The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory. (1961-)

Function
Lobby group
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-624063

Biographies

The Country Women’s Association of the Northern Territory is a non-sectarian, non-party-political, non-profit lobby group and service association working in the interests of women and children in rural areas. Although ostensibly non-party-political, in practice the group has tended to bolster conservative politics. The Association was officially formed in 1961, although the first branch had been formed in Alice Springs in 1933, with branches in Tennant Creek, Darwin and Katherine following soon after. The southern branches were originally affiliated with the South Australian CWA, while those in Darwin and Katherine were connected with the Queensland CWA. Archival Note: Since, prior to 1960, the Tennant Creek and Alice Springs Branches were managed by the South Australian CWA and the Darwin, and the Katherine and Darwin Branches were managed by the Queensland CWA, some records relating to these branches will be contained in the archives of those state organisations.

The first branch of the CWA in the Northern Territory formed in Alice Springs in 1933. The branch was initiated by a meeting organised by Mrs J. A. Perkins, a member of the CWA of New South Wales. Mrs V. Carrington was elected as first president. Its early activities focussed on building up a library – with books and periodicals being sent out to members on distant stations. By 1936 they had also began handicraft instruction, leading to a weekly craft market by 1960. During WWII, like most other branches, energies were redirected towards supporting the war effort, through fund raising and supporting groups such as the Red Cross, the Australian Comforts Fund and Food for Britain. In 1947 they purchased a hall, which was also used for a range of community activities and briefly as a pre-school.

The main early activities of the Tennant Creek branch revolved around organising social activities – Christmas parties, dances, bridge evening and the annual children’s fancy dress ball. During WWII they regularly organised entertainment and served refreshments to troops stationed in the area and raised fund to improve their accommodation. During the 1950s virtually every woman in town was a member of the group.

The Darwin Branch was formed in 1937 – although various individuals had been suggesting such a move for the previous decade. Its early activities included cooking and craft classes as well as fund raising stalls and raffles. Since almost all women and children were evacuated from Darwin soon after Japan entered the war, the branch ceased operations for the duration. In the postwar years the branch concentrated on philanthropic endeavours – supporting the leprsarium, visiting patients at the hospital, providing giving gifts of Aboriginal children. They also took an interest in issues relating to the lack of facilities in Darwin, particularly in the areas of health, education, housing and food supplies, as well as the need for welfare officers. In the 1950s the group concentrated more projects for its own members – particularly the building of rest rooms and organising social events and fundraisers. They also established the Outback Mothers Hostel in 1953 – for expectant mothers from remote areas to stay in town in close proximity to the hospital and to provide accommodation for rural women and children visiting or convalescing in Darwin.

The Katherine branched also formed in 1937. Despite the multiculturalism of the local popular, almost all members were white. The major early achievements of the branch were the establishment of a free lending library and the organisation of an annual Christmas tree for children. They also organised numerous social events. Women and children were also evacuated from Katherine in 1942 and the CWA did not reform until 1948. Their first efforts then were directed at fund raising to build a rest room and hostel – which was not realised until 1956. Racial issues were of acute concern to the group in the 1950s – with letters being written asking that ‘natives’ be separated from ‘whites’ on trains and in hospitals and schools. They also opposed the employment of married women in government service.

The initiative to form a separate Northern Territory organisation came from the Darwin branch. This had been mooted since 1947, with periodic discussions among the existing CWA branches in the territory continuing throughout the 1950s, which were eventually successful in 1951.

Territory-wide, from 1960-1990, much of the Association’s energy was taken up by property management. However, handicrafts were also promoted, and organisations concerned with children’s welfare and education were particularly assisted – including schools, pre-schools and crèches as well as clubs such as the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. In the 1960s, considering energy was devoted towards trying to recruit Aboriginal women, or to teach them domestic skills, with little success. Aboriginal women largely resisted these attempts at assimilation. The expansion of health services was also an issue of concern. Charitable activities too increased in the1970s. Committees were also formed to investigate current issues – including child abuse, affirmative action, euthanasia, the environment and taxation. The writing of local histories has also featured prominently in the activities of members.

By 1970 membership was 450 in 11 branches. This however, declined to 250 by 1980 and 120 by 1990.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory.

Selected resources (17)

Australian Women's Register

  1. The CWA -Country Women's Association- in Darwin after World War IINorthern Perspective 14 2 23-29 : The CWA -Country Women's Association- in Darwin after World War II
    Doran, Christine
    [1991]
  2. Constitution and rules of the Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory (Incorporated)
    Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
    [[1960?]]
    Published: The Association
  3. Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory: Information and history
    Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
    [[1994]]
    Published: The Association
  4. C.W.A. Calling
    [1962?-]
    Published: Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
  5. The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory: What it is, its purpose, membership, activities, history
    Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
    [[1985?]]
    Published: The Association
  6. Annual Report/Country Womens' Association of the Northern Territory
    Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
    [1959-]
    Published: The Association
  7. More than scones and tea: the CWA in the Northern TerritoryJournal of the Historical Society of South Australia 24 (89)-101 : More than scones and tea: the CWA in the Northern Territory
    Doran, Christine
    [1996]
  8. Women in Isolation: A History of the Country Women's Association in the Northern Territory, 1933-1990
    Doran, Christine
    [1992]
    Published: The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory
  9. Fifty years: 1922-1972
    [1972]
    Published: Queensland Country Women's Association
  10. Our First Forty Years: The South Australian Country Women's Association, Inc. Willunga Branch, 1947-1987
    Young, Bertha
    [1987]
    Published: The South Australian Country Women's Association, Inc. Willunga Branch
  11. Getting things done : the Country Women's Association of Australia
    Country Women's Association of Australia
    [1986]
    Published: The Association
  12. Country women : [history of the first seventy five years : the Queensland Country Women's Association]
    Pagliano, Muriel
    [1998]
    Published: Merino Lithographics
  13. The Many Hats of Country Women: The Jubilee History of the Country Women's Association of Australia
    Stevens-Chambers, Brenda
    [1997]
    Published: Country Women's Association of Australia
  14. The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory: The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory (1960 - )
    Minute books of defunct Branches, including some Aboriginal branches, 1930s-1980s (20 items) Visitors books, 1950s-1980s (5 vols). Correspondence relating to the early years of most Northern Territory branches, 1950s-1980s (15 folders). Newspaper cuttings, programs, photographs, histories and advertisements, dealing with branch members and events, 1950s-1980s (6 scrapbooks). Photographs of Northern Territory branch members and events, including a record of the establishment of the Outback Mothers Memorial Hostel in Darwin, 1953-1980s (6 albums). Minutes, 1960-1988 (28 vols). Annual general reports, 1960-1987 (27 reports). Financial records, 1960-1980s (1 filing cabinet drawer).
  15. John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection, State Library of Queensland: The Queensland Country Women's Association Records
    Boxes 6761-6827
    3282
  16. The South Australian Country Women's Association: Country Women's Association of South Australia (1924 - 1988)
    Photographs, newspaper clippings, letters and profiles of the founders of the Country Women's Association (CWA), 1924-1953 (4 folders). Minutes of current branches, groups and statse committees, 1926-1985 (12 metres of shelving). Report books of the State Committee of the CWA, 1929-1987 (1 metre of shelving). Correspondence, plans, minutes of the State Property Committee and branch property officers, 1931-1988 (3 metres of shelving). Certificates, photographs and sketches of the founders of the CWA and its activities, 1931-1984 (30 items). Minutes, receipts, accounts, donor lists of the Outback Relief Scheme, 1931 (1 packet). Minutes, scrapbooks, newspaper cuttings, maps and correspondence held by the Country Women's Association of South Australia relating to the Association of Country Women of the World, 1933-1988 (15 metres of shelving). Booklets noting the changes to the CWA constitution, 1934-1987 (1 metre of shelving). Minutes, notes and photographs of Handicraft Committee and the Schools of Instruction conducted over the years 1936-1988 (5 metres of shelving). Minutes and treasurers books of defunct branches, 1936-1988 (9 metres of shelving). Annual reports and newspaper reports regarding the Australia wide organisation, the Country Women's Association of Australia, 1936-1986 (1 metre of shelving). Minutes, directives, receipts for the making of camouflage nets, airmen's and merchant navymen's sheep skin vests, lifeboat slippers and mittens during the war, 1940-1945 (2 packets). Illuminated address books and the 'Book of Honour' dealing with luminaries in the CWA, 1941-1987 (3 vols). Details of fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, United Nations, National Trust, also includes surveys and submissions to Parliament as well as a history of the Northern Territory CWA, 1942-1988 (4 metres of shelving). Notes, minutes and correspondence regarding Housekeeping Scheme and flood relief during the 1956 flood on the River Murray, 1945-1980 (2 packets). Radio scripts and notes of radio broadcasts, 1949-1973 (1 folder). Publications relating to the history of the CWA in various country districts and on a State level, includes recipe books and home hints, 1950-1988 (2 metres of shelving). District and town histories prepared by branch members, 1951-1969 (8 folders). Photographs, press clippings, programs of Royal visits prepared by branch members, 1954-1956 (1 metre of shelving). Histories of branches and divisions, 1967-1987 (1 metre of shelving). Scrapbooks prepared by members in 1969 to mark the golden jubilee of the CWA in South Australia, material used dates from 1929 (2 metres of shelving). Newspaper clippings and photographs of various activities of the CWA, each volume devoted to a separate topic, 1969-1988 (22 vols). Correspondence and photographs relating to the preparation of branch banners, 1985 (1 metre of shelving).
  17. The Country Women's Association of the Northern Territory: Country Women's Association of Alice Springs (1933 - 1980s)
    Documents relating to the history of the Alice Springs branch of the CWA with considerable detail regarding people and including wartime activities, 1933-1959 (60-70 items). Correspondence in and out regarding issues such as establishment of CWA of the Air and School of the Air and various CWA places, events and peoples, 1940s-1980s (c800 items). Notes (original handwritten) from Constance Bradshaw, daughter of Thomas Bradshaw who was postmaster in Alice Springs Telegraph Station in early 1900s, regarding early life in Alice Springs, 1899-1908, undated, c1950 (1 item). Photographs used or considered for the Country Women's Association (CWA) history of Alice Springs first published in 1952, 1952-1970s (c50 items). Membership book, 1953-1973 (1 item). Correspondence regarding the history of the Alice Springs CWA-written history, including a letter from the then Director of Northern Territory Welfare (Harry Giese) regarding Aboriginal policy, 1959 (10 items). Minute book, 1965. Scrapbooks of programs, news articles, activities, transcripts, photographs regarding history of Alice Springs CWA, 1970s (1 book).

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