By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
KATHLEEN Clarke was 35 years old when she joined the Berwick Branch of the Country Women’s Association.
Kathleen’s been there for 50 years of conferences, fund-raisers and meetings, and on Thursday 20 November she was there when the Berwick CWA met for the last time.
The decision to close the branch was made by the current committee due to declining numbers and unsustainable amounts of administrative work.
Past and present members gathered at the Berwick Uniting Church last Thursday 20 November for their last luncheon.
Over a meal of cold meat and salad, they shared laughs and memories of their time with the association.
Kathleen’s grandmother was a foundation member at the Upper Beaconsfield branch and her mother had served with CWA in Officer.
She said was it was the values and mission behind the work of the CWA that motivated her to join.
“I wanted to join something that concentrated on helping children and families,” she aid.
“The values of the CWA were much the same but we used to do comfort work for the soldiers.”
She recalled making vests for pilots and netting for camouflage, to be sent to Australian soldiers serving overseas.
Kathleen, who served two terms as president, said it was acts of charity such as providing all the families who lost their homes in the Ash Wednesday fire with new cutlery that made the CWA such an asset to the community.
But despite her long association with the CWA, she recognises that it’s time to say goodbye.
“I’m not devastated but I am sad that it’s closing,” she said.
“We have to move with the times and there are many more committees and other things for young women to do now. In a way it’s a great pity.”
A friendship group called “Craft Women Altogether” has been formed so that former members may continue to make and donate crafts including trauma dolls to the Casey Hospital and Casey North Community Information and Support Services.
