CWA Bairnsdale Amaroo held its monthly meeting on September 7 at the Bridge Club hall in Macleod Street, where members were welcomed by president Olivia Harwood.
The Sarsfield Fire Brigade recently visited Sarsfield Hall to deliver a presentation on fire readiness. During the event, East Gippsland CWA planted a tree featuring a commemorative plaque in honour of Kevin and Greta Perry, recognising the community’s ongoing recovery following the 2020 bushfires.
Kevin and Greta lost their home in the 2020 fires. Greta is a valued member of the Bairnsdale Amaroo CWA branch, while the broader community also installed a bench with a plaque for Kevin in acknowledgement of his dedicated work in bringing locals together.
During the meeting, JoAnn presented a feature on Canadian sports, highlighting ice hockey as the country’s official winter sport, governed by Hockey Canada. Other featured sports included lacrosse, recognised as the official national summer sport and soccer, which ranks highest for youth participation.
JoAnn noted that basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith and is represented professionally by the Toronto Raptors, while curling remains a highly popular precision sport across the Prairie Provinces. Skiing, snowboarding, running, swimming, golf, canoeing, fishing, mountain climbing, skating, bobsleighing and tobogganing were also featured.
Major professional leagues highlighted included the National Hockey League (NHL) — featuring iconic franchises such as the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks — as well as the Canadian Football League (CFL), and Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays.
The CWA’s Product of Study for 2026 is Australian wool. The first sheep arrived with the First Fleet in 1788, comprising 29 mixed breed and Cape fat-tailed sheep from South Africa intended for food rather than wool. In 1797, Captains Waterhouse and Kent, alongside settlers John Macarthur and Samuel Marsden, imported approximately 26 Merino sheep from the Cape of Good Hope, launching the industry. Australia quickly grew to become the world’s leading wool producer, making it a cornerstone of the national economy from the mid-19th century onwards.
Key historical milestones in the industry include John Macarthur sending the first bale of Australian wool to England in 1807, the first commercial wool auction in London in 1821, and the establishment of early commercial milling in New South Wales by 1852. The first Victorian woollen mills opened in Geelong in 1868, while Tasmania’s Waverley Woollen Mills opened in 1874 and remains the oldest operating mill today. Wool production expanded significantly during both World Wars to supply
uniforms and domestic clothing.
In welfare news, member Lois is currently caring for Helen, who has been unwell. Meanwhile, craft members continue to produce scarves, beanies, bags, and rugs to assist those in need across the region.
The next meeting of CWA Bairnsdale Amaroo will be held on Monday, October 5, with doors opening at 9.30am.
Sarsfield Hall. (PS)
