Hands Around the South Pacific

Over 300 Country Women’s Association (CWA) members from around Australia and the South Pacific Region will meet in Ballarat this week to attend the 2005 South Pacific Area Conference.

The Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Women’s Issues, Senator Kay Patterson, allocated $5000 in funding from the Office for Women towards this important conference.

“This conference gives women the opportunity to discuss environmental, international affairs and Indigenous culture, issues impacting on all women’s lives,” Senator Patterson said.

“The CWA of Australia is the largest women’s organisation in the country, there are arms of the CWA in almost every small country town and community across Australia, which boast membership of around 44,000 in
1855 branches.

“The CWA aims to improve the conditions for country women and children and aims to improve the quality of life for women and their families, especially those in rural and remote areas.

“For 50 years the CWA has been supporting Australian women and the Howard Government is committed to continuing to support an organisation with such strong relationships with diverse women from around this country,” Senator Patterson said.