Queensland Country Women's Association

The Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) is the Queensland chapter of the Country Women's Association in Australia. The association seeks to serve the interests of women and children in rural areas in Australia through a network of local branches. Established in 1922, local branches provide friendship and mutual support to their members while contributing to the betterment of life in their local communities. Over time, many branches have evolved to include support for wider issues such as domestic violence campaigns and fund-raising for international initiatives such as orphanages.

In 2019 the QWCA received a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government.

History
On 8–11 August 1922, the Brisbane Women's Club held an open conference for countrywomen in Brisbane's Albert Hall during the Exhibition (a time when many country people visited Brisbane). The conference was opened by Lady Forster, wife of Australian Governor-General and the Queensland Governor Matthew Nathan attended. On 11 August 1922, the outcome of the conference was to establish the Queensland Country Women's Association. Ruth Fairfax was elected the first president.

The first meeting of the Toowoomba branch was held at the Toowoomba Town Hall on 12 September 1922. Fairfax attended and spoke about the objectives of the organisation. The meeting resolved to hold a conference as soon as there were sufficient representatives to attend.

The objectives of the association were broad but included some specific items: 1. To improve welfare and conditions of women and children in the country 2. To draw together all women, girls, and children in Country Districts. 3. To bring opportunities for recreation and enjoyment within reach of all Members. 4. To encourage the active study of Local, Municipal and State affairs and to promote a wise and kindly spirit. 5. To improve educational facilities in the Country. 6. To secure better provision for the safeguarding of Public Health especially of children, and the securing of more adequate Medical and Hospital facilities for Country Districts.

There was a call for a design for a badge and the winner was Mabel Chandler of Burra Burri who proposed the letters CWA within a large letter "Q"; this design is still used as the organisation's logo. It was decided that the silver and royal blue should be adopted as the colours for the organisation. Many QCWA buildings or 'rest rooms' are painted royal blue and white to approximate the chosen colours.

In the 1930s the association held the motto "With loyalty to the Throne, service to the country, through country women, by country women, for country women". By 1950 this was given as "Honour to God, Loyalty to the Throne, Service to the country, Through country women, By country women, For country women".

A creed was also made:
 * I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
 * I would be friend to all—the foe—the friendless; I would be giving and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up—and laugh—and love—and lift.

Branches were grouped within a division, within the State body. Western Division included Roma and Trenhed. The Southern Region was rearranged by 1945 to form new divisions such as the Gympie and South Burnett. The new Maranoa Division looked after 29 branches including Dalby and Wandoan.

Queensland's Younger Sets were formed by April 1928 in Warwick, with the QCWA Bundaberg Younger Set established in mid-2008. Membership is for girls and women up to 25 years-of-age, although one set in 1930 allowed 'any girl or unmarried woman' as eligible for membership.

In 2012 the QWC celebrated its 90th birthday.

The Queensland chapter was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2013.

In 2017 the QWCA created its own perfume, '1922', to mark its 95th anniversary. It was released at 2017 Ekka and was developed by Damask Perfumery in Brisbane. The artwork and branding of the bottle was supplied by Brisbane watercolour artist Michelle Grayson.

In 2019 the QWCA received a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government.

In 2022 the QCWA celebrated their centenary year. As part of the celebrations, in early February, the Perth Mint launched a $1 coin commemorating the centenary in Queensland and New South Wales. Other intended events were ongoing displays celebrating the achievements of early members, and attending Parliament House and raising concerns affecting women and families across Queensland.

Branches
As at December 2018, the QWCA had over 240 branches throughout Queensland. The following list includes all branches active in December 2018, and some of the former branches. (Note, if dates of founding and disbanding are not known, dates of known activity/inactivity are used to assist in identifying actual founding/disbanding.)

Homes
Several CWAs maintained and built houses for the use of visiting members, including:


 * Brisbane: 'Linga Longa' seaside home, Lower Esplanade, Sandgate, purchased in 1925 by the Metropolitan Branch.
 * 'All members of the C.W.A., except those in the Metropolitan area, are eligible to spend a holiday at the home, but preference is always given to Western women and to sick and necessitous cases.'


 * Brisbane: 'Lota Cottage' seaside home, Lota, with views to Moreton Bay's islands, was donated by the family as a memorial to a Queensland pioneer, Mrs Mylne, in 1924;
 * Dalby: the 'Shack', Mount Mowbullan, Bunya Mountains, from 1928. By 1951, it was proposed to be sold due to the cost to maintain; It was managed by the Dalby District CWA.
 * Gold Coast: holiday cottage, Tamborine Mountain, by 1929;
 * Gold Coast: Southport Cottage, owned by the Saint George branch. The Broad Street building on stilts had four rooms and a sleep-out verandah, originally two cottages on Stradbroke Island, was in use by November 1936, but officially opened in January 1938;
 * Redcliffe, obtained by 1923, and the first-ever glimpse of the sea by members and families;
 * Townsville: Pioneer Women's Memorial Building seaside huts, Mitchell Street, Kissing Point, Townsville, by 1929. This included a 'sharkproof' enclosure for swimming;
 * Western: a 'tourist shack', Bandana station, Carnarvon Creek, with two bedrooms and three beds in each, a bathroom, kitchen, and laundry tubs. This was opened in September 1947, and maintained by the Trenhed branch.

Hostels
At the 1945 State Conference in Brisbane the two following resolutions carried: "That the QCWA adopt a hostel scheme throughout the State," and "Now that the Government has placed certain of the Western hospitals under board control, it would be a comfort to expectant mothers of the West if the Government would include hostels for these waiting mothers in the Hospitals Board scheme."

The following list does not include hostels managed, but not owned, by the QCWA.

Locations circa 1934

 * Burnett Street, Bundaberg (for boys)
 * Herbert Street, Goondiwindi
 * Stanthorpe
 * Albion Street, Warwick (for girls)

Locations circa 1941

 * Burnett Street, Bundaberg (for students)
 * Paulina McManus Memorial Home, The Esplanade, Cairns
 * Herbert Street, Goondiwindi
 * Albion Street, Warwick

Locations circa 1949

 * Alpha
 * Gregory Terrace, Brisbane (opened 1943 - formerly Holyrood Private Hospital)
 * War Memorial Students' Hostel, Richmond Hill, Charters Towers (for boys)
 * Herbert Street, Goondiwindi
 * Mary Tregear Women's Hostel, 84 Limestone Street, Ipswich [[File:Queensland State Archives 2843 Queensland Country Womens Association building used as childrens hostel Ipswich November 1946.png|thumb|West Moreton Division C.W.A. Students' Hostel for boys, 6 Milford Street, Ipswich Queensland. Previously part of Oakdale Private Hospital. November 1946 ]]
 * Students' Hostel, Brisbane Street, Ipswich (for girls)
 * Students' Hostel, Milford Street, Ipswich (for boys)
 * Lockyer Women's Hostel, Laidley
 * Shannon House, Eagle Street, Longreach
 * Mackay
 * Archer Street, Rockhampton (formerly St Kilda Guest House)
 * Roma (for boys) [[File:QCWA Hostel and Restroom, Archer Street, Rockhampton. Previously St Kilda Guest House. 1949.png|thumb|QCWA Hostel and Restroom, Archer Street, Rockhampton. Previously St Kilda Guest House. 1949]]
 * Roma (for girls)
 * St George
 * Stanthorpe (for students)
 * The Kathleen Parr Student Hostel, Tambo
 * 26 Mitchell Street, North Ward, Townsville
 * Tully
 * Palmerin Street, Warwick

Locations circa 1959

 * The Ainsley Templeton Hostel, Alpha
 * Ayr (for students)
 * Templeton House, Barcaldine Mothers' Hostel, Fir Street, Barcaldine
 * Callide Valley Hostel, Biloela
 * Margaret Young Mothers Hostel, Blackall
 * 52 Herbert Street, Bowen
 * 91 Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
 * Galatea Street, Charleville
 * Prior Street, Charters Towers
 * 1 Annie Street, Dalby
 * Kirby Street, Dirranbandi
 * Herbert Street, Goondiwindi
 * CWA Students' Memorial Hostel, Goondiwindi (for students)
 * Channon Street, Gympie
 * Mowbray Street, Hughenden
 * 5 Brisbane Street, Ipswich
 * Mary Tregear Women's Hostel, 84 Limestone Street, Ipswich
 * Byrne Street, Julia Creek
 * Rose Street, Kilcoy
 * 103 Kingaroy Street, Kngaroy
 * Lockyer Women's Hostel, William Street, Laidley
 * Shannon House, Longreach
 * Gordon Street, Mackay
 * Lloyd Street, Mareeba
 * Cambridge Street, Mitchell
 * Monto and District Students' Hostel, Monto
 * Isa Street, Mount Isa
 * Muttaburra
 * Nambour Students' Jubilee Hostel, Nambour (for students – opened 1951)
 * Archer Street, Rockhampton
 * St George
 * Railway Street, Stanthorpe
 * The Kathleen Parr Student Hostel, Tambo
 * Mallalieu House, Toowong
 * Memorial Hostel, Denham Street, corner of Walker Street, Townsville
 * Tully
 * Palmerin Street, Warwick
 * Winton Mothers' Hostel
 * Winton (for students)

Locations circa 1969

 * Chippendale Street, Ayr
 * Blackall
 * Herbert Street, Bowen
 * Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
 * ‘The Lodge’ Trainee Teachers’ Hostel’, Boundary Street, Brisbane
 * Galatea Street, Charleville
 * Cloncurry
 * 1 Annie Street, Dalby
 * Gayndah
 * McLean Street, Goondiwindi (for students)
 * Gympie
 * Mowbray Street, Hughenden
 * Great Road, Inglewood (opened November 1950)
 * Mary Tregear Women's Hostel, 84 Limestone Street, Ipswich
 * 5 Brisbane Street, Ipswich
 * Kilcoy
 * 103 Kingaroy Street, Kngaroy
 * Lockyer Women's Hostel, William Street, Laidley
 * 119 Crane Street, Longreach
 * 115 Kingfisher Street, Longreach
 * Gordon Street, Mackay
 * Isa Street, Mount Isa
 * Muttaburra
 * Archer Street, Rockhampton
 * Feather Street, Roma
 * Victoria Street, Saint George
 * Porphyry Street, Springsure
 * 69 William Street, Surat
 * Tambo
 * 20 Arthur Street, Toowoomba
 * Memorial Hostel, Denham Street, corner of Walker Street, Townsville
 * Palmerin Street, Warwick
 * Winton (for students)

Honours
In 1935 Fairfax was appointed an Officer of the British Empire in recognition of her service.

Alice Berry was promoted from Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire to Dame Commander (DBE) of the order on 1 January 1960 for "services to country women".

On 11 June 1960 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Honoria Christina Atherton was awarded the Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil) (Imperial) "in recognition of service to the Qld Country Women's Association."

On 9 June 2003 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Jean Eva Anderson of Ballater Station at Stamford was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her "service to the community of Hughenden, particularly through the Country Womens Association". She had given 52 years of service to the Hughenden branch. Her award was presented to her by the then Governor of Queensland, Quentin Bryce.