Annette Turner is the new Country Women's Association of NSW president

But, after taking on the role of CWA of NSW president recently, loneliness should never be problem.

Annette took over the reins at this year’s CWA of NSW annual general meeting in Cowra, and she is ready to make her mark.

Annette said it was a big decision to take on the role of president, especially given the time it would take away from her family and home.

Annette and her husband of 40 years Barry run “Polpah Station”, 16 kilometres east of White Cliffs, running crossbred sheep on the 26,500-hectare property. They also run a software company called TWS.

Annette said her children, son Zane and daughter-in-law Louise, who run the property next door, and their children Keeley and Clancy, daughter Danika and son-in-law Martin and their children Finley, Max and Everly, and son Kieran, are all behind her in her new position.

“The kids have been very supportive,” she said.

“It was a big sacrifice on Barry’s part. He said to me ‘you have to do it’.

“He told me ‘if you have regrets, it should be for doing it, not for not doing it’.”

Annette said she first joined the White Cliffs branch of the CWA over three decades ago due to the isolation on the station.

“I was so lonely. I came from a close family,” she said. “We didn’t have electricity, and only had the old 32-volt appliances. We didn’t even have a phone in our house.”

Annette had worked in a number of fields, including teaching School of the Air, a dental nurse, a telecentre coordinator, workplace trainer and assessor, and even spent a month each Christmas running the post office, manual exchange, bank and weather station while the regular operators went on holiday.

“Then one day a neighbour asked me to go along to a CWA meeting and the rest is history,” she said.

Annette said she really enjoyed spending time with other women and the events they held, including holding international dinners and carrying out catering.

She said their catering became legendary, telling a story where a CareFlight pilot had flown a young girl back to White Cliffs and decided to stay put because he heard the CWA ladies were holding their schnitzel, coleslaw and pancake night.

“He was waiting, expecting old ladies to turn up, but instead all these young women in four-wheel drives zoomed in. It was very funny,” she said. “It was a day off for us girls to go in.” 

“I really enjoyed it and it wasn’t long before I was secretary.”

Taking on roles including cultural, international and handicraft officer for her branch helped cement Annette’s love of the organisation even further.

Five years ago she chose to represent the Darling River group on the executive, and then became state vice-president for two years before taking on the top job.

With the setting up of the new state office in Mascot complete, Annette has other aims to focus on.

“We would like to concentrate on building membership,” she said.

“Anyone can join and it is a great organisation to be a part of. It has respect.”

She said the organisation would also build on its strength in lobbying.

“The CWA aims that were set down in 1922 are still as relevant today,” she said.

She said with roughly 10,000 members in 400 branches across the state, as well as executive and state office bearers, the organisation has plenty to contribute.

“We have 10,000 eyes and ears on the ground,” she said. “Our members are passionate, intelligent, and they are across many areas.”

Annette said despite the fact her main interest is technology, health and environment, she is passionate about all aspects of the community.

Despite the perceived role of the CWA being centred around tea and scones, Annette said the organisation has a lot to offer, supporting research and giving grants, including the $277,000 grant the CWA of NSW gave the Salvation Army recently.

“Though tea and scones are a great conversation starter,” she said.

With rural and remote areas seeing a loss of services and a trend towards people moving towards more populated areas, Annette said the CWA is now more important than ever.

“When I first moved out to White Cliffs, there were no services, no technology and it was lonely,” she said.

“Now it seems to be happening again. It is cyclic.”

Her first weeks in the role have already been busy, including a visit to NSW Parliament House with past president Tanya Cameron and CEO Danica Leys to meet with a number of ministers to introduce herself.

“It was great to make contact. As I said to them, ‘we are your eyes and ears, please make use of it’,” Annette said.

Annette has been busy making her way through many emails and phone calls, as well as making plans to head to the Associated Country Women of the World conference to be held at Warwick University in the UK in August. The organisation has nine million members.

Annette said as she embarks on her journey as president, she is thankful for Mrs Cameron’s guidance.

“I am absolutely so fortunate that Tanya Cameron is there to help me,” she said.

“That was one of my concerns when I was first considering taking on the role – could I fill Tanya’s shoes. 

“She has been a great role model, and she has done such a good job.”