New CWA branch opens in Quarry Hill

THE Bendigo Northern Group of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria is expanding despite a drop in membership numbers across the state.

Founder of the Old Church on the Hill, Rose Vincent, said women in the area were looking for connection after lockdown and that’s when the suggestion to use the venue came up.

“Many people post-COVID are interested in building connection, many older women have been extremely isolated over the last year, many younger women are valuing simplicity and living more meaningfully,” she said.

“I think this is why so many people are engaging with all that’s happening at the Old Church and why there’s been such a strong response to the CWA.

“The CWA has been played a significant role in making life better for country women and families in Australia for many years and we believed a partnership with them would be mutually beneficial for the Bendigo community.

“I didn’t know that there would be so much interest and we actually have enough women to start our own branch.

“We’ve had over 35 women on the list for an Old Church CWA group and others that will join existing CWA groups in their areas.

“In some ways I think you could say that there is a revival of interest in joining the CWA.”

This uptick in local membership comes as overall numbers decline, according to group president Marilyn Tangey.

“At some times there have been 15 branches in Bendigo. Probably at the beginning of the 1980s the number of branches started to decline,” she said.

“In 1980 there might have been 20 thousand members across Victoria and before COVID there was just over 5000 and now I believe it’s under 5000.

“There needs to be a change, and I think Quarry Hill is an example of what that change needs to be,” Ms Tangey said.

The new branch brings the total number in the region to seven, and it joins Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Golden Night, Axedale, Campbell’s Forest and Dingee branches.

Anyone interested in joining can visit the CWA Bendigo Northern Group Facebook page.