CWA serves community for 94 years

The branch is part of the Namoi Group of the CWA, which was formed in 1922 in response to a series of articles written by newspaper journalist Frances Studdy, encouraging country women to form an organisation to highlight the problems of rural families. Ms Studdy lived in Emerald Hill.

Not long after the CWA was formed, Ms Studdy initiated the opening of branches in the local area including Emerald Hill (June 2, 1922), Boggabri (June 10, 1922) and Gunnedah (June 23, 1922). The first Gunnedah meeting was held in the Goodwin Chambers, now the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club.

During World War II, Gunnedah CWA members supplied clothing to soldiers in Australia and overseas.

Early agendas of CWA meeting show that death during childbirth and isolation were major issues faced by rural women. Members decided to set up rest rooms in outlying towns and districts where expectant mothers could receive advice from qualified nursing staff, and mothers could take their small children. 

In 1928, the Gunnedah branch bought a house in Barber Street to use as a rest home for expectant mothers waiting to go into hospital to give birth. It was named The Frances Studdy Rest Home. 

In 1966, a modern building on Barber Street became meeting rooms for the CWA and a new baby health centre, providing a new concept of care for country women. After the State Government took over the service, the baby health centre was removed and in Ooranga Toy Library began utilising the space in the 1990’s.

The toy library approached the CWA branch in 2002 with a request to extend that part of the building. A government grant was successfully obtained and in conjunction with a loan from CWA head office, the work was completed in 2005. The hard-working Gunnedah members repaid the loan within six years.

Gunnedah CWA made history in 2012 by awarding an honourary membership for one year to the first male member in the Namoi Group, Noel Kennedy, for his continued support.