Country Women’s Association Toukley Branch will celebrate 100 years of CWA State service with a special morning tea on 4 May.
The Branch will host a festival of activities on the morning with its 16 members, and all those connected to the organisation, in attendance.
President Elsie Buitenhuis said that while Toukley CWA is small in numbers, it is big in spirit.
“During the devastating floods this March, we sent off much-needed funds to the CWA head office for it to distribute them to the respective areas and families,” she explained.
Buitenhuis said that fundraising for the floods will continue with an Easter raffle and a Mother’s Day raffle.
“On the 2 April, we will have a stall at Bunnings Lakehaven where people can purchase items made by the CWA and secure a raffle ticket or two,” she said.
Toukley is a very active branch of the CWA, with a monthly meeting and market day, when the women sell handmade items of craft, bric a brac, and serve cream teas.
It also hosts two monthly craft workshops where attendees can hone their knitting or crochet skills or learn them from scratch over a cup of tea.
“CWA is not just tea and scones, it is a host of activities that teach skill and harness creativity,” said Buitenhuis.
Currently the members are making rugs for Elsie’s Retreat, the new palliative care unit at Gosford Hospital, the Women’s Refuge, the Children’s’ Ward and Ronald Macdonald House at Gosford hospital, where trauma teddies and rugs were given out last week.
Some of the group’s past activities included supporting Baradine CWA during the drought with Christmas gifts for all children and citizens of the town, and taking food, clothing and rugs to the CWA Wingham and region during the fires of 2020.
For further information call President, Elsie Buitenhuis (4394 0586) or Secretary Jennifer McIntosh (0419 718 792).
Nicola Riches