Attendees on the CWA South West Group Day.
Boorowa Ex-Services & Citizens Club was host to the C.W.A. N.S.W. South West Group on Saturday, the 5th of July, where an international, cultural, agricultural and environmental day was held.
The areas of study for CWA NSW this year are the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Frogs and Saltbush – to that end, the group prepared a day that had speakers presenting facts of Australian Fauna, Flora, and Culture.
Chef, Joe Duffy, prepared a wonderful Korean food menu. Members shared interesting facts about Korea and the culture. Janice Ward, South West Group Agricultural and Environment Officer, introduced the guest speakers.
Local artist Kristen Gri-fiths featured, with her presentation about her art inspired by vulnerable or endangered species. Kristen described various species of plant, insects, and frogs using an image display. The Tarengo Leek Orchid is only found in six small sites in NSW and the ACT – one is near Boorowa. This orchid grows in open sites with natural temperate grassy woodland at the Boorowa and Delegate sites. This very tiny orchid flowers in October and is threatened by habitat loss due to grazing, being retained only at little-grazed travelling stock reserves. Among the many species that are under threat is the Golden Sun Moth, Perunga Grasshopper and Southern Greater Glider.
Kristen presented her drawings, etchings, and paintings of several endangered species. Frogs were also discussed – The Booroolong Frog lives in streams and needs a permanent flow of water. Discussion was held about the Frog ID website and mobile app. Kristen applies her artistic talent using paint and etching processes and is currently using a printing and etching press at the Boorowa Museum, and she invites people to visit her at the museum on Thursdays and Saturdays, to watch or participate in the process.
Native plant grower, Sally Atkinson, who has a farm and Australian Native Plant Nursery at “Woolaroo” between Young and Wombat, talked about the various plants she raises. Interestingly, many species are West Australian plants – the climatic situation is similar, especially in the south west, but they need drainage in our area. Many plants are grown for the cut flower market and examples were given of architectural plants.
Sally started her work with the family farm in 2018, where many tube stock natives had been planted twenty years ago, and she has progressed to a greenhouse with forestry tubes and is planning a new hoop house next year. She has a dream of 2 hectares of flowers on her farm! She described how some banksias need smoke to germinate, and that many plants can only be grown from cuttings.
“Woolaroo” is not open to the public. You will find Sally at her “Woolaroo Farm” stall at the markets in Yass, Murrumbateman, Cootamundra and Harden. She supplies florists with seasonal cut flowers, foliage, and plants.
South West Group Cultural Officer, Norma Power, provided light relief with a game of rhyming pairs and had some interesting general knowledge facts to share.
CWA Boorowa Branch and South West Group International Officer, Virginia Keighley, presented interesting information about the Korean cultural drive with education and literacy to honour the family. The Education systems focus on S.T.E.M. programs. Examples of such technology projects developed are robots that direct people to apply a face mask and sanitise.
Other programs dis-cussed were a software package that warns people when a heart attack is imminent. Another that is being developed is a tablet for vision-impaired users. Virginia also provided film of the “Last of the Sea Women”, which described the gathering of food from the sea and discussed the pollution from the radioactive material from another country affecting the quality of the sea waters.
Young Branch International Officer, Maureen Nation, gave an ‘on screen’ photographic display of her recent trip with her partner to South Korea. She described the daily Changing of the Guard at the Palace as a magnificent event.
Other images shown and described included The Peace Bell, the Freedom Bridge, and the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) and areas of industry and shipping. Maureen provided a video KOOPS PERFECT music/dance (Just Dance 4 – Psy – Gangnam Style) that members in the room could participate in and were judged on their efforts. Laughing and gyrating in dance light-ened the room immediately.
Then came the paper craft. Maureen showed the room a piece of paper that she had made when in Korea. She invited members of the group to participate in bookmark making using various resources provided. The bookmarks were judged.
The event finished with a poem read by Norma titled “What a Day” from the State Cultural Competition and a group photo.
-Robyn Atherton, Cultural Officer, CWA NSW Harden Branch