Ukeladies turn it on at Thoona

Branch president Cathryn Irvine said the event went far beyond everyone just ‘having a good time’.

“They were extremely good,” she said.

“They play just for the joy of playing, and you can tell — it’s just what they do — and they play all the hits that we know, including some ABBA.

“The crowd said they want them to return next year.”

The event saw the Thoona branch donate $700 toward the Lions’ Need for Feed program, which is in its 18th year.

Need for Feed transports hay to farmers in response to flood, fire and drought throughout Victoria and NSW.

“And diesel’s quite expensive,” Cathryn said.

“So we added a bit more from our funds to bump it up to 700.”

The fundraising was just one of many programs the Thoona branch runs, which has included the recent donation of hand-made rugs to every nursing home in Benalla and Wangaratta.

“We do that each year as something to help communities,” Cathryn said.

“We have also given a case for people who foster children — it’s a case full of goods for a child who’s 12 years old.

“A lot of these children appear in the middle of the night with foster families, so we put in there some T-shirts, windcheaters, socks, jocks, toiletries and a rug.”

Cathryn also attended the state conference in Melbourne at the start of June with two other members, and lauded the speech given by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

“She did open her heart, she did, and all the things talked about at the conference all need to be brought out into the open.

“Homelessness, women’s health, food shortage and abuse.”

Branch member Jan James was inducted at the conference into the role of president of the Moira group of six CWA branches.

Pauline Macey was appointed the group’s new secretary and Cathryn, in addition to her branch role as president, was appointed the group’s treasurer.

“I wear a few hats in these communities.”

Read about the CWA state conference and what Ms Allan had to say at: https://www.countrynews.com.au/news/premier-opens-up-to-cwa/