CWA: Not just tea and scones

The show is one of many initiatives the branch is involved in throughout the year.

Members will be entering the home craft and cookery sections, and will be volunteering at the event.

And while it’s a much-enjoyed aspect of the association’s activities, the Cessnock evening branch is about much more than tea and scones.

It’s about like-minded women banding together to support issues they are passionate about.

The legalisation of medicinal marijuana and awareness of Lyme disease are among the campaigns with which the CWA has been involved in state level.

The Cessnock evening branch boasts a membership of 25 and growing, and was awarded first place for the most improved membership at the CWA NSW State Conference last year.

Members vary in age from their twenties to senior citizens; some have lived in Cessnock all their lives, while others are relatively new to town.

One of the newer members, Linda Crowley, moved to Cessnock from Sydney six months ago.

“I wanted to be part of the community, and this was the best way I could make that happen,” she said.

The branch opened its doors and held a ‘winter tea room’ in June last year, and was also open for refreshments during the Postie Bike Grand Prix in November, with a similar event to come in autumn.

Another way the branch connects with the community is through its Christmas donation drive – last year they collected five baskets of foods and gifts that were donated to the Salvation Army for people in need.

The branch also provides an annual prize for Cessnock High and Mount View High students who excel in food technology.

This year, members also catered for Cessnock’s Australia Day ceremony, and had a great response to their spread of homemade delights.

The Cessnock CWA evening branch meets at 163 Vincent Street on the first Monday of the month at 7pm, and the third Monday of the month is handicraft night with a guest speaker.

For more information, call secretary Joy Potts on 4990 5420 or like the branch on Facebook.