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This report was presented at the State Conference held in Swan Hill in May, 2012
I have much pleasure in presenting the 84th Annual Report of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria for the year ending 31st December 2011 and my first as your State President.
With
the theme ‘Vision, Leadership, Growth’ for the second year, it seemed
to reflect the need at the time, for injecting new life and purpose into
the Association and continuing to grow the membership, for which there
was no alternative but to achieve, for the very
existence of the Association into the future.
Without
a doubt the stand out highlight for the year has been the Victoria Day
Council Award for Community and Public Service by an Organisation.
WINNER! – The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc.
Such
excitement and pride that we had been publicly recognised by others,
for our eighty three years of service to the wider community. The Award
was presented by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Cr. Brian Hanrahan
and being able to bathe in the reflected light of that shining upon the
Victorian of the Year, Rev. Father Bob Maguire was a morning to remember
and a news service at night to watch. An outstanding
media campaign was released in sync with the announcement and the
follow-up publicity was a great boost to the Association and seems to
have continued throughout the year.
The
Association also accepted the Galderma Industry Employer Association
Award for promoting healthy skin, amongst its employees and members from
the Skin & Cancer Foundation (which was the recipient of our 2010
Thanksgiving Fund).
The
year once again began with devastating floods in many areas of
Victoria. Lynette Harris 2010-11 Chairman, Community Support Committee
and many volunteers, packed hundreds of pamper bags and they were
despatched around the State. Following generous donations we were able
to make payments to Kindergartens and Schools, and many individuals in
various areas. The plight of many Victorians has still not been resolved
due to insurance companies failing to ‘pay out’. The generosity and
compassion shown by ‘Sister Branches’ in unaffected areas, was
absolutely heartwarming, as was the acknowledgement of help from the
Association by those receiving it.
The
disbursement of goods from Lansell Road on a regular basis to places
where they are joyfully received is of great satisfaction to the 2011-12
Chairman, Machelle Crichton. She and her team of packers work
methodically and are continually finding new areas of need in the
community where members’ handiwork and contribution is very much
appreciated. In future, the work of the Committee will be more targeted
to specific areas of need rather than an ‘ad hoc’ approach. There has
been excellent response from the Department of Justice – where packs
containing personal items for exiting prisoners and the YWCA with packs
for marginalised women were received with such grateful thanks, not that
the packs contain anything out of the ordinary, but the fact that
someone cares enough to do it.
The
country of study has been Morocco and Branches and Groups embraced the
study with gusto – especially the food which is very popular in the
wider community as is travel to that country. It is has been a time of
learning and enjoyment for everyone.
The
Agriculture and Environment Committee, more affectionately known as Ag
& E, have worked together under the Convenor Coral Moran for three
years. Their passionate views for certain topics has not always led to
an easy time but I commend their efforts in bringing those subjects not
only to our attention but to that of the Government of the day and other
relevant bodies. Thank you, Coral for attending functions or fulfilling
submissions on behalf of the Association on Agriculture &
Environmental issues.
The
Catering Committee under the leadership of Helen Slattery for three
years, once again went to the Royal Melbourne Show to provide delicious
home-made food for the hungry hordes at Victoria’s largest community
event. At the State Cabinet Luncheon the Association was presented with a
Certificate of Recognition from the Royal Agricultural Society for
catering for 70 years. (Thank you Mr Spargo) However, both
organisations looked back in the archives and found that our partnership
has been ongoing for 75 years but that we have catered continuously for
70 years.
The
hard work, the fun, the bone-weary tiredness and the sense of
achievement of being part of such a huge volunteer effort for a
sustained length of time is absolutely exhilarating and I thank those
members who look forward to their time at the Show whether it is for one
day, and they love it so much they come back again, or those who work
full time, I thank you all.
Long
overdue new chairs and tables for the cafeteria, a commercial mixer,
vegetable processor, meat slicer and large stick food processor were
purchased and all added to the better look and efficiency of the
operation.
The
fickle weather played a part in our overall profit being down, but the
Show is still a major source of income for the Association. Discussions
will take place in the next weeks between Administration & Finance
and Catering to ensure that the Association is driving forward on a
sound commercial basis in planning for the 2012 Royal Melbourne Show.
The
Club Committee continues to cater for State Council and many and varied
functions throughout the year including Devonshire teas at the State
Fair, Christmas Cooking Fair and Group Presidents’ training days. Thank
you to Yvonne Virtue, who filled the gap most competently following the
resignation of Wendy Earwicker. Thank you also to the team of dedicated
helpers.
Whilst
we are in the Dining Room, a very upmarket addition has been made, that
of a coffee machine which will make any variation you so desire. It has
proved to be extremely popular with guests and members alike and was
strategically installed prior to a large whole of house booking last
October (a German Choir came to stay) when it was used extensively and
enjoyed by all. (Have heard a whisper that, on the Choir’s recommendation, a German orchestra is coming to stay this year)
The
Creative Arts Committee under the efficient Chairmanship of Doreen
Napier launched into the ‘crafty-science’ project in conjunction with
the CSIRO which had been negotiated by the previous Chairman. Called
‘Ravelling the World’ the exhibition was initially staged at the
Fracture Gallery at Federation Square where we received wonderful
publicity in the Age Newspaper and on 774 ABC radio. It is on tour
around the State as I speak until December 2012. I had the pleasure of
opening the Exhibition at the Yarra Ranges Gallery in Lilydale at the
end of March and it looked absolutely stunning on a black background
with strategic lighting. The Curator of the Gallery, from New York, told
me he was very impressed with the standard of the work. The Committee
showed such ‘vision’ and encompassed the Product for the Year – Forests
in their design and is an amazing example of members’ flair, imagination
and workmanship.
The
annual State Art and Craft Exhibition was held in Tallangatta in the
beautiful north-east of the State. A venture that was extremely well
supported by the local Groups and the town traders were also
appreciative of our time in their area with several businesses having
their best days for years. The exhibits displayed were of the highest
standard and the many visitors were delighted with what they saw. Well
done to Doreen and her hardworking Committee who are away from home for a
full week to volunteer their creative and artistic talents to put the
display together for the rest of us, and the public to enjoy!
The
Membership Committee, under the vibrant leadership of Dorothy Coombe
until May 2011 and Marie Vassallo from June 2011 travelled thousands of
kms and ran scores of promotional activities at a plethora of ‘Ventions’
and ‘Worlds’ and ‘Shows’ and ‘Markets’ and even ran a Junior Camp here
at Swan Hill. The membership increased at an ever pleasing rate from 9.3
to 10.2 new members per week at one stage. There are new vibrant
Branches all over the State. There is such eagerness and enthusiasm out
there to join in the work of the Association. But the small Membership
committee cannot do it alone. They need your help, it is in the Groups’
interests to have these Branches being nurtured, so that they survive
and flourish in your area. The Committee is to be congratulated on its
achievements thus far.
The
Magazine Editor, Jean Black, her Assistant Editor Gwen Gilbert and the
small team of proof-readers consistently produce a magazine full of
colour and content that the majority of members love and couldn’t live
without. Since the move to colour production was made, members’
satisfaction level has also increased. Jean’s editorials are also a
source of enjoyment for all those who read them. The magazine can only
print the content that is submitted, so if you want a great magazine,
send in great content and great photos!
That
also goes for the website, which is under re-construction at the moment
and more about that during the Conference proper. It will only be as
interesting and vibrant as members and Committees make it. Thanks to
Dorothy Coombe and Lorraine Zimmerman for keeping the site as up to date
as possible. Many branches now have their own blog sites and some are
on Facebook. These surely are the look of the future and a very
recent example of just last week, a new Branch with more than 20 members
has been formed at Doreen (Diamond Valley Group) through contact on
Facebook.
The
Performing Arts Committee successfully put enjoyable programmes
together for Song in Costume and the Public Speaking Final held at State
Conference in Ballarat, and Choral and Drama held over two days at
Yarrawonga. The Chairman, Joan Strawbridge and her committee have worked
diligently trying to encourage new talent by including sections for
Novices and bringing rules into line with up to date practices, allowing
more free choice in the case of Public Speaking and employing a variety
of new Adjudicators.
Life
as we know it cannot be lived without music and the State Choir with
Margaret Jarvis as leader and Phyllis Quick as accompanist are
prevailing against the odds of geographic impossibility of trying to get
members together to practice. They overcame this to some extent by
practising in three locations, Ballarat, Bendigo and Lansell Road, and
are to be congratulated for their commitment They are always in need of
new enthusiastic members to swell their numbers.
The
Social Issues Committee under the more than capable leadership of
Marion Dewar both brought to our attention and lobbied many issues of
concern to the broader community, but her magazine articles always have
something from left field. Thank you Marion for attending many functions
on behalf of the Association when they concerned Social Issues of the
day. Branches and members are also encouraged to write letters of
concern either to the committee, preferably with back-up material or to
the source of the concern themselves. These issues could become
Resolutions for the next year’s State Conference.
At
a recent large function I attended, after having been introduced, it
was said that we were the ‘greatest lobbyists in the Country’. Let us
continue to live up to that reputation. The committee recommended to
State Council that the Social Issues have a theme for the Year in 2012 –
that of Family Violence and you will hear more of that during
Conference.
The
Australia Day celebration once again took place at Lansell Road, and
for the first time for many years rain fell and there was a need to
escape from under the big oak tree indoors. Dr. Noel Alpins, Cataract
& Refractive surgeon spoke of his work and I thank Noela MacLeod for
her good humoured hostessing and leadership at this Function.
Our State Fair is the best State Fair, don’t miss it, don’t even be late ...
good words for a song (with apologies to Pat Boone) was a re-vamped
upmarket affair held on a beautiful March morning and was part of the
Melbourne International Food & Wine Festival for the first time. We
had great free publicity, big crowds, fabulous stalls and food and
cooking demonstrations held outside the Craft Room in the sunshine,
using a demonstration kitchen sponsored by Blanco. Thanks to Marie
Vassallo for her organisational and marketing skills in bringing it all
together.
The
following week we backed up again at a ‘Back to Basics’ at Prahran
Market, with more demonstrations, craft lessons for children and
promotion. Another new venture for the Association.
The 15th
Area Conference of the Associated Country Women of the World was held
2-9 September 2011in Tonga and a large contingent of Victorian members,
family and friends attended and we were able to assist two people from
Timor Leste to attend the Conference for the first time. We
entertained members of other delegations at drinks by the pool of our
Hotel and made presentations to the members of the South Pacific Island
delegations. My
thanks to Lynette Harris and Miriam Stackhouse for their experience and
assisting the new girls, Machelle Crichton, Dorothy Coombe and myself.
We worked well together and our extended group were a wonderful back-up.
It was a lifetime experience for all of us and of course, made us
realise that others do so much with so little and that we have the
resources to assist our fellow members in the South Pacific in so many
ways. At the Farewell Dinner
each delegation was expected to entertain. Our preparation, was last
minute because of our reluctance to go through ‘ridiculous antics’ but
commonsense prevailed, and we practised for a full 15 minutes. About 10
minutes before the ‘cameras, lights, action’, we heard
Queensland sing our song. Plan B was immediately swung into action and I
am not too modest to say that we ‘stole the show’. I digress for a moment
– you will never guess who it was who leapt into the billabong and laid
stiller than dead for an inordinately long time – none other than
Audrey Dreschler! She came up trumps for us! Her Royal Highness the
Princess of Tonga was hugely amused. The 16th Area Conference will be held in Dubbo NSW in 2014.
The
annual Murray River Marathon continues to be a magnet for a small band
of dedicated ‘paddlers’ who hold our cupcake high each year. In 2011
they broke their 2003 record. Well done to those quiet achievers.
A
television advertising campaign was launched at last year’s Conference
in conjunction with Don KR Castlemaine. The sponsorship money, as agreed
to by State Council, is to be spent on revamping the Craft Room into a
modern, comfortable and functional meeting room, complying with all
necessary regulations and including new technology services. We hope
that this can come to fruition in the next twelve months.
The
property committee has been re-activated and meets with a view to
instigating a five year plan for the B&B business – and the property
as a whole (including the need to rely less on volunteers at weekends)
and reports to Administration & Finance Committee. The need to have a
whole approach rather than piecemeal resulted in the retainment of a
heritage building assessor to ascertain which are the areas of immediate
concern, and it was found to be of compliance with building and safety
regulations and with the need for extra ramps and disabled toilet
facilities. These matters will be addressed within the next months and
hopefully will be incorporated with the above project and then
re-flooring and repair of the front verandah will follow.
I have formed a small Committee to undertake planning for celebrations for our 85th Birthday in March 2013. More news will come to hand following July State Council.
We
continue to be represented on outside organisations and reports are
brought back to State Council on the workings of these organisations.
They are BreastScreen, Victorian Consumer Advisory Committee, Council on
the Ageing, FarmSafe Victoria, Traveller’s Aid, Consumer Forum –
Department of Justice and Foodbank Victoria (of which the State
President is a Board Member and a member of the Sector & Business
Development Committee). We have asked all our representatives to help
determine whether our continued association with all organisations is of
mutual benefit and we are seeking new opportunities to liaise with
organisations with meaningful connections to our objects and interests.
We
said farewell to two long serving members of staff, Sue Stanley in
January and Berenice Tulloch in November. We welcomed Robyn Smith, as
Office Administrator and Alan Younan as Bookkeeper.
To
my team of Senior Office Bearers, thank you for your commitment, the
hours of work above and beyond the norm for anybody, let alone
volunteers, the energy and enthusiasm expended and your care and support
of me during the last twelve months.
To
the Members of Honour thank you for your wise counsel when sought or
offered and support given when needed. The members of staff are a
constant source of encouragement, help and good humour and give loyal
service to the Association.
Finally
to you the members, you and your Branches are the Association. Please
embrace the future in the interests of the Association continuing to be a
force to be reckoned with.
Carol Clay
State President