FEW things can get the better of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW but the weather is one of them.
In this case, a thick fog settled across Tamworth on Monday morning and delayed a flight bringing key speakers for the opening day of the 93rd CWA state conference, being held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre this week.
NSW CWA patrons, NSW Governor General David Hurley and his wife, Linda, along with NSW chief scientist, Professor Mary O’Kane, were all on that flight.
The group had been expected for the opening session, attended by close to 1000 conference delegates, partners and observers, which was to start at 9am, however, fog delayed their arrival until about noon.
Once he was able to deliver his opening address, General Hurley paid tribute to the CWA and the “important role” the association upholds at the forefront of issues affecting rural and remote people today, and thanked members for inviting him and his wife to be patrons of the organisation.
General Hurley said this year’s conference theme - refresh, renew, regenerate - resonated with him.
As the holder of the oldest public position in the state, General Hurley said it was a challenge to keep the position of NSW Governor “alive” and relevant today.
“The value of the role has to be recognised by the people as being relevant,” he said.
“You (the CWA) are in the same place – it’s easy to rest on your laurels but change and self review are needed because resting on your laurels will only give you a bleak outlook,” he said.
“You’re doing the right thing - you need to remain relevant in rural communities and have a voice in future policy discussions.
“Your challenge is to keep CWA alive for future generations.”
General Hurley acknowledged the CWA’s continuing battle for rural people affected by drought, floods, isolation, changes in the delivery of services, and those dealing with mental health issues.
“You are the front line in this battle - holding families together in times of crisis,” he said.
“As your motto indicates, you are initiators, fighters and lobbyists.
“You face new challenges but have new ideas in this room and I have great faith in your association based on your track record - you put hard issues on the table that wouldn’t be talked about.”
NSW chief scientist, Professor Mary O’Kane presented the key note address which outlined the complex process behind the comprehensive review she undertook in 2013, at the direction of former Premier Barry O’Farrell, into coal seam gas (CSG) activities in the state, focusing on the human health and environmental impacts.
Speaking later, Professor O’Kane said she had wanted to give people a sense of the tools and technology used to test the review.
She said the CWA had provided important input into the review, and it’s 16 recommendations were now being implemented.
“The CWA gives rural women a forum to discuss issues such as CSG in a safe environment,” Professor O’Kane said.
“Women are very important in the discussion and CWA has been among those leading the debate, raising issues and wanting to find a way forward.”
During the delayed morning session, state president, Tanya Cameron, Rowena, presented her annual report which highlighted the association’s activities during 2013-14, including detailing where many CWA funds had been spent.
Supporting women and communities both in Australia and overseas remains a key CWA focus, she said.
Following the destruction Typhoon Haiyan left in Philippines in November 2013, Mrs Cameron said CWA donated $50,000 to Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) to assist in the organisation’s efforts to provide urgent medical aid.
In November 2014 a further $50,000 went to support the MSF efforts in West Africa during the Ebola epidemic.
Mrs Cameron said both of these donations were in addition to the CWA’s annual donation of $10,000 to MSF.
CWA also this week donated $50,000 to assist the aid efforts in earthquake affected Nepal.
Aside from overseas humanitarian grants, the CWA awarded more than $50,000 in student grants, along with Bush Bursaries administered by the Rural Doctors Network, and to the association’s medical research project, the Crohn’s Disease Research Foundation.
In total CWA of NSW raised and donated more than $1 million to projects in the 2013-14 financial year.
Deputy chairmam of the NSW Farmers Pork Committee and the 2014 NSW-ACT RIRDC Rural Women's Award runner up, Edwina Beveridge, and executive officer of Rape and Domestic Violence Services, Karen Willis, will be guest speakers for day two of the conference on Tuesday.
Founder and co-chief executive officer of 1 Million Women, Natalie Isaacs, will outline the organisation's campaign reduce greenhouse gas pollution on Wednesday, while the conference wraps up on Thursday with a gala dinner.