As a child Barb Derham would arrive home from school after boarding the bus at Sale.
Her first chore was to light the old wood stove so her mother could come home after regular duties with the Country Women’s Association at Heyfield and prepare dinner for the family of four.
Life in those days was simple, but many women throughout the region joined their local CWA branch to unite with like-minded women who served their communities in a range of ways.
“I can remember the CWA took a lot of mum’s time up,” Ms Derham recalled.
“I always said I would never join CWA because she was never home, I never saw her, but oh how things have changed – look at me now.”
Ms Derham is president of the Traralgon Country Women’s Association which yesterday celebrated the organisation’s 90th year of serving the community.
Members dressed in clothes from the 1940s, resembling what their mothers wore when they were growing up.
“We’ve found the clothes in op shops. I raided the children’s toy box for accessories,” Ms Derham said.
“Our mothers always wore hats and gloves and a nice handbag with a warm coat.”
Members throughout the Valley still work tirelessly to assist and service the women and children of the region, this year taking a focus on elder abuse in ordinary communities.
“Traralgon CWA is the oldest group in the Latrobe Valley. We started in 1929 and the next branch in the Valley was in the early 1950s,” Ms Derham said.
“But while things have changed over the years, we definitely still stand for the same values.
“We support the community across all factors, we don’t want to see bullying and we all work to support and better the place we live.”
The Traralgon branch, which is 89 this year, has about 20 members but many are unable to attend regular meetings due to fragility.
For more information about the Traralgon CWA, phone 0431 860 500.
