The obligatory 'Happy Birthday' was followed by a birthday cake, made by Jessie Quigley and cut by Josie Dunbar and a celebratory afternoon tea for members and guests.

Afternoon tea, cream cakes and scones aside, a more serious aspect of CWA was evident at the recent State Conference held in Tamworth when members from all over NSW debated and then voted on motions to be considered at executive level before being presented to the relevant government bodies for legislation.

Among the issues debated at conference was that relating to the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes only. 

Defeated at conference a number of years ago, a more intensive study and research into the merits of this motion for the Tamworth conference resulted in a successful presentation by Hermidale branch. 

The adoption of this motion at State level paves the way for CWA executive to lobby government bodies to legislate in favour of legalising this drug for medical use.

High on the agenda of CWA is improvement to the lot of families, especially families in rural areas, many of whom are still suffering the ravages of drought. To this end, CWA of NSW has, in the past 12 months, donated $50,000 to drought-affected areas of Queensland.

Medical research also benefited from a donation of $36,000 to the Crohn's Disease Research Foundation. 

Each year, medical research projects are chosen, researched and debated before one is accepted for support by the association. 

The successful medical project for 2015 is Lyme Disease, a painful and debilitating disease, difficult to diagnose and not widely recognised by the medical profession as being contractable in Australia.

The next branch meeting will be held on Thursday, July 9. 

On the agenda for discussion at this meeting is the Sheep and Wool Field Day to be held on August 6 and the Group Council Meeting at Nyngan on July 28. The Group Cultural Day to be held at Warren this year promises to be a memorable and fun-filled day for members and invited guests.