Centenary of the Country Women’s Association

Overview

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is a collection of independent state- and territory-based associations. Each is a-political, non-sectarian and not-for-profit and seeks to improve conditions for country women as well as children, families and communities.

The first CWA (the CWA of New South Wales) formed on 20 April 1922, during an open conference for country women, which was organised to get a “country women’s union of help” off the ground. Grace Emily Munro MBE (1879–1964) became the CWA’s foundation president, working tirelessly (including lobbying government for maternal health centres, hospitals and schools) until ill-health forced her retirement. Awarded the MBE in 1935, Grace Munro died in 1964. By that time, the CWA had spread throughout Australia and into Papua New Guinea, with branches in cities as well as in country districts. The rest of the mainland states had formed associations by 1929, followed by a branch in the Northern Territory, in 1933, an association in Tasmania, in 1936, and a branch in the ACT, in 1946.

There are an estimated 21,000+ CWA members nationally in some 1,146+ branches. Each association undertakes advocacy and community work, while also creating a support and social network for women, particularly in remote areas, and fundraising includes sales of iconic scones and cookbooks. The CWA’s valuable work is still guided by the long-standing motto “... Service to the Country, Through Country Woman, For Country Women, By Country Women”.

Read our interview with CWA of NSW President Stephanie Stanhope.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 26 April 2022
Issue withdrawal date: 31 October 2022
Denomination: $1.10 x 1
Stamp design: Stacey Zass
Product design: Stacey Zass
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell Red Phos.
Printer: EGO
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size (mm): 26 x 37.5
Sheetlet size (mm): 151 x 101
Perforations: 14.6 x 13.86
Sheet layout: Sheetlet of 10
FDI Postmark: Bingara NSW 2404
FDI withdrawal date: 25 May 2022

Stamp in this issue

$1.10 - Centenary of the Country Women’s Association

The stamp design takes a historical, layered approach. The main background image, from the collections of the Australian War Memorial, depicts members of the CWA’s Sydney Branch packing sheepskin vests for distribution to Australian forces during World War II. This symbolises the practical, hands-on community work that typifies the CWA. The photographic portrait is of founder, Grace Munro MBE. The date span is presented in a circle that has an enamel effect, as a nod to the iconic membership badge. The background microtext is taken from an early “aims” documents, which highlights the organisation’s central purpose of improving the welfare of women and children in the country. A shortened version of the CWA motto appears in the bottom-left corner.

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Gallery

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Centenary of the Country Women’s Association stamp

Shop our stamp collectables

Single Centenary of the Country Women's Association Gummed Stamp

The single Centenary of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) $1.10 gummed stamp is designed by Stacey Zass.

Centenary of the Country Women's Association Sheetlet Pack

The Centenary of the Country Women's Association sheetlet pack contains the sheetlet of 10 x $1.10 stamps from the stamp issue presented in a high-quality folder.

Sheetlet of 10x Centenary of the Country Women's Association Stamps

This gummed sheetlet contains 10 x $1.10 stamps from the Centenary of the Country Women's Association (CWA) stamp issue.

Centenary of the Country Women's Association Maxicard

The Centenary of the Country Women's Association maxicard is a prepaid postcard with the single stamp from the stamp issue affixed and postmarked on the view side.