General News
22 July, 2025
Bealiba CWA celebrates 90th anniversary
Nearly 60 people joined Bealiba Country Women’s Association (CWA) last Thursday afternoon to celebrate the branch’s 90th birthday.
To mark the celebration, outfits worn by members during eras throughout those 90 years were showcased and paraded by junior attendees.
This included wedding dresses, mini dresses, formal hats and dresses that were worn to go out dancing.
A 90th birthday cake was also cut by the branch’s oldest and youngest members.
Much of the CWA’s East Wimmera group was represented with members from Maryborough, Cabbaritta, Kara, Marnoo, Newbridge, Stuart Mill, Wedderburn and Wirram also attending.
The event was also attended by the Country Women’s Association of Victoria state president Jennifer Nolan, who presented a speech.
Bealiba’s CWA branch was formed in 1935, becoming branch number 208.
In as early as the 1930s, the Bealiba CWA have met in the Bealiba Town Hall at decorated tables with goods baked by members, for many events and celebrations.
Bealiba CWA’s recent major milestone was much like this.
But there has always been far more to the Bealiba CWA’s work than their much loved afternoon teas.
Bealiba CWA president Heather Davis said the branch has spent decades supporting projects with both a local or international impact.
“If there has ever been a call out for something, we answer it. In 1945, the group president at the time wanted members to collect fat, which was refined and sent to England to make glycerin. They sent something like 1840 pounds of fat collected,” she said.
“In the 60s and 70s, we used to cater for weddings, I think we catered for more than 30 weddings during that time.
“In over 20 years, many times we were asked to make birthing kits for women in Pakistan, because women and their babies were dying of septicemia.”
Within recent years, the branch has continued supporting communities throughout regional Victoria as well as overseas.
“Just recently, the Shepparton branch had a conference, and wanted members to bring rice for their food share. Some incredible amount of rice was donated, over a thousand kilograms,” Ms Davis said.
“We had another cause in Nepal for girls who couldn’t go to school because they didn’t have any feminine hygiene products, so we organised and provided reusable products for them.
“Also recently we had Hope in a Suitcase for children going into care who often arrive with nothing, so we were asked to provide a suitcase and nominate an age group. We chose a boy aged six to eight, and we filled it with clothes, a book and other items.”
With over 20 current members, the Bealiba CWA still hosts regular meetings, community events and enjoys outings with older and younger members.
“For 30 years, we have been hosting Australia Day, and we still have an International Day. The local school children give a presentation for the CWA’s country of study, so we learn about that country, this year it was Sri Lanka,” Ms Davis said.
She said strong collaboration and friendship among members is how the Bealiba CWA has continued for nearly a century.
“It’s the friendship and fellowship. It has always been that sense of purpose and valuing people when you work collectively with someone,” she said.
