Ethel Constable 1938 – 2015
Bedgerabong farmer and hard-working local champion, Country Women’s Association and Western Districts stalwart, Ethel Joyce Constable died at Forbes on November 23, 2015, aged 77.
The fourth child to Marian Grace and James Arnold Constable, Ethel attended Bedgerabong Primary School, then gained the Leaving Certificate at Forbes High School before finishing a secretarial course at Sydney Business College.
After four years work in Sydney Miss Constable returned to the family irrigation property “Karringal”, Bedgerabong, to managed it for nearly 40 years producing lucerne, cereal crops, porkers, prime lambs and Poll Hereford cattle.
But it was at Bedgerabong where her love of the land emerged into community and rural service.
Miss Constable fully committed her energies and enthusiasm firstly at secretary of the Bedgerabong Junior Farmers Club then joining the Western District Exhibit team at Sydney Royal Show, an interest spanning some 50 years.
She was secretary of Bedgerabong Show Society for 10 years and later coordinator of the showgirl competition and chief steward of the flower section there and at Forbes show since 1960.
Soon after Miss Constable found another great interest, the CWA, in which she joined as a Bedgerabong branch member 56 years ago following her mother, a founding member.
For 20 years Miss Constable was the branch president and had filled every committee position beforehand while also president of the Oxley CWA Group and rising to state vice-president.
Her work towards the success of national and world CWA conferences was immense.
Miss Constable was awarded a CWA life membership for her huge contribution to the association from Ruth Shanks when she was state president.
Close friend, Audrey Hardman, Mandurama, also a state president, said Miss Constable loved everything about CWA.
“The aims and objectives, the ideals and principals, but most of all the friends she made and fellowship she enjoyed.
She had great pride in helping CWA raise some $1 million each year for worthy causes, but was most enthusiastic to support scholarships for country youth to further their education.”
Miss Constable won numerous prizes in the CWA/The Land Cookery competition state finals for her marmalade, jams and condiments with Mrs Hardman suggesting she was the marmalade queen of Australia.
At the 2014 Sydney Royal Show (her last) Miss Constable was honoured in the Parade of Champions for her contribution to the Show since the early 1960s.
Life memberships were also awarded her from Bedgerabong Show Society; Western District Exhibit Committee and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.