Exhibition highlights CWA art and craft skills

IF anyone needs to get away from politics this weekend, the CWA Ballarat District Group may have the perfect answer.

Today, Friday 2 May, and tomorrow, Saturday 3 May, the group is hosting its biannual Cookery and Craft Exhibition at the Buninyong Town Hall in Learmonth Street.

A tearoom will be offering the CWA’s ever-popular scones, passionfruit sponges and soup, while a cake stall will operate on the town hall steps.

The cookery and craft convenor for the CWA’s Ballarat District Group, Ros Deagan, said more than 800 entries had been received for the exhibition.

Mrs Deagan said the entries had come from CWA members throughout the Ballarat District Group, which comprises nine branches from Melton to Daylesford, Ballarat to Buninyong, and west to Scarsdale.

And as for visitors, she is hoping that this event will be as popular as the Bacchus Marsh version two years ago, when 250 people passed through.

“Our hope is [also] to attract other country and metropolitan women to join us in support of local, national and international vulnerable women, children and families,” Mrs Deagan said.

She said more than 100 categories were to be staged and judged yesterday, with Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Community Bank Buninyong branch manager Randall Dreger scheduled to open the exhibition and award trophies today.

Categories on display at this year’s exhibition include art, crafts, multimedia textiles, felting, quilting, embroidery, cookery, photography, preserves and floral art.

“Competition will be keen as members aspire to the individual trophies and Branch aggregates,” Mrs Deagan said.

Successful entries from group exhibitions held around the state go on to compete in the state exhibition in Kyabram in August.

It is open from 10am to 5pm today and from 10am to 3pm tomorrow, with tickets at the door priced at $5 for adults and $1 for students.