted. Not until 1945 was “Honour To God” added.
Mrs Fairfax then embarked on a strenuous six months tour of rural Queensland in an open car, organising branches and even holding some meetings on the banks of creeks.
She didn’t have to travel far for her first success.
Queensland’s first rural CWA branch opened in Kingaroy on August 22, 1922, just a handful of days after that initial formation meeting.
Daphne Florence Youngman, from Taabinga Homestead, was elected the first President and served in the role from 1922-33.
Miss H. O’Neill was Treasurer. Other founding members were mesdames R. Evans, J.D. Lee, A. Perrett, S. Elliot, A. Horn, R. Tancred, T. Cornish, D. Young, S. Reddan and D. O’Neil.
The first Kingaroy meeting was held in a room of solicitor Mr Oliver Bond. Subsequent meetings took place in the old School of Arts, the old Club Hall or the “Sample Room” of the old Club Hotel.
Then in 1926, Arthur Youngman of Taabinga Homestead donated land, and rooms were built for £500 by Charlie Gills.
State Headquarters recognised the significance of the opening and Queensland President Ruth Fairfax with Southern Division President Mrs Farmer attended.
Mr Russell also donated land at the Bunya Mountains where a “getaway” shack was built.
By 1934, membership of the Kingaroy QCWA had reached 81.
In 1937, Mr Gill added a kitchen and a living area to the Rest Rooms for a residential caretaker, at the cost of £55/17/6. Extra furnishings were bought for £5/5. A wood stove was donated by Kingaroy residents.
The Rest Rooms were used as a Baby Clinic for two and a half days a week, and the doors were always open for country women in the area to pop in for a cuppa and rest with their young children while their husbands attended cattle sales and business matters.
A Younger Set was formed in 1930 which had 33 girls supervised by Mrs T. Towne and Miss May Towne.
The first Secretary, Mrs Kathleen Oakes, fought to raise funds to establish a holiday home “Oakholme” at Torquay, Hervey Bay.
Through the Bush Children’s Scheme, children spent holidays with their families there. Many had never seen the sea before.
‘Oakholme’ was taken over by the military during World War II.
Mrs Oakes died in 1946 and in memory of her, ‘Oakholme’ was renamed the ‘Kathleen Oakes Memorial Home’.
During World War II, the CWA went into recess and involved itself with the Australian Comforts Fund, and the Kingaroy rooms were used to make camouflage netting. Beryl Horne worked on these.
Food parcels which included hand-knitted balaclavas, socks and gloves were sent to the soldiers for Christmas, an extremely busy time for all the women in country areas.
Not until after the war did life return to normal.
The Kingaroy QCWA began working again to create further amenities for the town.
In October 1947, Kingaroy Council connected water to the rooms and a garden hose and push lawn mower were purchased. A gardener was employed and Mr Markwell donated two dozen rose bushes in acknowledgement of the work the CWA does for the community.
Membership at that time was 137.
In 1950, the Rest Rooms were painted, paths were laid and a server was added to the kitchen.
Catering for weddings and other functions were great fundraisers and equipment was gradually purchased. A Bridge Club was popular and carpet bowls were played regularly.
In June 1953, a new fence, steps and handrail were added to the front entrance of the Rooms in honor of a late founding member Mrs. T Cornish.
A silky oak President’s Chair was donated by Mr T.A. Ott, and in 1955 an official table was purchased to match it.
Due to all the catering, the need for a Reception Hall was broached at a meeting in April 1956; the approval was given in August.
Brigden Bros built the brick veneer hall which was lined with American hardwood. It was officially opened by the State Deputy President Mrs N. Amis on November 24, 1956. The final cost of the hall was £2500 and it was cleared of all debt by March 16, 1963.
Metal louvres and window shades were added in 1963 for £131. These made the hall much cooler.
At the same time, the need for a “waiting mothers” hostel in the district became clear, and a separate committee was formed to raise funds for that project. Other branches in the area also worked hard to help raise money.
Land was purchased for £820 in Kingaroy Street from the Binzer Estate. Plans were submitted by Mr Gill and the Council approved them in August 1955.
The estimated cost of the building was £5570.
On March 10, 1956, Mrs A.M. Berry, President of Associated Country Women of the World, laid a foundation stone. Work had begun.
Unfortunately, the builder Mr C. Morris, was accidentally killed and Mr E. Frazer completed the building.
The hostel was opened in 1957. This gave much-needed accommodation to expectant mothers in the farming areas who had to stay in town until their babies were born at the hospital.
Later the hotel was used for High School and TAFE students who had to reside in town for their schooling during the week.
Gradually, the hostel catered for country girls who worked in town or went to TAFE.
President Mrs C. Arthur took control in April 1963, making sure the girls looked after themselves properly. An evening meal was cooked for them. Wendy Buttsworth was one of the cooks.
Mrs Dulcie Collett then took over and became a sort of “House Mother”, often taking them cakes and seeing everything was running smoothly. It became her special interest, and her reports on the Hostel were looked forward to at each CWA monthly meeting. Sometimes she had some lively tales to tell!
On October 15, 1997, South Burnett Area Youth Services (SBAYS) leased the hostel to provide crisis accommodation for homeless youths.
Mr Trevor Ballin co-ordinated the 24 hrs a day care, providing shelter and food under the care of house parents. The youths were trained in life skills and education and, hopefully, returned to their families.
It has since been taken over by the South Burnett CTC who provide the same services, so it continues to be known as “The House of Dreams”.
Besides caring for the Hostel girls, another service the CWA provided was the Housekeeping scheme.
Members were paid a nominal sum to do the house duties for families while the mother was away for some reason or sick in bed. The care of children was included with the cooking and housework.
These days, Blue Nurses and government organisations do this work, and CWA members now volunteer with Meals on Wheels.
The Rooms and Hall are still being updated.
An extension to the back of the hall gave internal access to the two toilets. The Rooms were also painted to bring them into the 21st Century.
