Country Women's Association of Australia

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FUTURE was the theme for the 33rd triennial conference which was held in 2009 at the Eastback Centre Shepparton, Victoria.

We started the Conference with a thought provoking and inspiring church service with marvellous choir from the CWA of Victoria Inc.

There were some very interesting guest speakers from a variety of areas including health, farm safety, consumers rights and issues for rural communities.

Our dinner guest was a very inspiring young women who talked about her training to become a doctor and her time spent working as a surgeon in New Guinea. This fitted well with the opening speaker Mrs Ruth Shanks, who talked of the work that CWA members have been doing with the women on the South Pacific Island.

We also heard from a young women who told us of how she and some friends set up the Desperate Farmwives to help them and the community deal with the issues of drought for them and others in the community.

Members enjoyed the debate held around the many resolutions which included the future of the dairy industry, loss of the medicare rebate for some opthalmic surgery, buy-back schemes for water and the problems with flying foxes.

There was plenty of time to catch up with old friends and with a high numbers of first time attendees there was plenty of time to meet new friends and for networking.

A wonderful night of entertainment included skits from members of the states and territory, and the beautiful voice of Donald Cambell. There was some great singing to celebrate the football in Victoria with team songs being sung.

A new National President was elected, Mrs Heather Wieland from Queensland and we wish her and her secretary and treasurer well for their term in office.

We acknowledge the following SPONSORS

CGU Insurance www.cgu.com.au

beyondblue www.beyondblue.org.au

Arnol Building Surveyors Melbourne Cleverpatch,

Furpheys, It’s an Honor-DPAC