BADGEBUP ROCKWELL CWA

Badgebup Rockwell CWA

The Country Women’s Association was founded on the pioneering spirit of strong women and principles of hard work, shared effort and friendship.

The Country Women’s Association of Western Australia (CWA of WA) is a woman’s club in Western Australia. The first meeting was held in Perth in early 1924, and their first four branches were established the same year. Mabel Craven-Griffith was elected the first president at their first conference in 1925. It was part of the Country Women’s Association (CWA).

The Association’s purpose was “to improve the welfare and conditions of life of people everywhere, especially those living in the country, to foster friendship and understanding and to encourage co-operation and community effort”. Their first priority was to establish rest rooms; located in the CWA of WA branches, these spaces provided a place for rural women and their children to rest and eat when they were in the town.

In 1934 the CWA of WA began publishing The Countrywoman of Western Australia their newsletter, which became a monthly publication in 1940.

Of note was the CWA of WA’s participation in the war effort during World War II, establishing a war relief fund and participating in the Australian Women’s Land Army. Membership reached its peak in the mid 1950s with 12,000 members in about 250 branches. In 2001 the CWA of WA left the national Country Women’s Association, but remains active.

COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
BADGEBUP (NEW BRANCH).

Sunday Times
15 April, 1934

A further branch of the C.W.A. was formed at Badgebup on April 6, when a gathering of ladies interested, organised by Mrs. Wanke, of Katanning, was addressed by Mrs. H. M. Fisher (State president). Owing to inclement weather, there were not so many present as was anticipated, but more are expected to join up at next meeting.

Mrs. Toms was elected president, Mrs. Goodchild vice-president, and Mrs. Robertson secretary. The remainder of office-bearers will be elected at the next meeting. The ladies were pleased that Mrs. Fisher found time to visit them, after her long and tiring journey to Pingrup and Nyabing.

BADGEBUP-ROCKWELL CWA

Sunday Times
24 June, 1934

The newly formed Badgebup-Rockwell branch now numbers 20 members and associate members, and hopes in the very near future to increase that number. On June 23 a social evening is being held to raise funds for the branch. It is hoped this function will be a huge success, as part of the funds are to be utilised In helping furnish the Katanning rest room.

BADGEBUP CWA

Great Southern Herald
15 June, 1935

The first annual meeting of the Badgebup branch of the Country Women’s Association was held in the local hall on May 30, with a fair attendance of members. Mrs. J. Toms was elected to the position of president and Mrs. C. B. Robertson was appointed secretary.

BADGEBUP
Early Pioneers Honored

Great Southern Herald
12 December, 1942

A gathering of great interest to the community took place in the Badgebup Hall on Saturday evening, Nov. 28th., at a social arranged by the Badgebup-Rockwell branch of the C.W.A., in honor of the district’s earliest pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Warren, of Dyliabing.

Members of the Rockwell Hall Committee and residents of Badgebup, together with their many friends, combined to do honor to these old friends and to present to them a gift from the district in recognition of their many sterling services; the presentation taking the shape of a handsome oak-framed enlarged photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Warren, for Mr. Warren, and a small wallet of notes for Mrs. Warren.

Mr. O. A. Caldwell, chief organiser of the function, opened proceedings with an original humorous recitation – a friendly satire on Mr. J. Anderson, – which caused great mirth. Mr. Anderson then presented a Scottish monologue, which also gave rise to great hilarity. “A Bush Christening,” another mirth provoking monologue by Miss M. Stagbouer, was well received. Miss Faith Toms, with Mrs. L. Caldwell as accompanist, gave a very sweet rendition of the charming refrain,

“San Antonia Rose.” Concert items were interspersed with dances and games, music being supplied alternately by Mrs. L. Caldwell and Mr. W. Longmire.

The presentation was carried out on the stage, the guests of honour, together with their eldest daughter, Mrs. B. Clegg, seated in the centre surrounded by representatives from both districts. Mr. S. Kemble, as chairman, introduced the speakers.

Mr. M. H. Longmire (representing the Rockwell district) delivering the first address. Mr. Longmire said that Mr. and Mrs. Warren, with their small son, had arrived in the district from South Australia in 1898, and could rightly claim to be its earliest pioneers. He recalled to memory the many years of faithful service voluntarily given by Mr. Warren as secretary to the Rockwell Hall Committee.

Mr. George Goodchild spoke of other services rendered freely by Mr. Warren, not only in a magisterial capacity as Justice of the Peace, but by his connection with many important associations of benefit to the agricultural and pastoral industries.

Prior to making the presentation Mr. O. A. Caldwell said it was due to Mr. Warren that Badgebup possessed the distinctive and picturesque church of St. Peter’s, which had been built from stone quarried in Dyliabing as a memorial to his elder son, John Campbell Dale Warren, who had made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. During his long residence in the district Mr. Warren had been connected with every important movement with the exception of the Road Board, on which, however, his brother, Robert, had given many years of valuable service.

The main road of the district bore the family name, as it was the road cut through the primeval bush by the Warrens to their home at Dyliabing before any other settlement had taken place. He presented Mr. Warren with both gifts, expressing the wish of everyone present that they would have many years of life ahead of them.

Mrs. Warren then gracefully received a dainty posy, handed to her by a small boy, the whole company joining in the hearty singing of the old salutation, “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows,”

Mr. Warren, on behalf of Mrs. Warren and himself, suitably responded, thanking all for the unexpected honour bestowed upon them. He recounted several amusing anecdotes of former years and drew attention to the fact that Mr. Caldwell also was one of the earliest pioneers of the district. He referred to Mrs. Toms as an acquaintance of long standing, having known her since she was a little girl living in Katanning.

A dainty supper was served, after which dancing was resumed until all joined hands in the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” with the guests of honour standing in the centre of the circle; the strains of the National Anthem bringing a happy and memorable occasion to a close.

Badgebup-Rockwell CWA.
Presentation Afternoon

Great Southern Herald
12 June, 1943

A social and presentation organised by the Badgebup-Rockwell C.W.A. was held on Saturday afternoon, 5^th June, at Badgebup, to do honor to Miss Mavis Kemble, whose approaching marriage is due to take place at Katanning on June 12th.

A dainty afternoon tea having been enjoyed, proceedings opened with the National Anthem, after which musical items and games passed the time pleasantly. With Mrs. L. Caldwell as accompanist, Mrs. P. Rands and Miss Faith Toms entertained the company with vocal items; Mrs. A. Caldwell following with a humorous monologue in her usual excellent style. A competition, Ladies versus Gentlemen, resulted in a victory for the former, even when entering the field in the men’s own particular province of knotting and unknotting ties.

Mr. J. C. Warren, in an interesting address, wished the bride-to-be a happy and successful voyage on the stormy sea of matrimony. Mrs. Toms, speaking on behalf of the members of the C.W.A., referred to the high esteem in which their one-time member of the younger set was held by her fellow members, also expressing deep appreciation of services rendered by Mr. Sam Kemble, her father, in the honorary capacity of Auditor and Chairman to the Association since its inception nine year ago.

A beautiful crystal Salad Bowl was then presented to the guest of honour, who gracefully responded in a few appropriate words of thanks for the lovely and useful gift.

BADGEBUP NOTES
BADGEBUP-ROCKWELL CWA.

Great Southern Herald
31 August 1951 – P2

The monthly meeting of the Badgebup-Rockwell branch of the Country Women’s Association was held on Thursday, August 23, Mrs. A. N. Caldwell presiding. Several apologies were received from members who were unable to attend. No business of importance was brought up at this meeting, but members are reminded of the social evening which the branch is holding in the Badgebup Hall on Saturday, September 8.

As this is a new venture local residents are asked to support the C.W.A. by attending the function and thereby ensuring the success of the evening.

Badgebup Rockwell CWA. Badgebup Rockwell CWA. Badgebup Rockwell CWA. Badgebup Rockwell CWA. Badgebup Rockwell CWA. Badgebup Rockwell CWA.

1954 Badgebup CWA
20th Birthday celebrations

Photographs supplied by Wendy Kirkby

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