CWA Awareness Week in Gunnedah

The branches of Gunnedah, Emerald Hill, Tambar Spings, Curlewis and Goolhi are using CWA Awareness Week as a platform to promote what they do and help struggling families with water, food, toiletry packs and baby packs.

Parkview Hotel owners Greg and Belinda Thomas donated the former bottle shop for the week so the association can sell sandwiches and baked goods this week and act as a drop-off point for donations of household basics and vouchers. As part of the fundraising, the association is also raffling off a quad bike donated at AgQuip.

“We’ll help anyone who needs help,” Emerald Hill president Yvonne Argent said.

At the opening on Monday, the NVI met a local who is going to receive help from the CWA.

“You don’t know what this means,” the local said to Ms Argent.

Ms Argent replied, “I do know what it means”.

The local said they needed water, food and cattle feed and was “so grateful” for the CWA’s assistance. 

Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey was also at the opening and said the CWA “makes such a difference in our community” particularly in tough times.

“In drought conditions we reply quite heavily on volunteers like the CWA,” he said.

“What they’re doing here is so important and shows the strength of our community.

“I know farmers are very resilient and very humble but we have dedicated members of the community from the CWA committed to being here all week offering assistance.

“I encourage people with any need at all to please come and see the ladies who are donating their time and have much more to give.”

Dale Kirby from North West Local Land Services also came along to leave information on how they can help.

Cr Chaffey took the opportunity to give the branches their nomination certificates for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.

The pop-up shop is opposite Woolworths Gunnedah and is open until Friday from 9am-2.30pm.

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