Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke recently visited the heritage CWA rooms in Barellan to present the hardworking committee with a grant to help them put decades’ worth of history on proud display.
Ms Cooke secured $9,000 funding through the Minister for Women, Tanya Davies, to install two cabinets in the iconic rest house.
“Barellan’s CWA Rest House was the first purpose-built CWA rooms in the entire country, and they certainly have some stories to tell,” Ms Cooke said.
“It’s my absolute joy to be able to assist this hardworking branch to put some of their wonderful historical items on proud display and keep others safe.”
Barellan Branch Secretary Judy Findlay said the storage would house both paperwork that is in current use, as well as archival material.
“Some of our archival material includes irreplaceable minute books dating back to the formation of our Branch in 1922, as well as original documents relating to the erection of the Rest House itself,” Mrs Findlay said.
“The second cupboard would contain historical articles, which we are unable to display at the moment.
“These include items from the CWA baby clinic, which date back to the 1930s and were used until the clinic closed in the 1980s.”
Minister for Women Tanya Davies commended the Barellan branch of the Country Women’s Association for their ongoing commitment to supporting the local community.
“Women supporting other women and building connectedness is so important, and I’m thrilled to be able to support the extraordinary legacy of the Barellan CWA on behalf of the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government,” Mrs Davies said.
The cupboard will also be used to store items from the local branch of the Red Cross and the local Aged Care homes, who also use the rooms.
