MID North Coast CWA Group held its annual general meeting at Gloucester Country Club on Tuesday, 27 October.
Gloucester Evening Branch hosted the event and delivered excellent catering for attendees representing 13 Mid North Coast branches.
Representatives from Hunter River, North Coast, and Wanthella groups also attended, as did State president Tanya Jolly and State secretary Bronwyn Dunston.
Group president Lyn Moore reflected on the highlights of the past year in particular the very successful CWA State Conference hosted by the group in Forster in May.
Group office bearers for International Issues, Agriculture and the Environment, Cultural activities, Cookery, and Publicity summarised the reports received from branches.
A representative from each Branch reported on their activities throughout the year, providing an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas.
Group Officer for Social Issues Yvette Smith encouraged branches to elect a Social Issues Officer, which is a new position.
The CWA has developed advocacy kits which address the need for maintenance of regional roads, fuel security, pest and weed management, aged care transport, dementia care, hospital staffing, and literacy support.
Domestic violence, homelessness and adequate access to the full range of health services, including mental health and maternity services, are other matters the CWA has recognised impact regional areas.
Guest speaker Georgia Laurie is a local cowgirl with a beef, who has embraced many opportunities, no matter how daunting.
She is on a mission to promote the Australian cattle industry internationally as she believes Australian beef has the safest quality.
Laurie, her brother Jack and their three cousins spent their formative years on the family property at Moppy, owned by their parents Ted and Alison Laurie, and Ted’s brother, James and wife, Annie.
She attended Barrington Primary School travelling one and a half hours each way.
Georgia attended PLC Pymble as a border for her secondary schooling where she proved to be a determined, capable student.
In Year Nine she convinced her school that the agriculture department needed two steers to expand the opportunities for those students who wished to pursue their agricultural studies.
“I was pleased to have the steers,” Laurie said.
“They gave me a bit of home and I was always happy to excuse myself from school when they required attention.”
Ten years on and the school still enters cattle judging competitions against agricultural schools like Yanko which Georgia proudly initiated.
While she’s an accomplished sportswoman, it’s cattle that hold her interest and passion.
She attended the University of Armidale where she studied cattle, genetics and meat science.
Georgia and Jack visited the United States to study the cattle industry there and she expressed her admiration for ranchers who had to deal with freezing conditions.
She was part of the Champion judging team for Angus cattle in the World Angus Forum
She is now a sales consultant for Breeder Genetics, a cattle judge for the Royal Easter Show and an integral part of the family cattle breeding business.
Laurie is a qualified pilot and owns a Cessna 182, which she flies to Roma to visit her partner, with her Corgi and a working dog as her flight crew.
She recalled the many hours she spent at Gloucester CWA Hall often with her grandmother, internationally renowned lace maker, Maree Laurie.
“The lace-making gene skipped me,” she quipped.
Laurie thanked the CWA for making the world a safer place for children and those who travel long distances on country roads.
It was acknowledged by members and delegates at the AGM that Georgia Laurie was a wonderful example of the young country women who are making an important contribution to Australia’s agricultural future.
By Marilyn SANDERSON
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