Community & Business
10 August, 2022
100 years of QCWA at Kingsthorpe
Last Wednesday, the Kingsthorpe Branch hosted a celebration to mark 100 years of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) serving the community.
At Brunch took place at the Kingsthorpe War Memorial Hall, which is next to the Branch’s rest rooms, and saw past and present members of the Darling Downs Division attend.
This also included past members from nine former branches - Acland, Biddeston, Cooyar, Haden, Jondaryan, Maclagan, Meringandan, Norwin and Upper Lockyer-Withcott.
Guests travelled from as far as Brisbane, Jandowae, Norwin and Warwick to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Darling Downs Division President Elaine Kieseker has been working on the QCWA executive for over a decade and has juggled the positions of State Vice President and now Division President.
“Not many organisations make it to 100 years,” she said.
“So it’s important we celebrate this achievement.
“What I love most about my job as Division President is going and meeting up with the community every day.
“Especially meeting up with the young mums and seeing the future generations who will help keep this organisation growing.”
Tomorrow (11th August 2022) will mark exactly 100 years since QCWA’s long history in Toowoomba began.
It was the Cambooya Branch where Mrs Ruth Fairfax, the first president, was elected in August 1922.
The organisation formed to improve the welfare of women and children in the country and has been monumental in establishing education facilities, student hostels, waiting mothers hostels, maternity and child welfare services and medical and hospital facilities, to name a few.
Although widely known for their tea and scones, QCWA members have always been ready to assist in other areas, such as wartime assistance and disaster relief.
The Kingsthorpe Branch has nineteen members, with the oldest member at 100 years of age and the youngest at just 10 years old.
The Branch’s longest serving member, Marie Ehrlich, has been with the branch for 73 years and
has four generations of family also registered as members.
State President Sheila Campbell said that whilst many things have changed over the years, the most important things like fellowship and sense of community have remained the same.
“We are very proud of the Association and all its achievements over the past century and today has been a lovely day of celebrating memories,” she said.
