The Country Women’s Association

The Country Women’s Association in Australia was established at a conference in Sydney at Easter time in  1922, coinciding with the Easter Show.

Miss Florence Gordon was a journalist who ran the “Home” page in the Stock and Station Journal, Sydney. In 1921, under the pen-name of “Urbania,” she wrote an article headed “A Union of Help for Country Women.” The idea resonated so strongly with female readers that she was flooded with letters to her column from women telling of their experiences and wanting to participate. In July Florence formed a small body of women called the “Country Women’s Union of Help”. Their purpose was to unite women with the object of strengthening the position of women in the country, of helping them to express their views, and of taking concerted action to gain their ends. She continued writing about the Union, encouraging women to band together for the betterment of their lives.

Sydney Stock and Station Journal, Tuesday 2 August 1921, page 3
THE PLAN OF THE UNION.- Last week I told you of the plan for the organisation of the Union, but some readers may have missed it, and new readers may have heard about it, and want to know more about it. The first step to be made is to form groups of ten members or more. Ten who are at least within touch of each other, (get them to sign a coupon, the one at the foot of this column). Then agree on one of the group to act as hon. secretary and let her post the coupons. It would perhaps be a good thing for each member of the group to pay a shilling a year membership fee to the hon. secretary to cover such expense as postage. Until a number of groups have been formed, we can hardly look upon ourselves as a Union, so I do hope those of you who read this page will help the project along informing or joining a group.

I want to be able to publish very shortly the names of quite a number of groups and their members in this column. Then will those who enrol, and those who think of enrolling, every week cut out and keep for reference, The Country-women’s Union of Help column. Where it is possible for the members of a group to meet, it would help them to read over each column that has appeared since their previous meeting, and direct their hon. secretary to write for information on any question that arises. 

Human companionship and social ties seem to be the great wants of bush life, according to many of the correspondents who have taken part in the recent discussion on making Bush Life attractive. Here the Union of Help groups could do a great work. If distance is not altogether too great, the members could arrange a fortnightly or monthly meeting at each other’s homes, and dance, play cards, or tennis, or golf. The main thing is to determine in however simple a way to break the monotony, and recognise that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 

Don’t forget the children. Get them together. Give them an afternoon sports, and let the grown-ups vary the amusement with a race or competition. 

And when you have broken the dull round, and found out that if you try you can get together and enjoy each other’s society, write to the Union of Help column and tell us all how you did it. Even in the simple matter of a sociable afternoon and evening, each of you can ”leave footprints on the sands of time’ that some lonely, dispirited dweller in the bush may see and determine to do likewise. 

Some of you may say you are so far away you cannot be one even of a group of ten. Never mind. Find out nine other people as lonely and far away as yourself, and form a group for correspondence. Still have one for an hon. secretary and centre. Let each one hunt up an interesting book, or a game, or a gramophone record, and keep passing them round till they come back to the owner. If all the group haven’t gramophones, you’ll find they’ll each be getting one and enjoy the change and interest got by exchanging the records. Say to yourselves that you will keep in touch with human beings; take every opportunity that offers. 

Last week I promised to say something on the subject of Collective Purchasing by which I believe the conditions of women in the country could be greatly improved. Owing to unforeseen delay the material for the paper was delayed. And it would perhaps be better to wait for a couple of weeks until there has been time to publish the formation of some groups. 

Will readers send in their names, and also, if possible, mention some of the special needs or wants of their group and neighbourhood. 

In September, 1921. Dr. Richard Arthur, M.L.A., showed Florence an article he had written advocating a conference of bush women. The management of the Sydney Stock and Station Journal generously agreed to finance holding such a conference. Florence volunteered to organise it.

On February 6, Mrs. Grace Munro accepted the office of president of the conference committee. With the patronage of Dame Margaret Davidson and assistance and advice from several others who consented to give lectures or read papers, the conference finally began on 18th April 1922, at the Country Club, 17 Castlereagh-street, Sydney.

The first business of the conference was the passing of a resolution making the conference an annual event. The present Country Women’s Association was formed on the third day of the conference by a resolution proposed by Florence Gordon. A provisional committee for three months was elected, Mrs. Hugh Munro president, Florence Gordon hon. secretary, Mrs. Canning, hon. treasurer, Mrs. Sawyer (Bethungra), Mrs. Stephen Laver (Crookwel), Mrs. Studdy (Boggabri) vice presidents, Miss Hilda Johnson (Women’s Club, Moree), Mrs. Burroughs (Cootamundra), Mrs. Fitzhardinge (Kurrajong Heights), Miss Griffen (Griffith), Mrs. Hazlell (Lindfield), executive committee.

The efforts of this committee resulted in the formation, by the end of June, of over twenty branches, with another ten in process of formation.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954), Friday 19 May 1922, page 3
COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION.
Sir,-May I draw your friendly attention and that of your readers to the Country Women’s Association of New South Wales, the outcome of the recent Conference of Country Women, held in Sydney during Easter week. This association has been formed to voice the country woman’s point of view, her needs, her hopes, her wishes, the small beginning of a great movement, that will enable her to laugh more at her work that work which makes life possible to the man on the land, who is the base and backbone of the nation. Worthily she is the mother, sweetheart, wife, sister of “the bravest thing God ever made.” He is willing to give her all the help she needs-if he only knows how.

The Country Women’s Association seeks to make the country woman articulate. To woman organised all things are possible. The association aims at organising every woman in the State outside the metropolitan district of the county of Cumberland, and primary producers within it, or those directly deriving their livelihood from the land. It is an independent body, without political, religious, or financial backing. It relies on the justice of its cause, the sympathy and support of those who realise its great possibilities. Its motto covers both its reason for existence and its platform of work. Loyalty to the Throne, service to the country, through country women, for country women, by country women. That service embraces a wider range, from that supreme service which gives a strong and virile race to carry on the work of the nation, to helping some lonely woman or child outback to enjoy some of the pleasant things of life. Between these extremes lie organised help to charities, bush nursing, the establishment of maternity wards in hospitals, municipal and shire council work. For thinking women all agree that it is high time we followed the example of our English sisters, and took up municipal and local government work. 

The provisional officers of the association are Mrs. Hugh Munro, president, Keera, Bingara: Mrs. Sawyer, Bethungra Park, Bethungra; Mrs. A. J. Studdy, Boggabri; Mrs. Stephen Laver, Grabben Gullen, Goulburn: Mrs. Hazlett, Gulgong, hon. treasurer, and myself, hon. secretary. 

We invite all women in sympathy with this movement to endeavour to form branches of the association in their locality. In the larger towns to invite the Mayor to call public meetings, in smaller townships to hold meetings, form branches, and decide their own plan of work. We believe that small groups, even of two or three, would prove more congenial than one big branch in every district. We shall be pleased to forward rules and membership books to any woman who will undertake the work of forming a branch, with any information in our power that is likely to render help. We appreciate any inquiry by which we may render that service in each other which is the basis of our association.
FLORENCE GORDON, Hon. Secretary, Country Women’s Association, 17 Castlereagh-street, Sydney. 

The Queensland Country Women’s Association

 

In August 1922, with the support of the Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, the Country Women’s Association in Queensland was formed at a conference at the the Brisbane Women’s Club. Mrs Ruth Beatrice Fairfax appointed President, Miss Marjorie Scholefield as Honorary Secretary. All the women from the conference became members of the general Committee with the power to convene branches in their own regions. Sir Matthew Nathan was the Patron of the newly formed Association.

Mrs Fairfax is pictured at left.

Conference at the the Brisbane Women’s Club, August 1922

Toowoomba became the centre for Queensland with a sub-committee in Brisbane and a Constitution was drawn up in September at a Toowoomba meeting, highlighting three main points.

That the Association be non political and non sectarian.
That only those women whose income was derived from the land should be eligible as full members.
That the State, as suggested by Sir Matthew Nathan, be worked through the Shires, with the principal town in each to be responsible for the rest of the districts. A map was supplied for this purpose.

The first conference was held  8-9 February 1923 in Toowoomba when the Constitution was discussed and amended.

All women over 18 years of age outside of the Metropolitan area, and all women inside the city of Brisbane, whose income was derived from the land, shall be eligible for membership.

The Motto then was, “Loyalty to the Throne, Service to the Country, Through Country Women, For Country Women, By Country Women.” “Honour to God”  was not added until September 1945. 

The following officers were appointed:— President, Mrs. Fairfax; vice-presidents, Mesdames Oakes and Farmer; executive committee, Mesdames McRae (Biloela), McDougall (Warwick), Macpherson (Roma), Oakes (Kingaroy), Hogg (Greenmount), Green (Townsville), and Bennett (Toowong): hon. secretary, Miss Scholefield (Toowoomba); hon. treasurer. Mrs. Cocks (Toowoomba).

At a meeting held in conjunction with the conference, the Q.C.W.A. Badge design was accepted, a Q with the letters CWA in the centre. It was designed by Mrs. Mabel Chandler of Burra Burri. The silver and royal blue colours were adopted.

The Aims and Objectives:
To improve welfare and conditions of women and children in the country.
To draw together all women, girls, and children in Country Districts.
To bring opportunities for recreation and enjoyment within reach of all Members.
To encourage the active study of Local, Municipal and State affairs and to promote a wise and kindly spirit.
To improve educational facilities in the Country
To secure better provision for the safeguarding of Public Health especially of children and the securing of more adequate Medical and Hospital facilities for Country Districts.

Lota Home – This home was donated to the Association by the Mylne family, in memory of Mrs Helena Mylne. It was officially opened by Sir Matthew Nathan on 9 August 1924 and could accommodate 12 people. By March 1924, 80 women and children holidayed at Lota and numerous improvements were made.

In 1928 the Country Women’s Song Forward! Ever Forward  by Meta Maclean was copyrighted.

Car decorated using the Queensland Country Women’s Association colours, royal blue & white and gold & silver trimmings. 1920s
(Photo: Qld State Library)

 

© Jane Schy, 2024