Bogan Gate CWA members who celebrated the branch’s grand milestone of 90 years at the Bogan Gate Hotel on 7th November.
The small town of Bogan Gate recently celebrated a grand milestone when the Country Women’s Association (CWA) turned 90!
The 90th birthday celebrations took place on 7th November at the Bogan Gate Hotel, with 16 people attending.
Our birthday cake, made by Kath Swansbra, was cut by three of our life members Shirley Hunter OAM, Esther Moore and Hilda McPherson. Life member, Ida McIntyre, sent her apologies.
A slideshow compiled for our 80th celebrations with old photos collected by members brought much laughter and some gasps of disbelief as we saw photos of ourselves taken 30 years ago or more!
Ros Edwards presented a brief history of our branch with the inaugural meeting held at the home of Mrs W Black on 7th November 1931, and opened by Miss Warby, state treasurer.
During the war years the CWA members did many extra tasks. For many months they ran a canteen for soldiers at the
nearby army camp. Almost every woman in Bogan Gate had a camouflage net on a stand and as soon as one was finished, another would be started. Most women knitted socks or made pyjamas, khaki shirts and fruit cakes to include in comfort parcels, which were packed once a month during the war years.
The activities of CWA are many and varied, with birthday parties turning into fashion parades with hats being popular, while the two annual events raising the most money are the ball with debutantes, and the flower shows.
In our 90 years we have awarded 13 life memberships, four 50-year badges, 33 long service bars (since 1968) and we have had 16 junior members.
The day gave us the opportunity to rekindle past friendships and reminisce about the wonderful years of enjoyment and satisfaction gained through our association with the Bogan Gate Branch of CWA.
By Gail McKay