Learn to bake and decorate beautiful biscuits

Make Mother’s Day special with a selection of beautifully decorated biscuits.

Our expert member of CWA Victoria , Fiona Louise, from Ballarat is an avid cookie maker and decorator, working with royal icing, fondant, edible images.

 Come enjoy her enthusiastic, creative cookie making and decorating workshop.

Date: Saturday 27th April 

Time:  9.30 am to 4.00pm

Morning /Afternoon Tea and lunch provided.

Venue: The CWA of Victoria, Umina Craft room, 3 Lansell Rd Toorak

Cost: $ 175.00 Includes baking the cookies, decorating them. Decorating kit and all materials provided.

Decorated cookies will be arranged in a presentation box, ready to give to Mum on Mother’s Day.

Maximum number: 12 people  

Minimum: 6

Book and pay for your place now by calling Reception at CWA of Victoria Ph 03 9827 8971

Nomination for Senior Office Bearers Now Open

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Eligible members are invited to consider nominating for a Senior Office Bearer position. Senior Office Bearers are elected at the 96th Annual Meeting of the Association in 2024.

Nominations open on 1 March 2024 and close on 21 March 2024.

For further information, please consult the Members Section of the website. To access the Members Section, you will need to use the Website Member Login. This was provided in the January Posting sent to all branches, and is available from your Branch secretary, or the Member Services Administrator, Robyn Smith on cwaadmin@cwaofvic.org.au

All the documents you will need, including the Election Policy, CV template, Nomination Forms, Checklist and Role Descriptions are located in Documents/Role Descriptions section in the Members Section.

2024 State Literature Competition

 

Topics for the 2024 State Literature Competition are as follows:

  1. Midnight
  2. My First Love
  3. Fearless
  4. Crossroads

Categories (Fact or Fiction)

  1. Prose – Up to 1,000 words
  2. Prose – 1,000 – 2,000 words
  3. Poetry – Up to 15 lines
  4. Poetry – 16 – 32 lines
  5. Prose or Poetry under 100 words (New category for 2024)

Junior Members Section (Topics as above)

Primary students:

  • Under 12 years – Prose (Under 1,000 words)
  • Under 12 years – Poetry (Under 32 lines)

Secondary students:

  • 12–18 years – Prose (Under 1,000 words)
  • 12–18 years – Poetry (Under 32 lines)

Conditions of Entry

  1. The competition is open to all members, including junior members, of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc.
  2. Entries must be the original work of the entrant and must have been written in the past two years and not have been previously entered into the State Literature Competition.
  3. Topics are for both junior and senior members.
  4. Only one entry per Category A – E.
  5. Each entry to be accompanied by an entry form.
  6. All entries must be submitted by email as a Word document (as an attachment), and sent to Chairman, Communications and Magazine Committee at email: cwamagazine@cwaofvic.org.au
  7. Entries close at 5pm on Sunday, 31 March
  8. Topics, conditions of entry and entry form will be available in the Country Woman magazine and on the Association’s website.
  9. Late entries will not be accepted.
  10. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The winner of the Emilie Wilson Literature Award will be announced at the 2024 State Conference.

Download the entry form here.

CWA of Victoria Educational Grants Grants Open to All

The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. offers educational grants which are open to all. These grants include five Post-Secondary and Post Graduate Awards and the Central Highlands Ruby McCullough Scholarship.

Please click here to download the Guidelines and the Application Forms:

Applications close 31 March 2024

Advanced Wet Felting and Slow Stitching Workshop

Advanced Wet Felting and Slow Stitching Workshop   

Where: Saturday 6 July 2024 9.30 am – 4.00pm

Venue:  The Country Women’s Association, Umina 3 Lansell Rd Toorak

Immerse yourself in mindfulness and enjoy learning the art of Felting or Slow Stitching.

Come and enjoy a relaxing day with experienced CWA tutors Mary and Karen as they lead you into these fascinating crafts.

Both these classes emphasise the reuse of textiles and giving them a new lease of life.

Let’s do our bit to reduce the phenomenal amount of textiles that end up in land fill.

A great opportunity – both classes are running simultaneously so you can choose to work on one class all day or try your hand at both. Same cost!

Both classes will teach the basics of the techniques.

Cost:  $190.00 per participant

 

Option 1: Advanced wet felting – Nuno felting technique with Mary

Nuno felting is the art of felting onto fabric using a loosely woven fabric and pure merino wool tops.

Mary will show you the technique of wet felting onto a silk scarf, how to add highlights and interesting textures to make your scarf distinctly unique. Scarf provided.

 

Option 2:   Slow Stitching Picture with Karen

This workshop will show you how to create a piece of embroidered work suitable to be framed, used as a wall hanging, an insert into a quilt or a cushion cover.

Using a recycled base, Karen will show you how to create a unique design from small bits and pieces of fabric, trimmings and simple embroidery stitches. A kit with all your requisites will be provided.

Just bring yourself!

And there’s more! The workshop price also covers Morning/Afternoon Tea and a light lunch prepared by renowned CWA cooks.

 

Terms and Conditions

Workshop cost: $190 per person

Workshop cost includes:

  • Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea catered for by renowned CWA cooks. Please advise if you have any food allergies.
  • Kits providing everything you need to complete your projects. However, please bring some sharp scissors.

 Payment:

Full payment required to secure your place.
Call reception on 9827 8971 to pay and secure your booking.

Cancellations:

  • Payments are refunded, less 20%, if cancellation is made 14 days or more before the workshop.
  • No refund is possible if cancellation is made less than 14 days before the workshop.

Maximum number of participants: 10 people in Options 1 and 2.

Note that CWA Victoria reserves the right to cancel the workshop if the minimum number of participants is not reached, in which case full refund of payments made will be given.

State Photography Competition 2024

Winner of the Paula Pither Mills Perpetual Plaque for Photography in 2023: ‘Walter Peak Wheel’ by Rebecca Thorpe, Mount Macedon Moonlighters Branch, Central Highlands Group

All members, including juniors, are invited to enter the State Photography Competition. Entries are submitted as jpg digital files, by email. Please click the links below to download the Conditions of Entry and the forms:

Click here to download the 2024 State Photography Competition Conditions of Entry 

Click here to download the 2024 State Photography Competition Entry Form

Click here to download the 2024 Permission to Publish Form – Children

Click here to download the 2024 Permission to Publish Form – Adults

 

The topics for the 2024 State Photography Competition are:

 

Section 1

The Colour Purple

Section 2

Clouds

Section 3

Back Alley / Laneway

Section 4

Disappearing Technology

Section 5

In a Row

Section 6

(a) ‘Tall’ and (b) ‘Short’ (set of two related photographs)

Section 7

For the Front Cover

Section 8

Panorama – Water scene

(Photo approximately 3:1 ratio width: height)

Entries close 5.00 pm Friday 26 April 2024.

2024 State Creative Arts Exhibition

2024 State Creative Arts Exhibition

Entries are now open for the 2024 State Creative Arts Exhibition. There are more than 260 different sections, so there will be one to suit every member! When you have studied the schedule fill in your entry forms and send them to the Entry Co-ordinator, Heather Scott. There are two Entry Forms:

  • State Exhibition Entry Form 2024 Handcrafts for entries in Sections 1-202.
  • State Exhibition Entry Form 2024 Home Industries for entries in Sections 203-266.

If you have more than 7-8 entries in either Handcrafts or Home Industries sections, there are Extra Entry Forms where you can fill in more entries, without having to repeat all the information on the main entry form:

  • State Exhibition Extra Entry Form 2024 Handcrafts for entrants with more than 7 entries in Sections 1-202.
  • State Exhibition Extra Entry Form 2024 Home Industries for entrants with more than 8 entries in Sections 203-266.

The entry forms are “fillable forms” – this means that you can open them on your computer and type directly into the boxes on the forms, and then save the completed form. You can also print out the form and handwrite, but please PRINT CLEARLY, scan your document as a .pdf file, and attach it to your email.

There are separate entry forms for the Group Exhibits, Sections 268-269 – these are issued to Group Presidents. If you cannot locate yours, email: : scottheather1953@gmail.com and copies will be emailed to you.

Entries close on Friday 19 July 2024.

Click here to download the 2024 State Exhibition Schedule

Click here to download the State Exhibition Entry Form 2024 Handcrafts  

Click here to download the State Exhibition Entry Form 2024 Home Industries 

Click here to download the State Exhibition Extra Entry Form 2024 Handcrafts 

Click here to download the State Exhibition Extra Entry Form 2024 Home Industries

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I send in my Entry Form?

This year, we are encouraging members to email their Entry Forms to the Entry Co‑ordinator, Heather Scott, at: scottheather1953@gmail.com

Of course, if you do not have access to email, you may post your Entry Forms. The address is on the Entry Forms.

How do I pay the Entry Fee?

The Entry Fee of $5 cash per individual member is payable when you deliver your entries, either to Toorak or Moe.

ALL HANDCRAFT ENTRIES – may only be delivered between 9.30 am and 4.00 pm, Monday to Thursday, to 3 Lansell Road Toorak, between Tuesday 25 June and Tuesday 30 July 2024. Or deliver directly to the Moe Town Hall, 69 Albert St., Moe, on Monday 5 August 2024 between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

If you are posting your entries to Head Office, please phone Head Office 9827 8971 to pay by credit card. Do not send stamps.

ONE WOMAN’S WORK, HOME INDUSTRIES AND GROUP ENTRIES must be delivered to the Moe Town Hall, 69 Albert St., Moe, on Thursday 8 August 2024 between 9.00am and 11.00am.

Do I have to win a prize in my Group Exhibition before I can enter the State Exhibition?

No, definitely not! Every member is welcome to enter the State Exhibition, whether or not they have ever entered a Group Exhibition.

Can I enter the same article that I entered in my Group Exhibition previously?

In general, yes. You can enter the same handcraft article, provided that it was completed within the past two years and has not been used or soiled. You can enter another jar from the same batch of preserves that you made for your Group Exhibition – but not the same jar, as it has been opened and tasted. You will need to make new entries in the cookery sections – they would be a bit stale otherwise!

Is my work good enough to be entered in the State Exhibition?

How will you know unless you try? Every entry in the State Exhibition receives a written comment from the judges, which is intended to give you feedback on your entry and encourage you to do better next time. Entering is a great learning experience, especially if you are able to visit the Exhibition and see your work on display, side by side with other members’ work.

Richmond Area Open Garden Event

RICHMOND AREA OPEN GARDEN EVENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, BURNLEY CAMPUS

Saturday 28 October 2023, 10.30am – 1.00pm

University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus,

Address:  500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond between the Main Building and the

Student Amenities Building

UMINA BRANCH (South Yarra) will be serving a Devonshire Tea

CASH ONLY payment please. – NO Efptos available

If you have never been to the beautiful heritage-listed Burnley Gardens before, Saturday 28 October is the day to visit.  Enjoy the nine-hectare gardens which is home to nearly 1000 different species of plants including some of the oldest trees in Melbourne. 

It is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people and have evolved since the 1860s as a location for research and teaching.

Burnley Gardens will be selling plants to raise funds for flood victims. and Umina branch of The Country Women’s Association of Victoria, Inc will partner with them providing a Devonshire Tea at $15.00 per person, $12.00 for seniors.  Baked goods, jams and pickles will also be available for sale. 

For more information contact:

Yasmin Powers
0418 531 117

Port Fairy Open Garden Event

Port Fairy Open Garden Event

Saturday 28 October 2023, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Venue:  Senior Citizens Hall, Barclay Street, Port Fairy

ADMISSION $15 per person

Includes admission to hear Donna Ellis speak and a Devonshire Tea

CASH ONLY payment please. – NO Efptos available

Port Fairy is known for its 1800s architecture. Take a walk around the well-preserved centre and keep an eye out for the more than 50 buildings classified by the National Trust.  Located along The Great Ocean Road, it is a mecca for those who love beach environments. 

The CWA members of Port Fairy are presenting a 2-hour event with Guest Speaker, Donna Ellis who amongst other things is the author of ‘Sustainable Gardening for Dummies’. 

Donna has been in the industry for around 40 years, starting out in parks and gardens. In her career she has worked on council, with nurseries, garden maintenance, landscape and design, consulting, media and teaching. She enjoyed 12 years as the ‘resident gardening expert’ on ABC South West Victoria, is the author of Sustainable Gardening for Dummies and after over 22 years teaching horticulture, she has finally retired. (Sort of!)

These days she can be found speaking to various groups and organisations about how our changing climate effects our gardens, how we can garden sustainably to help maintain not only the health of our planet but our own health and wellbeing.  Her many talks are particularly aimed at older gardeners to help maintain fitness for gardening as we age.

In 2019, Donna was named Corangamite Shire Citizen of the Year for her involvement in promoting healthy communities in Timboon and district and is a trained Climate Reality Project presenter.

We hope you and your friends can come along for a fun-filled afternoon on gardening and how nurturing a garden can contribute to your well-being, not to mention having a fabulous CWA Devonshire Tea.  

For more information contact:

Kathie Sherriff
0439 001 411