QCWA Salutes Rural Spirit - FULL ARTICLE
Excerpt from Sumpton’s Gold Rush Gazette - Friday 24th of October 2025
The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) celebrated International Day for Rural Women on 15 October, recognising the vital contributions of women who live and work in regional communities.
QCWA’s local branch used the occasion to highlight the essential roles rural women play in food production, environmental care, and community wellbeing across Queensland and beyond.
The QCWA’s recognition served as a reminder of the strength, leadership, and resilience that continue to define the women at the heart of rural life.
Read the full statement by the QCWA local branch about International Day for Rural Women by publicity and marketing officer Jenny Potter.
Jenny Potter and Gloria Battle at the 100 years of the Charters Towers QCWA exhibition featured at The World Theatre in 2023
Statement from QCWA Charters Towers Branch Publicity and Marketing Officer Jenny Potter
For over a century, the Charters Towers Branch of the QCWA has demonstrated ongoing commitment to supporting rural women and their families. In 1923, members contributed to fundraising efforts for the establishment of the first seaside cottage at Kissing Point in Townsville. These cottages were specifically constructed to provide country women with the opportunity to bring their children to the seaside for recreation and health benefits. The QCWA units located on The Strand continue to serve rural families to this day.
Our local branch is dedicated to securing funding for medical assistance to benefit rural families. Through annual contributions, we provide support to agencies such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Angel Flight, Gluyas Lodge, and Ronald McDonald House. Our guest speaker at our 2025 AGM was Rodney Battle, a dedicated volunteer pilot with Angel Flight, such a worthy organisation that is providing a lifesaving service to our rural families.
International Day for Rural Women
An excerpt from the QCWA Facebook page
This International Day for Rural Women, the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) acknowledges the many girls and women who live and work in rural communities. Our Association honours their commitment to community, their passion for caring through craft and cooking, their resilience and strength in the face of disaster and their leadership and dedication to support diversity and tradition. They are mentors, leaders, custodians and carers. We honour those women who are the backbone of our families, our towns, our government and our industries.
Much closer to home, our branch actively supports our own rural women, with a quarter of our members living outside town. We schedule meetings on weekdays to help them balance their business chores and socialising. Our Christmas party is now a lunch instead of a dinner, making travel safer. Meetings are sometimes held at cattle properties, giving town members insight into rural life. Town members often host rural visitors needing accommodation. We prioritise care and support for out-of-town members.
The outlook remains positive as we continue to recognise and support the significant contributions of women in the agricultural sector and in rural health and care systems. The Charters Towers Branch is actively exploring additional initiatives to strengthen health, education, and safety within the community. Current efforts include establishing a Citizenship Award for primary school students in local area schools, advocating for increased reimbursement under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, and endorsing learn to swim and water safety programs for children from rural areas.
QCWA acknowledges the commitment, leadership, strength and resilience of country women make not only internationally, but also nationally and especially locally.