Mayor Erika Vickery (left) looks at historic cups and saucers bought by the first members of the Naracoorte CWA branch in the 1930s with Anne Witford, who is the longest-standing branch member having joined in 1949.
Holding the three banners of the past and present Naracoorte CWA groups (from left): Bowman Group secretary Gillian Savic, Bowman Group president Irene Ham, Naracoorte combined branch secretary Betty Drury and branch president Sue Drogemuller.
State CWA president Julia Materne (left) enjoys some afternoon with Naracoorte combined branch handicraft officer Joy Bricknell and Bowman Group international officer Coral Elsden.
NARACOORTE combined CWA branch celebrated its resilience and a fresh new look for its clubrooms last Friday.
About 40 people including members of neighbouring branches, officials from the Bowman Group regional CWA body and State president Julia Materne attended an afternoon tea to recognise the completion of renovations.
With the help of a $2000 grant from Naracoorte Lucindale Council's community chest funding program, the branch has had the clubrooms walls and ceiling repaired and repainted.
It is the latest in a series of improvements to the building including plumbing and electrical work, exterior repainting, fixing trip hazards and having the floor professionally cleaned.
Thanked for the council's contribution to the renovations, mayor Erika Vickery said the project met the program criteria perfectly.
"It's exactly what the community chest is for, just to help small community organisations to get that leg up," she said.
Mrs Vickery said groups like CWA were "the heart and soul of our community" and it was important that they remained vibrant and active.
Branch secretary Betty Drury gave a thorough history of the group through the years and how it came to be in the clubrooms it now called home.
The branch was formed in March, 1935, six years after CWA was first established in SA as a way of giving country women an avenue to overcome loneliness.
After meeting at various venues in its formative years, the branch in 1950 had its first permanent base at the building on Ormerod St which is now home to the art gallery.
In October, 1960, the club built and moved to its current location at the Naracoorte Showgrounds.
All these years later, the Naracoorte branch is one of only three remaining branches from eight which were established in the local area.
Lucindale branch was established in the same year as Naracoorte, 1935, but has since folded, Kingston was started in 1937 (still active), Frances 1938, Kybybolite 1939, Keppoch 1942 (still active), Wrattonbully 1950, Bool Lagoon 1951 and Naracoorte evening branch 1970.
Naracoorte evening branch and Naracoorte branch became a combined branch in July, 2006.
Mrs Drury said the combined branch was still going along strongly and members appreciated the facelift for their clubrooms.
"We are a happy group and still put our best foot forward," she said.
Bowman Group president Irene Ham gave an overview of CWA activities at State and national level to close the formal part of the gathering before guests enjoyed afternoon tea.