CWA Yass Branch Annual General Meeting 21st October

It was a group of happy Yass Valley women who met on the 21st October for the first CWA face-to-face gathering in quite some time. The meeting combined the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the October meeting.

Positions were declared vacant at the AGM and then nominations sought for the new committee. Outgoing President, Brenda Phillips, was voted in as President for the new year, with Pauline Dunk voted as Secretary and Jane MacCulloch voted as Treasurer.

Brenda delivered her President’s report for 2020-21 which is outlined in full here:

“Well, what can I say, another financial year over and who thought after last year we would still be dealing with all the problems of lockdowns and COVID: we can only pray that next year will be a little more settled. We have had so many cancellations of functions, not being able to do the things we would normally do including the fruit run for the whole year. How I long just to be able to go out to one of the nearby towns to browse, shop and meet other people.

“Firstly, thank you to all the members of Yass Branch for coming to meetings and helping where required and keeping our branch operational. We are such a worthwhile organisation and I urge you all to put aside whatever day our CWA meeting is so we can continue to keep going and being involved in the Yass community. I would also like to thank all office bearers for the work they have presented during the year.

“So, what have we been able to do over the last 12 months, not as much as usual? During the year we ran our general meetings whenever we could, all group council meetings that could be held were attended by councillors from Yass and at this year’s Group AGM Zoom meeting on 15th October, Kathy, Jane and myself zoomed in.

“We welcomed Karen and Jane during the year as new members. Unfortunately, we were unable to partner with Rostrum for the Public speaking evenings at Berimba School due to COVID, nor hold the morning tea for competition entrants in the International Posters for Malaysia (I have collected this year’s posters and the winners will be judged at the December Council Meeting as well as presenting each entrant with a small prize).

• October 2020: Our Annual General meeting was held on 21st October. Branch positions were taken up, we presented Helen McClung with her 50-year membership badge, a branch photo to record the day was taken, followed by lunch, and a Chinese Meal in the park.
• November 2020: We held a successful street stall making over $600.00, thank you to all the members who made and donated items.
• December 2020: We hosted the Christmas Council Meeting, with 15 other branches attending, in the Memorial Hall on December 1st an exhausting couple of days setting up, running the day and clearing up but a very successful event with Father Christmas attending. Thank you Joy for sourcing the lovely raffle prizes, we raised over $300, and again thank you to all the members who helped on the day. After our meeting later in the week we got together for a special lunch, always good fun. Due to COVID restrictions only one school presentation was held, Bowning School, which was held in the park. I was able to attend, and it’s always fun.
• January 2021: There was no meeting held but members attended the Australia Day event in Coronation Park as usual supplying tea, coffee, orange juice and water. It’s always a great day and we get to show the flag for our organisation.
• February 2021: Books were donated to all the Yass Primary Schools.
• March 2021: Items were accepted for Group Handicraft Day with 3 members entering articles.
• April 2021: Members laid a wreath at the Anzac Day Parade.
• May 2021: The State Conference was held in Bega under very different circumstances to our usual format. Thank you for choosing me as your delegate, it is always enjoyable to meet up with members from other locations whom you only see at these meetings, a very wet week but also interesting. Malaysia was announced as our International Country of Study and Ovarian Cancer as the research project.
• June 2021: No meeting held.
• July 2021: International Poster Competition paperwork was delivered to all the Primary Schools, and the Group Education Grant paperwork was also delivered.
• August 2021: Goodie bags were made up for the residents of Warmington Lodge, which included a small individual packet of assorted marshmallows with a CWA Sticker. No meeting as quorum not present. We were put into lockdown the week after this meeting should have been held.
• September 2021: Group International, Cultural and Agricultural and Environmental meetings all had to be cancelled due to area lockdowns. We were in lockdown for most of the month but were released in time to discuss the end of year donations for our branch.

“We look forward to a new year, hopefully with more freedoms. We were to have a stall at the Murrumbateman Field Day, but this has been cancelled due to COVID restrictions. Do not forget the upcoming street stall on the 20th November (from 9am at Rotary Kiosk Meehan Street Yass, opposite the newsagency) and hope everyone will produce items.

“Again, I wish to thank you all for attending, helping and being CWA friends and I hope you will stay for lunch at the conclusion of this meeting so we can finally socialise.”

• Topics:

• CWA