The RSL Club room looked amazing, providing a welcoming festive atmosphere. We were welcomed by Ungarie branch members and treated to delicious morning tea and after lunch treats. Ariah Park members held a wonderfully stacked stall of Christmas goodies.

The meeting opened with the National Anthem, the CWA motto and a minute’s silence for past members and members unwell at this time.

President Tina Billing outlined some of the State CWA Structure Review, with upcoming events, including the catering for the Royal Easter Show, and announcing the primary product for 2018 as pomegranate.

Group officers presented their reports which included the flora and fauna studies for 2018, being owls and orchids, the foe; deer and kangaroo and the alligator weed.

International officer Sue outlined the role of ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) in our local branches, and introduced Republic of Poland as the 2018 country of study, with many interesting facts and features.

Our very innovative cultural officer Helen, challenged members with holiday homework;  to find as many words for next meeting, from palindromes, words that spell forwards and backwards,and semordnilap, becomes a new word when spelled in reverse, eg. decaf/ faced.

CWA members were fortunate to have Bernadette Carroll from Relationships Australia, based in Wagga, who gave a presentation to promote Positive Action Against Gender-based Violence. "Orange The World " was supported by ACWW promoting 16 Days of Activism themed "Leave No One Behind ". 

Family and domestic violence can affect anyone, defined as conduct, that is violent, threatening, or coercive control, to cause a family member to be fearful. (Emotional, physical, verbal, social or sexual.) Recently White Ribbon Day campaign highlighted men standing against domestic and family violence. Both men and women in Australia experience substantial levels of violence.

Land Cookery also played a large part of the day, with the judge Judy Findlay from Barellan branch, commenting "the cookery was of a very high standard with forty entries."  She congratulated all participants and remarked on the superb rhubarb cakes. 

Margaret Smith from Bellarwi branch won the D Andrews trophy for the best fruit cake and also won the trophy for the most points.

Christmas wishes were extended to all  present, and a safe journey home.