The Country Women's Association (CWA) is the largest regional and rural advocacy group in Australia. It comprises seven independent State and Territory Associations, who are passionate advocates for country women and their families, working tirelessly to ensure robust representation to all levels of government on issues that impact their communities. The organisation is self-funded, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. History The first Country Women's Association in Australia was formed on 20 April 1922 at a bushwomen's conference held in Sydney, to coincide with the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The three-day conference was organised by a committee formed by The Sydney Stock and Station Journal women's editor, Florence Gordon, with support from her newspaper and Sydney politician Dr Richard Arthur, who first conceived the idea of the conference in 1919 because of growing concerns about the poor quality of life and limited services available to women and children living in the country. The organising committee was chaired by Grace Emily Munro who was elected founding President of what became the Country Women's Association of New South Wales. The Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) was formed five months later, in August 1922, at another bushwomen's conference held in Brisbane. Its founding president was Ruth Fairfax, who played a remarkable role in the development of the CWA in both Queensland and NSW, and the Associated Country Women of the World. The CWA of Western Australia followed in 1924. South Australia followed in 1926, initially as the "Burra Country Women's Service Association" with Mary Jane Warnes as its founder and first President. A metropolitan branch was formed in Adelaide in 1928. The CWA of Victoria was formed in 1928, and the first branch in the Northern Territory was created in 1933, with the CWA of Tasmania following in 1936. During the depression years, the CWA helped those in need with food and clothing parcels. During World War II, CWA played a significant role in supporting the war effort, establishing a reputation for being reliable at a time of national crisis. Members made tens of thousands of camouflage nets and sheepskin vests for the military, reconditioned uniforms, knitted and baked comforts for the troops, catered for troop trains and recreation huts, and established the first Servicewomen's Club in Sydney. In Sydney, they supplied volunteers on Mondays at the St Andrew's Cathedral recreation hut. In 1992, the CWA of Australia was awarded the RSL Anzac Peace Prize in