CWA Central Western Group president Margaret Brown said the awards recognised significant service for women who had been members for more than 30 years.

“You can’t just be a member and live for 30 years,” she said.

“Some of these ladies have been president or secretary, but there are also those who pack up furniture after meetings, bring food or wash up.”

David Bigg sponsored the life memberships because his mother was also a life member of the CWA.

“Mother was really chuffed with her life membership and I am sure she would be extremely pleased, as I am, with the new life members [who have been] recognised,” he said.

Receiving life membership awards were Patricia Pearce, Betty Lawrence, Florence Nash, Gillian Stone and Jill McDonald.

Florence can’t remember exactly when she joined the CWA, but she guesses it was 40 or 50 years ago.

Although she’s never been president, she has held positions of assistant treasurer, vice-president, booking officer and delegate, and she is a patron of the branch.

“I think the friendship would be my favourite thing,” she said.

“There’s companionship, it teaches you to work in a group and the group takes care of its members.”

Four women also received long-service awards, and these were Virginia Cullane, Dorothy Balcomb, Audrey Farley and Jean Wythes.

The Canowindra CWA branch has been running for 83 years.