In their quietly consistent way, Beaudesert’s small but mighty contingent of Country Women’s Association volunteers have clocked up more than 8000 volunteer hours in the last 12 months.
At the group’s 95th AGM on 28 July, President Bev Fehlberg recounted a year of giving back to the community, providing handmade comforts to people facing homelessness and domestic violence, loneliness, ill health and other hardships.
She also reflected more broadly on the CWA, which this year celebrates 100 years in Queensland.
“CWA was formed to improve the lives of people living in rural and remote places in Queensland. It gave a place for women to get help, and friendship with others in the community and it is still so today,” she said.
“QCWA here in Beaudesert is alive and thriving. We meet twice a week at present with 21 ladies who have put in over 8000 volunteer hours.”
Mrs Fehlberg detailed more than 1400 donations made by Beaudesert CWA, some donations comprising up to five items, and fundraising events like hoy and high tea, the annual cent auction, market stalls and a trivia night.
She detailed work members produce Mondays and Thursdays at the hall, from beanies, mittens, scarves and knee rugs to cuddly toys, catheter bags, kits for mastectomy patients, dementia mats, school packs, animal pockets for wildlife and little jumpers for penguins.
She spoke with optimism about plans for the CWA hall to shift as part of the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation Plan.
“Hall plans are progressing slowly, but weather has made progress hard. The road to our building has been cut and work on the new roundabout begun. Artists have held several meetings with us for the security screens and the pathways to connect us to the rest of the development,” she said.
“A model of our building is here in the hall for anyone to view. Perhaps next year our AGM will be in our new location.”
Mrs Fehlberg thanked the community, including the Beaudesert Bulletin, for its support, praised members for their hard work and said the group was now preparing for its Father’s Day morning tea, 100-year celebration and Annual Cent Auction.
