A group that was once regarded as Rotary in skirts has been forced to close its Collie branch. Lack of younger women to take over leadership roles was the proverbial last straw, according to some.
IT IS with a great deal of regret that the Collie branch of the Business and Professional Women Club (BPW) has decided to close because of diminishing numbers, increasing fees and, in some cases, ageing membership.
As a charter member and past club publicity officer and historian, Evelyn can look back on the club’s past 40 years with pride.
During 1969, a group of women from the high school, led by Hilda O’Keefe (then a member of the Melville BPW) and Hylda McNab put out feelers with the idea of forming a Collie BPW club.
The response was encouraging and in October the Collie BPW was formed.
As the only women’s club of its kind in Collie at that time, it attracted many women who could enjoy monthly dinner meetings with interesting guest speakers and a desire to support the advancement of women in both business and their private lives.
Of course, there were the occasional memorable fun nights as well.
Membership grew to more than 60 and splitting the club was considered. But the membership soon stabilised at a more workable number and the club was able to stay as one.
Over the years members attended international, national, state and regional conferences.
Collie hosted a very successful state conference in 1983. We were proud to have Gail Joyce elected as state president in 1990, a position she carried out with her usual efficiency.
Other members held positions on committees at state level.
Seminars on women’s issues were well attended, the formulation of other WA clubs was supported and the Collie club has enjoyed a close association with BPW the Donnybrook club.
In 1984, a survey was conducted to see if women would support a breast examination clinic.
More than 500 women completed the survey forms and the first clinic was held in September that year when 227 women were examined by health professionals.
The idea spread to other WA clubs then went nationwide.
The follow-on was the Government’s provision of the travelling “pink bus” which provides country women with mammography facilities.
Scholarships were awarded to business studies students at Collie Senior High School and TAFE College.
The Hylda McNab Award, named after club’s first president, was presented to deserving Collie women for many years.
Many other projects were undertaken with support being given to establishment of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, toy library, tree planting (most later eaten by rabbits), clean-ups etc. Hundreds of calico shopping bags were made and sold.
In recognition of the 1989 bicentenary year, the club commissioned Pat Pollard to create the stained glass window which adorns the corner of the Margaretta Wilson Centre dining room.
A statue in honour of the Collie pioneer women was also commissioned and placed in the gardens and a courtyard garden was established at Collie District Hospital.
Our thanks must go to the club stalwarts who helped to hold things together during the times when the club looked rather shaky
To name them would be risky with the fear of leaving someone out. They know who they are and we thank them sincerely for their support.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter