Yandina QCWA going strong in 2020
The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) was formed in Toowoomba in1922 by a woman named Ruth Fairfax. The organisation’s quarterly magazine ‘Ruth’ (https://www.qcwa.org.au/Ruth-Magazine) is named after her. A leaf through its pages should dispel any lingering doubts about the modern focus and forward thinking of the Association.
Yandina established its own branch of the QCWA in 1929, a time of great hardship in the midst of the worldwide Great Depression, and before the start of World War II – a time so long ago that it is almost unimaginable today.
The Yandina branch flourished for many years but, sadly, by 1991 the numbers had dwindled. It was closed that year, due to lack of membership.
In 2015, 24 years later, Yandina local Lynda Tomkins was looking to become involved in the community and noticed that the old post office in Stevens Street Yandina had been purchased by the QCWA Nambour-North Coast division. Lynda, along with other interested ladies, saw this as the perfect opportunity to re-establish a branch using the building as its base. Supported by the division, they re-established the Yandina branch of the QCWA in the empty building and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today the Yandina membership stands at 24; and Lynda has recently handed over the reins to the new President, Maureen Brook.
Maureen says the QCWA Yandina Branch is primarily about friendship and support, as well as learning new skills and helping others. “Early on during COVID everyone was feeling isolated. We made sure we stayed in communication via email, phone and letters,” she said.
Maureen started sending photos and positive messages instead of the Branch’s regular morning tea catch ups and meetings. “I started by emailing a photo of my morning cuppa and a message of things I was grateful for, and I invited others to reply and talk about what they were doing and enjoying.”
QCWA is not for profit, non-sectarian and non-political with a simple vision: “For the women of Queensland to come together to support communities, while celebrating their interests and forging friendships in a respectful and caring environment.”
The Yandina branch has monthly meetings at 9.30am on the fourth Friday of the month at the QCWA Division Hall at 11 Stevens Street and anyone is welcome to attend. New members welcome.