Tribute has been paid to the work of the Country Women's Association as the nation marks 100 years since the first branch was formed.
Australia Post has released a new stamp to celebrate a century of the advocacy and community work done to improve the lives of rural and regional women, children and communities.
The first CWA branch was formed in April in 1922 in NSW, and has grown to an estimated more than 21,000 members national in more than 1100 branches Australia-wide.
The stamp, designed by Stacey Zass, features the CWA of NSW's foundation president Grace Emily Munro MBE (1879-1964), who lobbied government to build and staff maternity wards, hospitals and schools, raised funds for bush nurses and a Royal Flying Doctor's Service base at Broken Hill, and was the first woman to serve on a hospital board in rural NSW.
CWA of NSW president Stephanie Stanhope said the release of the stamp acknowledges the work of all CWAS, but also was an honour for the CWA of NSW and it embarked on the next 100 years of representing the interests of rural and regional people.
"The celebration of our centenary is an important milestone for our association and our members, marking 100 years of advocacy on behalf of NSW country communities and the provision of assistance across a wide variety of programs and initiatives," she said.
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The CWA of Queensland was founded in August 1922 and the rest of the mainland states had formed associations by 1929.
The SA CWA had its beginnings in 1926 at Burra, with the statewide association formed in 1929.
A branch was created in the NT in 1933, an association began in Tas in 1936 and a branch formed in the ACT in 1946.
The $1.10 stamp and associated collectables are on sale from April 26 at participating Post Offices, online, and via mail order on 1800 331 794 while stocks last.
- Details: For more information visit auspost.com.au/stamps or australiapostcollectables.com.au
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