Canberra is home to three branches of the Country Women’s Association – Gungahlin, Belconnen and Canberra – and is looking at marking 80 years of advocacy in the ACT next year.

Early activities for the initial Canberra branch included making wartime food parcels for England and donating books to the Bungendore Library, which was being run by its local CWA branch. 

“Even though Canberra isn’t exactly rural, we do so much for our friends over the border,” says Canberra branch president Joy Garland.

“For such a small group, nationally, we do so much.

“We are an advocacy group currently fighting against domestic violence and for better healthcare facilities in rural regions. 

“We are initiators, fighters and lobbyists, but it is hard to fight assumptions.” 

“We do so much more than just bake scones, contrary to popular belief,”

The now-retired ex-home economics teacher says she is “quite frankly” sick of baking. 

Although some branches do some baking, arts and crafts to help raise funds to donate to causes such as domestic violence shelters, scholarships, healthcare and education, Joy says they do much more than that. 

“Perhaps historically, that was what we could do to help, but are advocating for bigger things.” 

The CWA is the longest running women’s group in the country and are the powerful voices pushing for change behind many of the key issues facing the country.

In 1922, 20 years after women got the right to vote in Australia, the first branch of the Country Women’s Association was established in Crookwell, north of Canberra, by rural women.

Nationwide, the organisation has worked to set up baby health care centres, fund bush nurses, build and staff maternity wads, hospitals, schools, rest homes and domestic violence shelters. 

Lobbying for a 40km/h zone around schools in 1992, the CWA were successful when the school zones were announced in 2001.

CWA has also been strong advocates for seatbelts in cars and supporting Australian-made products.

These days, they are advocating for a ban of promoting alcoholic beverages during sporting broadcasts, the adoption of timely and best practice assessment of ADHD, dedicated palliative care units in rural hospitals, greater support for sufferers of endometriosis, more psychiatric services in rural areas, drought and flooding relief as well as DV support across Australia.

The association’s motto, “Through Country Women, For Country Women, By Country Women”, remains at the forefront of their methods.

CWA members will be heading to Wagga Wagga for their annual state conference to discuss what key issues they will target this year. 

“Six hundred to 800 women attend and that’s where we get stuff done,” says Joy. 

Now pushing for young women to “Find Your Place”, Joy says: “We’ve already got some young women who are incredibly passionate about the cause and making a difference. 

“But it’s the assumption that we are just a bunch of old ladies that is hard to fight.” 

According to Joy, it isn’t all serious at their meetings, with the women forming lifelong friendships over a cuppa. 

“It’s a friendly space for women to come together,” she says. 

Meeting every other Friday in their building at 8 Barry Drive, Civic, Joy encourages women of any age and background to pop by and say hello. 

To join the Country Women’s Association, email cwacanberra@gmail.com or call 0413 711534.