Community & Business
24 July, 2025
Big day of QCWA business and a significant milestone recognised
Five Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) Annual General meetings were held in one location on Saturday as members of the Highfields, Kingsthorpe and Beauaraba branches joined with the choir and Handcraft group at Kingsthorpe War Memorial Hall on Saturday, as Kingsthorpe member Betty Weedon also celebrated 60 years of membership.
The Highfields, Kingsthorpe and Beauaraba (Pittsworth) branches have for a few years held their Annual General Meetings together. This year was Kingsthorpe’s turn.
Guest speaker Julie from the Toowooomba Women’s Shed spoke about the work of her group in supporting children in need through the creation of baby blankets and book bags.
A busy day was made busier when the Darling Downs District Handcraft Committee, and QCWA Choir asked to add their meetings to the schedule.
The QCWA choir visits aged care and nursing homes in Toowoomba on a weekly basis, providing musical entertainment to those who don’t often get a chance to leave home.
The discipline of handcraft can take many forms.
The QCWA website explains that it can include embroidery to macramé and felting to beading.
Outside of the formality of the meetings, a significant milestone was recognised with the celebration of 60 years of QCWA membership for one special member.
Betty Weedon began her QCWA journey with the now defunct Maclagan branch, moving to the Meringandan branch (also now closed) and continuing with the Kingsthorpe branch today.
In an age where the values of volunteering and service are diminishing, the commitment of QCWA is to be commended.
Many QCWA members have connections going back generations. Kingsthorpe Secretary Roseanne Fritz has connections going back to the very start of the QCWA with her great-grandmother forming part of the inaugural Booyal branch (Booyal is located in between Childers and Gin Gin).
Other newer branch members join without prior experience of the organisation, coming to learn from older women, and provide their varied skills and talents to the benefit of their local communities.
