Narrabri’s 96-year-old CWA branch closes down

The march of time, drought and COVID has claimed many casualties.

Organisations and clubs which were once thriving community bodies have been depleted and disappeared as members age and new recruits fail to materialise, society changes and interest wanes.

Narrabri branch of the Country Women’s Association, which was formed in 1924, has recently become a victim of the changing times and has closed down.

The CWA has long played a prominent and important role as a community organisation and valued social interest group.

“Meetings were held in members’ homes to begin with, a get together and a cuppa,” a member, Trish Foster said.

“CWA met monthly with guest speakers, craft sessions, and, of course tea and scones.

“At our annual meeting each year donations were given to various groups and the four schools were included every year.”

Generations of members have worked through the CWA to fund, assist, mentor and support people in Australia and overseas and enjoy the strong social ties the association fostered.

However, at the June 2014 branch meeting it was discussed and decided that due to financial circumstances and with so few members, to sell the CWA rooms in Barwan Street.

“CWA head office owned the rooms so it had to be their decision and after many meetings with them it was decided to sell,” Mrs Foster said.

The contents were sold at a garage sale.

The building sale was finalised on July 11, 2014.

“Narrabri branch was entitled to 50 per cent of the sale, as long as the money was spent in the local community.”

The decision was made to donate $120,000 to launch the CT scanner appeal off to buy a scanner for the Narrabri Hospital.

This was a large donation, but Narrabri CWA has long been a supporter of district organisations and events.

The branch and generations of members over its 96 year existence have contributed much to the district community.

However, the proud history of the local CWA has ended.

“The last few years have been hard to carry on due to the lack of members, so on April 5, 2019 it was decided to close as there was no alternative, which after all those years was sad,” the CWA said.

This week the CWA finalised its wind up with the donation of its remaining branch funds to the Narrabri Hospital Auxiliary.

Auxiliary president Sally Alexander accepted the donation of $1300 which will go towards palliative care facilities for patients.