Bairnsdale Amaroo CWA held its October meeting recently at the Bairnsdale Bridge Club hall.
JoAnn gave her report on Romania, speaking about sports, the country very much into football, how it took part in seven FIFA World Cups and was most successful in 1990 and ranked third in 1997.
Romania has also won Olympic gold medals in many other sports.
Another national sport Oina, a variant of baseball, which is said to date back to 1782.
Lois made some hummus from chickpeas, a pulse which is the product of study, members had this with some biscuits.
Karen gave her report on craft where members made some calico teddies. JoAnn and Karen sewed them and the other ladies stuffed them.
The club will be catering at the Bairnsdale Show, together with Paynesville Toonalook and Orbost branches, an East Gippsland Group effort.
Donations given out throughout the year include group project for 2024, A Better Life For Foster Kids, as well as Australia Day awards, ANZAC wreaths, Bairnsdale SES, East Gippsland Specialist School, Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House, Lifeline Gippsland, EGASS, Travellers Aid, Southern Cross, RFDS and CWA Vic Emergency.
On behalf of the CWA Headquarters Charity Status, voluntary hours are recorded and valued.
These voluntary hours consist of office bearers running and attending meetings, knitting and making goods to go out to needy areas, catering, deliveries and pick ups from headquarters, working with the Cub Scouts, teaching knitting, making picture books for the care homes and making jam, helping out at the Bairnsdale Show, training at headquarters, food handling certificates, almoner visits to members who are not well.
Goods in Kind, such as bereavement bags and Aboriginal travel bags, have been delivered to Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Mother’s Day gifts to Maddocks Gardens, knitted teddies to Bairnsdale Pathology, items to Orange Door, rugs, clothing and toys to A Better Life for Foster Kids, scones to the library after dark suppers, and non-perishable items to Neighbourhood House’s Foodbank.
These items, some purchased, others hand-made and donated, valued at $5225.
The club has had a busy year and looks forward to the next, with meetings held in the bridge club hall the first Monday of each month at 9.30am for a 10am start. Visitors are welcome to join.