History

The Country Women's Association was first formed in New South Wales and Queensland in 1922 Subsequently each State and the Northern Territory formed an Association, a process which took a period of 14 years.

In 1943, a meeting was held in Sydney of The State Associations re-forming a Federal body, but it was not until 1945, at a meeting of all State Presidents, that it was agreed to form the Country Women's Association of Australia. Recognition was swift and Mrs Marfell, the first President was invited by the Federal Government to join a select committee to consider various aspects of the Nationality Bill then before the House. This committee gave consideration to anomalies, which arise over the nationality of women who marry foreigners.

The First Annual Conference of C.W.A of Australia was held in Adelaide in 1946. The next Conference was hold in Sydney, at which delegates were appointed to go to the Associated Country Women of the World Conference in Amsterdam. It was then decided to meet bi annually, to operate a fare pool and to hold a C.W.A day of prayer. Various changes of constitution were affected over the years in an attempt to make the National Association more effective while preserving the autonomy of the Member Associations.

In 1985 Miss Dorothy Ross of NSW was elected to the office as National President. Until then, the states had taken it in turns to supply a President for the National body. The National President is now elected to the office for a three-year term with the States still taking it in turns for the National Conference.