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 in Sydney of The State Associations discussed forming a Federal body, but it was not until 1945, at a further meeting 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 in Sydney 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 have been made over the years to make the National Association more effective while preserving the autonomy of the Member Associations.
In 1985 Miss Dorothy Ross of NSW was the first member elected to the office as National President. Until then the states had taken it in turns to provided a President. 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.
