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Mr Shanahan, who was heavily involved in local community groups, knew somebody in the Bacchus Marsh branch and connected his wife and the branch in 1974.<\/p>\n
Mrs Shanahan has held all committee positions with the branch at one time or another during her more-than 50 years as a member.<\/p>\n
Explaining what drew her to the CWA, Mrs Shanahan said: “The companionship of the other women is one thing, and the other thing is being able to assist in the community.<\/p>\n
“It unites the entire state, really. You make a lot of contacts within the community.”<\/p>\n
Mrs Shanahan specialises in basketry and makes her own creations from Lerderderg River rushes. She teaches other members the skill and has even won the CWA state exhibition’s Swan Cup for the craft on numerous occasions.<\/p>\n
As for her future with the branch, Mrs Shanahan said she has no plans to cut back on her attendance and activities.<\/p>\n
“I’ll go as long as I’m able,” she said. “Next Thursday is craft day, and God willing I’ll be there.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHEN Gabrielle Shanahan turned up at the recent annual meeting of the Bacchus Marsh CWA branch, she was not expecting the surprise she got. What Mrs Shanahan got was an official presentation of a certificate acknowledging her 60 years of CWA membership, handed to her by Ballarat District Group president Rhonda O’Brien. Another branch member, […]<\/p>\n