Henty pays tribute to role of CWA at official opening

In recognition of the Country Women’s Association 100^th birthday, the 2022 Henty Machinery Field Days will be officially opened on Tuesday, September 20 by CWA of NSW President Joy Beames.

Mrs Beames hails from the central western town of Dunedoo where she operated a family farm with her husband Ken up until last year.

Joy also worked as a practice manager for a local doctor, and has two children, Phillip and Heidi. 

She has been a member of CWA since 1992 and has held many positions at branch, group and state level, representing the Association at many events including meeting with members of State Parliament to achieve Association objectives.

Mrs Beames has organised several regional and Sydney based agricultural and environmental seminars for members to attend and participate in. She has been an active participant in the tea rooms at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Mrs Beames was the CWA representative on Rural Women’s Council for almost three years until it wound up and the Association’s representative on the Tocal College Advisory Council for three years.

Locally, she was the coordinator of the Sir Ivan Bushfire Appeal and liaised with the CWA of NSW’s Disaster Relief Fund Committee to distribute funds and goods.

She has also been a member of the local Hospital Advisory Council, a director of Dunedoo Sports Club, President of Dunedoo Bowling Club, office bearer in the local swimming club and hospital auxiliary. 

Joy hosts her own radio program on community radio.

Henty Machinery Field Days chief executive officer Belinda Anderson paid tribute to the CWA saying the organisation had supported the field days from the early days.

“Henty owes a great deal to the many CWA volunteers over the years, generous with their time and enthusiasm to keep our field day visitors and exhibitors entertained and fed at Country Lifestyle,” Mrs Anderson said. 

“They have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the program runs smoothly and all exhibitors and visitors have an enjoyable experience.” 

Joan Meyer, representing the Riverina Group Country Women’s Association, was invited by the Zone 7 United Farmers and Woolgrowers Association to formally stage an annual ladies lifestyle section in 1969. She organised a full two days of subjects of interest to the women on the land.

Demonstrations of spinning and weaving, and talks on the farm garden were spliced with car maintenance and cooking with electricity on the farm.

During the 1970s, Henty CWA branch members were kept busy co-ordinating the women’s interest sessions, which included a talk on freezing food, a fashion parade, and demonstrations of cooking with gas.

The women’s interest program reflected the tight household budget of 1975 with “do-it-yourself’’ and recycling sessions, while carcass cutting demonstrations were extended to include pigs and sheep.

The sight of CWA members delivering morning tea using an old pram to busy exhibitors has become synonymous with the field days. Among the consistent demonstrators over the years have been CWA cookery entrant and judges Ann Adams and Josie Kilpatrick. 

Today, under the direction of CWA member Lyn Jacobsen, Leonie Kohlhagen and their CWA colleagues, field day visitors can enjoy a full program of guest speakers, fashion parades and the Natural Fibre Fashion Awards in a permanent large pavilion opened in 2016 and named in honour of Joan Meyer.