Community & Business
15 September, 2024
Leyburn QCWA celebrating centenary
Following on from the founding of the Queensland Country Women’s Association in 1922, spearheaded by Ruth Fairfax of Cambooya, many branches quickly sprung up on the Darling Downs and it will be the Leyburn branch’s turn in October to celebrate its centenary.
“Like so many branches within our Western District we not only celebrate QCWA turning 100 years but also, we celebrate and congratulate our new committees from our recent yearly AGMs with the dream of keeping these branches going into the next 100 years,” Leyburn QCWA Branch President Sheryle Wieden said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to Leyburn’s longest serving member Mary Hamblin, giving more than 50 years of dedication, taking on every role possible within a QCWA Committee in both Leyburn Branch and Border Division Branch.
“As Leyburn is such a small village it is hard to find the commitment or big memberships these days but with the few we have they are all dedicated to serving their community wherever possible and all having their own talents and personalities that work for our fun-loving association.
“We rely heavily on getting grants or doing fundraising to support our needs like paying the ever so necessary running cost or starting new projects like cooking low cost meals for the community
once a month or supplying morning tea to the community for the yearly memorial Anzac Day.
“Our monthly friendship cuppa days and doing crafts, etcetera will always be on our social calendar.
“In the last few years, we have been well supported with fundraising functions such as the ‘Recycle Fashion Show’, ‘Pretty in Pink Devonshire Teas’ along with the support from the yearly Historic Leyburn Sprints Benefit Fund and regular Friday night Royal Hotel raffles.
“With these fundraising functions we are able to return our gratitude to members past and present along with QCWA State Dignitaries, Local, State and Federal Government representatives and other special guest that have supported us over the years and will be welcoming them to our 100-year birthday celebration lunch to be held in our beautiful, ‘Sola’ powered air-conditioned hall on the 15th of October 2024.
“In short, we must look back and give thanks to those original 25 ladies back in December 1924 that held their 1st meeting in the Rauchle & Burnetts store until they could raise their first 25 pounds to buy 1½ acres of land in which the hall now currently sits.
“For full stories of both past and present along with some displays of the history of this QCWA Leyburn Branch, please come enjoy a visit to Leyburn and help us celebrate with a light refreshment and see how it all began.
“We will have an open afternoon from 1pm to 4pm Sunday 13th October to everyone with an interest in our history.”
Any enquiries should be directed to President Sheryle Weiden on0422 302 102.
