For most Australian households, the Country Women’s Association has a special place in our hearts. Their cookbooks have been a staple of Australian kitchens for generations, and the famous lemonade scone has earned near-legendary status. But as CWA of NSW State President Tanya Jolly explains, the organisation’s reach extends well beyond the kitchen, and after 104 years, it shows no signs of slowing down.
Speaking with Tommy Holt on AFTRS Show Radio, Jolly reflected on the enduring relevance of an organisation that has been advocating for rural and regional communities since its founding.
“All the issues when we first started in the bush – health, education, everything – we’re still fighting for those things today,” she said. “So we’re very relevant.”
Welcoming a New Generation
The future looks bright for the CWA given their recent steady influx of younger members. Jolly said the motivation driving many of them to join might surprise people.
“The young ones I’ve been talking to, I always ask why did you join? And it’s to do with the old-fashioned skills, the preserving, the handicraft. They want to learn these skills.” Beyond the practical, she noted that the CWA’s advocacy work is also a drawcard. “We’re very well known for it. We have a lot of respect at State Parliament for that.”
8,000 Members, 462 Branches and a Clear Picture of Regional Life
With 8,000 members and 462 branches across New South Wales, the CWA has an almost incomparable on-the-ground view of what regional, rural and remote communities are experiencing. That reach underpins its advocacy work.
The organisation recently released its second women’s survey, and the findings were stark. “No surprises, it was health,” Jolly said. “Health in the bush, we’re struggling. Struggling to find a doctor. No one wants to come to the country anymore.” Domestic violence and job security also featured prominently among the concerns raised.
At the moment, however, it is the agricultural sector drawing much of her attention. “What we’re advocating on right now is to do with the agricultural sector, the diesel, the fuel, the fertilizer. These are having big impacts out in the regional area.”
Jolly spoke from personal experience. Beyond her role as State President, she and her husband run a dry land cropping farm in the Riverina. “We’re just about to go into planting. We have had some fuel delivered, paid an astronomical amount for that, but we have to have it.”
She was frank about the frustration of being told by officials that there is no shortage when the reality on the ground looks very different. “The little town where I come from, if you’re familiar with Wagga Wagga, there were 10 service stations that had no diesel. This is a reality. And then we get told there’s not a shortage. Well, that’s not what we’re living.”
7,253 Scones and Counting
The conversation wouldn’t have been complete without a nod to the CWA’s famous tea room at The Show. True to form, Jolly came prepared with the numbers: 7,253 scones served in just the first two days, and these, she was quick to clarify, are made the traditional way.
“At the tea rooms, they are the ridgy-didge recipe,” she said with a laugh.
The tea room is staffed by around 250 volunteers and represents one of the CWA’s most significant fundraisers of the year. “It just blows my mind every time I see the line up. It’s a wonderful thing and we really appreciate everyone who comes through.”
The CWA NSW Tea Room is open throughout The Show. To learn more about the Country Women’s Association of NSW, including how to join or support their advocacy work, visit your local branch or the CWA of NSW website at https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/.
