Guest speaker at the June meeting of Grafton CWA was Casey Hemming from Home Instead.

She gave an interesting and informative talk about the process involved in applying for a home care package and the services available. We were also given leaflets and booklets to take home and read. Jan Gillett, vice-president, presented her with a small gift as a token of our appreciation.

Also at the meeting, we heard a report from Lesley about the Bathurst Conference. The Conference started with an inter-faith service at the Cathedral on the Sunday night. The official opening on the Monday was by Gail Commens, ACWW Area President, South Pacific. Some of the guest speakers included Shanna Whan, founder of Sober in the Country and Australian of the Year Local Hero winner, also the Hon. Fiona Nash, Regional Education Commissioner, Det. Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside and Ann Brennan from the Rural Crime Prevention Team, NSW, and Mr Greg Sam, CEO Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Motions covering many different topics were discussed and voted upon in different Conference sessions. One motion that was carried as an area for lobbying was “for mandatory life sentences for the murder of law enforcement officers and frontline emergency and health workers and in addition for the NSW Government to revise and strengthen its policies and procedures to increase the personal safety of the same”. This was sent in by Coffs Harbour Branch.

Members were also able to look at displays of craft, cooking etc. We are looking forward to next year’s Conference, which is to be held in May in Coffs Harbour.

Grafton CWA meetings are held on 2nd Friday of each month in the CWA Rooms, cnr Duke and Pound Streets. Morning tea is at 9.30am, followed by the meeting at 10am. New members are always welcome.

Anne McLellan