The Country Women’s Association (CWA) Cooma branch is forming a strong and lovely connection with the Cooma Multicultural Centre.

The Cooma CWA branch recently donated $1000 to the Cooma Multicultural Centre for the group to purchase seven sewing machines. The machines are used in the centre’s popular sewing classes, where women - who have mostly moved to Cooma from different countries - are learning how to make bags, dog coats and other items they can sell.

Cooma CWA members, Karen Clark and Kaye Anderson, recently visited the multicultural centre to present a $1000 to the sewing class and join the group’s chai and a chat gathering.

The chai, coffee and a chat program is a women’s only program where each woman gets to share something about herself and her culture, while practicing her English skills.

Mrs Clark and Mrs Anderson spoke to the group about the important role the CWA plays in regional and rural Australia and in Cooma. Mrs Clark informed the chai and conversation gathering that the CWA enjoys learning about a new country each year, has long advocated for improved health and social outcomes for regional women and supports many local organisations, including the Cooma Multicultural Centre.

Cooma Multicultural Centre co-ordinator, Yvi Henderson, thanked the CWA for its support.

“The generous donation has given us seven new sewing machines for our sewing class. We will be able to welcome more participants and deliver skills to more women of Cooma,” Mrs Henderson said.

“The Cooma CWA and our centre share a common goal, we are both trying to improve the lives of women here in Cooma and the region.”

Mrs Henderson shared a story about how the CWA assisted her family following her daughter having an accident near Townsville. Mrs Henderson had to rush to Townsville and was able to stay in CWA supported accommodation.

During the chai and chat gathering, Mrs Anderson informed the group the CWA has significant lobbying power with the NSW government. Motions supported at CWA state conferences are regularly picked-up by the state government, including Cooma’s motion in the 1990s to introduce 40km/h speed zones around schools.

The multicultural centre women were impressed with how active the Cooma CWA has been over the years, in particular its support of local schools, charities and international aid.

“The government listens to the CWA. We have about 8000 members across NSW, we are a large group the state government takes seriously,” Mrs Anderson said.

“We are a very active group here in Cooma and on the Monaro. We support groups from Vinnies, Salvos, the Community Chest and our Cooma schools.”

Within the chai and chat group, there are women from Bhutan, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, and Columbia. The group is run by Cooma Multicultural Centre team member, Melinda.

Chai and chat is held on Wednesdays between 10.30am and 12pm.