CWA Breaking Down Rural Isolation

With the growing numbers of mental health issues in our communities we need to think of ways we can support each other. One simple way to do this is to provide oppor­tunities for social gatherings where people can connect with each other and reduce the feelings of isolation.

In fact, one of the important aims of the Country Women’s Association of NSW is to reduce the isolation of women in rural, re­gional and remote communities.

That’s exactly what happened on Sat­urday 27th July, when members from five local CWA branches met at Eugowra Bowl­ing Club for a social get together.

CWA members came from Parkes, Forbes, Forbes Evening Branches in the Oxley Group and from Canowindra and Eu­gowra in the Central Western CWA Group.

The lunch was organised in response to the success of last year’s morning tea generously sponsored by the Virtual CWA Branch as a thank you to Forbes, Forbes Evening and Eugowra CWA members for their efforts in supporting these commu­nities following the devastating floods of 2022.

This 2024 gathering was expanded to include Canowindra and Parkes, as they too, were adversely affected by the same flooding.

The day also provided a wonderful op­portunity to surprise Shirley Heinzel of Eugowra Branch with a Life Membership.

Jan Kerr, CWA State Vice President from Canowindra Branch presented Shirley with a certificate and badge to acknowledge the tireless work she has done for her com­munity and the CWA since joining in the 1950s.