Over our 95 years, we have supported the local community. From knitting woolen socks, camouflage nets, baking and sending care packages, drought and fire relief, delivering meals on wheels, sewing for Ourcare, devonshire teas at Lizzie Gates/Alroy fete, sponsors at Singleton Show , knitting for premmie babies, cancer caps and bags and the list goes on and on.
We have also affiliated member with ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World). We support all International work that will enable all women and children to live without fear, poverty, starvation, poor medical facilities etc.
CWA of NSW introduced "Awareness Week" which is held in September. This years theme was " Social and affordable housing in remote, rural and regional NSW". This is a huge issue in rural, regional and remote areas and covid has seen increased numbers of women over 55 years increased. It is sad to hear that 83% of "older women" are couch surfing or in the past 4 years 75% of older women and children are sleeping in cars.
"Domestic, Family Violence" is another issue we raised awareness for. No one deserve/should to live in fear.
We are always looking for new members, we currently meet on the second Friday of each month, meeting commences at 10.00am. Every other Friday is craft days where members are always prepared to teach their skills.
Our hall is located in Pitt Street,next to fire station. It is Covid safe and is hired out for functions. The hall has been used for Zumba, Red Cross, Slow food cooking, Tia Chi, Yoga, first aid courses, drama, Christians, wakes, weddings, Christmas lunches, to name a few.
Singleton CWA currently support our three local High Schools for presentation days.
It was our greatest of please to welcome our first evening Branch to Singleton, The Singleton Sundowners and we wish them all the best.
Each year we have held Mothers day raffle, Fathers day raffle and our Christmas raffle. We are thankfully for the communities support when raffles do happen.
We do have in stock for sale- cookbooks, tea towels, notebooks, great gift ideas.
Bronwyn Dunston| Country Women's Association of NSW | Singleton Branch President.
"THE SINGLETON ARGUS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 1926
COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION
ADDRESS BY MRS A. J. STUDDY
Mrs A.J. Studdy, President of the Country Woman's Association of New South Wales, addressed a gathering of over thirty ladies in Miss Upjohn's Assembly Rooms on Saturday afternoon, upon the objects of the movement, with a view to the formation of a branch at Singleton.
Mrs P. Stacy presided, and, in extending a welcome to the President, expressed the hope that a good local branch would be formed.
Mrs Studdy explained that the Association had arisen from the kind thoughtfulness of a handful of women who were desirous of improving the conditions of their fellow women, and has spread from boundary to boundary of the State, and that the movement has also been enthusiastically taken up in Queensland and Western Australia.
Many have claimed the honour of its inauguration, but in its practical form it stands to the credit of Mrs Hugh R. Munro, of Keera Station, Bingara, the past president, and many others. There was no room for jealousies in the movement; the members had no selfish motives, but love of country and of their fellow country woman made them eager to strive to make life better, brighter and more attractive, and thus help to stop the continued drift from the country to the city. Their motto is loyalty to the throne, service to the country, through country women, for country women, by country women, the keynote being service and love.
The Association is filling a void which was felt after the activities of war work slackened, but there is now so much to be done again that everyone's help and sympathy are needed. The organisation has had a wonderful career of extension and success; the press admits its great necessity, and recognises its work as of national significance, not only in the interests of women, but equally in the advancement of N.S. Wales, and that it has more than justified its existence. It promises to be a power far beyond the expectations of the few that founded it, and one would be bold to prophesy to what extent it will result in benefit to women and children directly, and to men indirectly, and the part it will play socially and economically in the history of the State. The branch life, conference debates and executive training will prepare the women for a bigger outlook, and make for a logical presentation by them in Parliament and elsewhere of their many disabilities with the force of collective numbers and a unanimity that cannot fail to meet with attention, besides the large questions engrossing the time of the Association, such as the provision of maternity wards, seaside homes etc.
A few incidents of Branch life at Narrabri, Neutral Bay and Cremorne, Uralla, Emerald Hill and Gulargambone were given. Neutral Bay and Cremorne contributed to give a bush nurse to Hungerford; Uralla Branch is providing a rest home for country women who arrive by train at 10:00am and return at 8:00pm; Emerald Hill prevailed upon the Shire Council to spend 3,400 pounds on the road to Gunnedah because of representations made regarding an urgent case of illness; Warrawee and Kuranghi branches found the funds to buy a car for a bush nurse at Moulamein; and Bowral branch bought furniture for the bush nurses home at Kentucky to the amount of 50 pounds and contributed 250 pounds to the building of the house. She had applied to the Mackay Trust for the allocation of a portion of a bequest of 10,000 pounds for organisation for the purpose of benefiting country conditions. Lady Stonehaven, Lady de Chair; and many business men in Sydney have promoted a Country Health and Happiness Company, with Sir Harry Braddon as chairman of directors, and the speaker a director, with a view to collecting 25,000 pounds in 5 shillings shares for the use of the Country Women's Association in extending its operations for the operations for the benefit of women.
The speaker referred to conferences she had recently attended at Moree and Dubbo, and the enthusiasm manifested at each. At Dubbo the case of a country school which was badly off for water was dealt with, and a supply from a dam was arranged. It was also resolved to ask the Government to increase its assistance to subsidised schools from 80 pounds to 120 pounds per annum. One school in the district had been closed over four years ago, and children who were then 10 or 11 years old were now 15 or 16, and have not had any education in the meantime. Being now over 12 years of age the Government will not subsidise the school. The Association with its six thousand members is more likely to get something done in cases such as those mentioned than could be got otherwise. It is out to do good for the whole of the women and children of New South Wales, and its influence cannot be ignored by any Government.
Mrs H M'Fadden in proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs Studdy, said it had been one of her dreams to see a branch of the Country Women's Association formed in Singleton. She thought the district was large enough to have several branches, and she was sure it would be a pleasure for the women to work for their own class.
The vote was carried by acclamation and acknowledged by Mrs Studdy, and afternoon tea was then served to those present."
