Queensland Country Women's Association
The Queensland Country Women's Association is the Queensland chapter of the Country Women's Association in Australia. The association seeks to serve the interests of women and children in rural areas in Australia through a network of local branches. Established in 1922, local branches provide friendship and mutual support to their members while contributing to the betterment of life in their local communities. Over time, many branches have evolved to include support for wider issues such as domestic violence campaigns and fund-raising for international initiatives such as orphanages.
In 2019 the QWCA received a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government.
History
On 8–11 August 1922, the Brisbane Women's Club held an open conference for countrywomen in Brisbane's Albert Hall during the Exhibition. The conference was opened by Lady Forster, wife of Australian Governor-General and the Queensland Governor Matthew Nathan attended. On 11 August 1922, the outcome of the conference was to establish the Queensland Country Women's Association. Ruth Beatrice Fairfax was elected the first President.The first meeting of the Toowoomba branch was held at the Toowoomba Town Hall on 12 September 1922. Ruth Fairfax attended and spoke about the objectives of the organisation. The meeting resolved to hold a conference as soon as there were sufficient representatives to attend.
The objectives of the association were broad but included some specific items:
1. To improve welfare and conditions of women and children in the countryThere was a call for a design for a badge and the winner was Mrs Mabel Chandler of Burra Burri who proposed the letters CWA within a large letter "Q"; this design is still used as the organisation's logo. It was decided that the silver and royal blue should be adopted as the colours for the organisation. Many QCWA buildings are painted royal blue and white to approximate the chosen colours.2. To draw together all women, girls, and children in Country Districts.
3. To bring opportunities for recreation and enjoyment within reach of all Members.
4. To encourage the active study of Local, Municipal and State affairs and to promote a wise and kindly spirit.
5. To improve educational facilities in the Country.
6. To secure better provision for the safeguarding of Public Health especially of children, and the securing of more adequate Medical and Hospital facilities for Country Districts."
The Queensland chapter was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2013.
In 2017 the QWCA created its own perfume, '1922', to mark its 95th anniversary. It was released at 2017 Ekka and was developed by Damask Perfumery in Brisbane. The artwork and branding of the bottle was supplied by Brisbane watercolour artist Michelle Grayson.
In 2019 the QWCA received a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government.
Branches
As at December 2018, the QWCA has over 240 branches throughout Queensland. The following list includes all branches active in December 2018, and some of the former branches.| Branch | District | LGA | Founded | Disbanded | Notes | Photo |
| Gator Girls | Alligator Creek | Townsville | ||||
| Allora | Allora | Southern Downs | 1922 | |||
| Alpha | Alpha | Barcaldine | Before August 1927 | |||
| Alton Downs | Alton Downs | Rockhampton | Before August 1927 | |||
| Ambrose | Ambrose | Gladstone | ||||
| Aramac | Aramac | Barcaldine | Before August 1927 | |||
| Atherton | Atherton | Tablelands | 1925 | |||
| Augathella | Augathella | Murweh | ||||
| Ayr | Ayr | Burdekin | ||||
| Babinda | Babinda | Cairns | ||||
| Banana | Banana | Banana | ||||
| Monto-Bancroft | Bancroft | North Burnett | ||||
| Barcaldine | Barcaldine | Barcaldine | Before August 1927 | |||
| Basalt | Basalt | Charters Tower | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Bauple | Bauple | Fraser Coast | closed | |||
| Beaudesert | Beaudesert | Scenic Rim | ||||
| Beenleigh | Beenleigh | Logan | ||||
| Beerwah | Beerwah | Sunshine Coast | ||||
| Moggill | Bellbowrie | Brisbane | ||||
| Biggenden | Biggenden | North Burnett | 1926 | |||
| Blackall | Blackall | Blackall-Tambo | Before August 1927 | |||
| Blackbutt/Yarraman | Blackbutt | South Burnett | ||||
| Blackwater | Blackwater | Central Highlands | ||||
| Blair Athol | Blair Athol | Isaac | Before August 1927 | |||
| Bli Bli | Bli Bli | Sunshine Coast | 1930 | |||
| Bollon | Bollon | Balonne | ||||
| Boodua | Boodua | Toowoomba | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Boonah | Boonah | Scenic Rim | ||||
| Boulia | Boulia | Boulia | ||||
| Bowen | Bowen | Whitsunday | ||||
| Bowenville | Bowenvllle | Toowoomba | Held their meetings at the Bowenville Public Hall. | |||
| Broadwater | Broadwater | Southern Downs | ||||
| Brookfield | Brookfield | Brisbane | ||||
| Buderim | Buderim | Sunshine Coast | 1966 | |||
| Bundaberg | Bundaberg Central | Bundaberg | ||||
| Hinkler | Bundaberg Central | Bundaberg | ||||
| Burdekin Downs | Charters Towers area | Charters Towers | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Burpengary | Burpengary | Moreton Bay | ||||
| Burra Burri | Burra Burri | Western Downs | ||||
| Caboolture | Caboolture | Moreton Bay | 1929 | |||
| Cairns | Cairns North | Cairns | ||||
| Calen | Calen | Mackay | ||||
| Callide Valley | Callide Valley | Before 27 August | ||||
| Calliope | Calliope | Gladstone | 1925 | |||
| Caloundra | Caloundra | Sunshine Coast | 1937 | |||
| Cambooya | Cambooya | Toowoomba | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Cape River | Pentland | Charters Towers | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Capella | Capella | Central Highlands | Before August 1927 | |||
| Smithfield | Caravonica | Cairns | ||||
| Cardwell | Cardwell | Cassowary Coast | 1929 | 2018 | ||
| Cedar Pocket | Cedar Pocket | Gympie | ||||
| Charleville | Charleville | Murweh | ||||
| Charters Towers | Charters Towers | Charters Towers | 1923 | |||
| Childers | Childers | Bundaberg | ||||
| Chinchilla | Chinchilla | Western Downs | 1922 | |||
| Clermont | Clermont | Isaac | ||||
| Redlands | Cleveland | Redland | ||||
| Clifton | Clifton | Toowoomba | ||||
| Cloncurry | Cloncurry | Cloncurry | ||||
| Collinsville | Collinsville | Whitsunday | ||||
| Cooktown | Cooktown | Cook | ||||
| Coolangatta | Coolangatta | Gold Coast | ||||
| Cooranga North | Cooranga | Western Downs | ||||
| Cooroy | Cooroy | Sunshine Coast | ||||
| Crow's Nest | Crows Nest | Toowoomba | ||||
| Cunningham | Cunningham | Southern Downs | ||||
| Springvale/Kupunn | Dalby | Western Downs | ||||
| Dalveen | Dalveen | Southern Downs | 1925 | |||
| Dayboro | Dayboro | Moreton Bay | 1927 | |||
| Deeral | Deeral | Cairns | ||||
| Dimbulah | Dimbulah | Mareeba | 1933 | |||
| Dingo | Dingo | Central Highlands | Before August 1927 | |||
| Dirranbandi | Dirranbandi | Balonne | ||||
| Duaringa | Duaringa | Central Highlands | Before August 1927 | |||
| Eagleby | Eagleby | Logan | ||||
| Earlville | Earlville | Cairns | ||||
| Eidsvold | Eidsvold | North Burnett | ||||
| Elgin Vale | Elgin Vale | Gympie | ||||
| Emerald | Emerald | Central Highlands | Before August 1927 | |||
| Emu Park | Emu Park | Livingstone | Before August 1927 as Yeppoon Emu Park branch | |||
| Emu Vale | Emu Vale | Southern Downs | 1955 | |||
| Eromanga | Eromanga | Quilpie | ||||
| Esk | Esk | Somerset | ||||
| Eumundi | Eumundi | Sunshine Coast | 1927 | |||
| Flying Fish Point | Flying Fish Point | Cassowary Coast | ||||
| Forrest Beach | Forrest Beach | Hinchinbrook | ||||
| Forsayth | Forsayth | Etheridge | 1928 | |||
| Freshwater | Freshwater | Cairns | ||||
| Magnetic Garbutt | Garbutt | Townsville | ||||
| Gargett | Gargett | Mackay | ||||
| Gayndah | Gayndah | North Burnett | 1923 | |||
| Georgetown | Georgetown | Etheridge | ||||
| Gin Gin | Gin Gin | Bundaberg | ||||
| Giru | Giru | Burdekin | ||||
| Gladstone | Gladstone Central | Gladstone | 1923 | |||
| Glamorgan Vale | Glamorgan Vale | Somerset | ||||
| Glen Aplin | Glen Aplin | Southern Downs | ||||
| Glenmorgan | Glenmorgan | Western Downs | ||||
| Glenore Grove | Glenore Grove | Lockyer Valley | ||||
| Goombungee | Goombungee | Toowoomba | ||||
| Goomeri | Goomeri | Gympie | 1929 | 2018 | ||
| Goovigen | Goovigen | Banana | 1949 | |||
| Gore | Gore | Goondiwindi | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Gracemere | Gracemere | Rockhampton | ||||
| Gregory | Gregory | Burke | ||||
| Gurulmundi | Gurulmundi | Western Downs | ||||
| Gympie | Gympie | Gympie | ||||
| Halifax | Halifax | Hinchinbrook | ||||
| Harrisville | Harrisville | Scenic Rim | ||||
| Helidon | Helidon | Lockyer Valley | 2018 | |||
| Herberton | Herberton | Tablelands | 1925 | |||
| Highfields | Highfields | Toowoomba | 2017 | |||
| Hivesville | Hivesville | South Burnett | ||||
| Howard | Howard | Fraser Coast | ||||
| Hughenden | Hughenden | Flinders | active | |||
| Imbil | Imbil | Gympie | ||||
| Innisfail | Innisfail | Cassowary Coast | ||||
| Ipswich | Ipswich | Ipswich | ||||
| Jambin | Jambin | Banana | ||||
| Jinghi Valley | Jandowae | Western Downs | ||||
| Jericho | Jericho | Barcaldine | Before August 1927 | |||
| Julia Creek | Julia Creek | Mckinlay | ||||
| Kalapa | Kalapa | Rockhampton | 1931 | |||
| Kallangur | Kallangur | Moreton Bay | ||||
| Karara | Karara | Southern Downs | ||||
| Kenmore | Kenmore | Brisbane | ||||
| Kenilworth | Kenilworth | Sunshine Coast | 1962 | 2018 | ||
| Kilcoy | Kilcoy | Somerset | ||||
| Kilkivan | Kilkivan | Gympie | ||||
| Killarney | Killarney | Southern Downs | ||||
| Kingaroy | Kingaroy | South Burnett | 1922 | |||
| Kingsthorpe | Kingsthorpe | Toowoomba | ||||
| Willows | Kirwan | Townsville | ||||
| Koumala | Koumala | Mackay | ||||
| Kumbia | Kumbia | South Burnett | ||||
| Kuranda | Kuranda | Mareeba | ||||
| Laidley | Laidley | Lockyer Valley | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Leyburn | Leyburn | Southern Downs | Hall built in 1928 | |||
| Abergowrie / Long Pocket | Long Pocket | Hinchinbrook | ||||
| Longreach | Longreach | Longreach | Before August 1927 | |||
| Lowood | Lowood | Somerset | ||||
| Macalister | Macalister | Western Downs | ||||
| Mackay | Mackay | Mackay | ||||
| Maclagan | Maclagan | Toowoomba | 2018 | |||
| Maidenwell | Maidenwell | South Burnett | ||||
| Malanda | Malanda | Tablelands | 1925 | |||
| Maleny | Maleny | Sunshine Coast | 1928 | |||
| Mango Hill | Mango Hill | Moreton Bay | ||||
| Mareeba | Mareeba | Mareeba | ||||
| Marlborough | Marlborough | Livingstone | Before August 1927 | |||
| Marmor | Marmor | Rockhampton | 1950s | |||
| Maroochydore | Maroochydore | Sunshine Coast | ||||
| Maryborough | Maryborough | Fraser Coast | closed | |||
| McKinlay | McKinlay | McKinlay | ||||
| Mermaid Beach | Mermaid Beach | Gold Coast | ||||
| Miles | Miles | Western Downs | 1924 | |||
| Millaa Millaa | Millaa Millaa | Tablelands | 1927 | |||
| Millmerran | Millmerran | Toowoomba | 1933 | 2018 | ||
| Mingela | Mingela | Charters Towers | ||||
| Miriam Vale | Miriam Vale | Gladstone | ||||
| Mitchell | Mitchell | Maranoa | ||||
| Miva | Miva | Gympie | 1928 | |||
| Monto Bancroft | Monto | North Burnett | ||||
| Moonford | Moonford | North Burnett | ||||
| Moranbah | Moranbah | Isaac | ||||
| Morella | Morella | Longreach | ||||
| Morven | Morven | Murweh | ||||
| Mossman | Mossman | Douglas | ||||
| Mount Colliery | Mount Colliery | Southern Downs | ||||
| Mount Garnet | Mount Garnet | Tablelands | ||||
| Copper City Mount Isa | Mount Isa City | Mount Isa | ||||
| Mount Larcom | Mount Larcom | Gladstone | ||||
| Mount Molloy | Mount Molloy | Mareeba | ||||
| Mount Morgan | Mount Morgan | Rockhampton | ||||
| Centenary | Mount Ommaney | Brisbane | ||||
| Mount Perry | Mount Perry | North Burnett | ||||
| Mulgildie | Mulgildie | North Burnett | ||||
| Mundubbera | Mundubbera | North Burnett | ||||
| Muttaburra | Muttaburra | Barcaldine | ||||
| Nambour | Nambour | Sunshine Coast | 1928 | |||
| Nanango | Nanango | South Burnett | ||||
| Nelia | Nelia | McKinlay | ||||
| Nerang | Nerang | Gold Coast | ||||
| Nobby | Nobby | Toowoomba | 1925 | 2018 | First president was Sister Elizabeth Kenny | |
| Normanton | Normanton | Carpentaria | ||||
| Eton / Eton North | North Eton | Mackay | ||||
| Norwin | Norwin | Toowoomba | ||||
| Oakey | Oakey | Toowoomba | ||||
| Oakwood | Oakwood | Bundaberg | ||||
| Coomera | Oxenford | Gold Coast | ||||
| Oxley | Oxley | Brisbane | Day and night groups | |||
| Palmwoods | Palmwoods | Sunshine Coast | The hall was officially opened by Frank Nicklin on 27 November 1937. It cost. | |||
| Peachester | Peachester | Sunshine Coast | ||||
| Peak Crossing | Peak Crossing | Scenic Rim | 1935 | The branch meets at the Peak Crossing Public Hall. | ||
| Pentland | Pentland | Charters Towers | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Pine Rivers | Petrie | Moreton Bay | 1938 | |||
| Point Vernon / Pialba | Pialba | Fraser Coast | ||||
| Rosslea | Pimlico | Townsville | ||||
| Townsville | Pimlico | Townsville | ||||
| Beauaraba | Pittsworth | Toowoomba | ||||
| Port Douglas | Port Douglas | Douglas | ||||
| Prairie | Prairie | Flinders | 1930 | 2018 | ||
| Middle Ridge | Preston | Toowoomba | ||||
| Proserpine | Proserpine | Whitsunday | ||||
| Proston | Proston | South Burnett | ||||
| Quilpie | Quilpie | Quilpie | ||||
| Ravenshoe | Ravenshoe | Tablelands | 1925 | |||
| Richmond | Richmond | Richmond | ||||
| Ridgelands | Ridgelands | Rockhampton | 1937 | |||
| Rockhampton | Rockhampton | Rockhampton | 1923 | |||
| Roma | Roma | Maranoa | 1922 | |||
| Rosedale | Rosedale | Gladstone | ||||
| Rosewood | Rosewood | Ipswich | ||||
| Rosslea | Rosslea | Townsville | ||||
| Samford | Samford Village | Moreton Bay | 1964 | |||
| Nebo / Sarina Range | Sarina Range | Mackay | ||||
| Sarina | Sarina | Mackay | ||||
| Seaforth | Seaforth | Mackay | ||||
| Sandgate | Shorncliffe | Brisbane | ||||
| Silkwood | Silkwood | Cassowary Coast | ||||
| Southport | Southport | Gold Coast | ||||
| Brisbane City Night | Spring Hill | Brisbane | ||||
| Springsure | Springsure | Central Highlands | ||||
| Springvale / Kupunn | Springvale | Banana | ||||
| St George | St George | Balonne | ||||
| Stanthorpe | Stanthorpe | Southern Downs | 1923 | |||
| Sunnybank Coopers Plains | Sunnybank | Brisbane | 1953 | |||
| Tambo | Tambo | Blackall-Tambo | ||||
| Tannum Sands | Tannum Sands | Gladstone | ||||
| Tewantin Noosa | Tewantin | Noosa | ||||
| Texas | Texas | Goondiwindi | ||||
| Thallon-Daymar | Thallon | Balonne | 1957 | |||
| Thangool | Thangool | Banana | ||||
| Hermitage-Yangan | The Hermitage | Southern Downs | ||||
| Theodore | Theodore | Banana | closed | |||
| Tiaro | Tiaro | Fraser Coast | ||||
| Tin Can Bay | Tin Can Bay | Gympie | ||||
| Tinana | Tinana | Fraser Coast | ||||
| Tolga | Tolga | Tablelands | 1925 | |||
| Toogoolawah | Toogoolawah | Somerset | 1923 | |||
| Toowong | Toowong | Brisbane | ||||
| Toowoomba | Toowoomba City | Toowoomba | 1923 | |||
| Toowoomba City Business Women | Toowoomba City | Toowoomba | ||||
| Townsville | Townsville | Townsville | 1923 | 2018 | ||
| Tully | Tully | Cassowary Coast | 1926 | |||
| Boyne Valley | Ubobo | Gladstone | 1935 | 2018 | ||
| Upper Lockyer/Withcott | Upper Lockyer | Lockyer Valley | ||||
| Upperstone | Upper Stone | Hinchinbrook | ||||
| Urangan | Urangan | Fraser Coast | ||||
| Valentine Plains | Valentine Plains | Banana | ||||
| Victoria Hill | Victoria Hill | Southern Downs | ||||
| Wallangarra | Wallangarra | Southern Downs | ||||
| Walloon | Walloon | Ipswich | ||||
| Wallumbilla | Wallumbilla | Maranoa | ||||
| East Palmerston | Wangan | Cassowary Coast | ||||
| Condamine Valley Warwick | Warwick | Southern Downs | 1922 | |||
| Winton | Winton | Winton | ||||
| Upper Lockyer/Withcott | Withcott | Lockyer Valley | ||||
| Wondai | Wondai | South Burnett | ||||
| Wonglepong | Wonglepong | Scenic Rim | ||||
| Woodstock | Woodstock | Townsville | ||||
| Clontarf | Woody Point | Moreton Bay | ||||
| Woombye | Woombye | Sunshine Coast | 1967 | |||
| Wooroolin | Wooroolin | South Burnett | ||||
| Springbrook Mudgeeraba | Worongary | Gold Coast | ||||
| Bay Belles | Wynnum | Brisbane | ||||
| Yandaran | Yandaran | Bundaberg | ||||
| Yandina | Yandina | Sunshine Coast | ||||
| Blackbutt / Yarraman | Yarraman | Toowoomba | ||||
| Yeppoon | Yeppoon | Livingstone | Before August 1927 as Yeppoon Emu Park branch | |||
| Annerley-Yeronga | Yeronga | Brisbane | 1928 | |||
| Yuleba | Yuleba | Maranoa | inactive | |||
| Yungaburra | Yungaburra | Tablelands |