South Australian Country Women's Association

A brief speech regarding the Country Women's Association a well known organisation throughout South Australia. It is one of the truly great service organisations in our community and deserves to be commended for its longevity and for its service to the people and the country women, in particular, of South Australia.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I would like to make a brief contribution in favour of this motion. The Country Women's Association is well known throughout South Australia. I reside in the hills, and a number of halls are dotted around the place where a number of groups have met. Sadly, I think in more recent years, due to dwindling numbers, some of the groups have had to close and I think this is a tragedy for South Australia, particularly for country South Australia. As some of the committees have heard in evidence, particularly in relation to post-natal depression, the isolation of women in country regions, whether or not they have children, can be quite acute, and I think this organisation provides a great human service and a very important fellowship which probably cannot be measured in economic terms but which certainly has an impact on the lives of women in South Australia.

As the Hon. Caroline Schaefer just prompted me a moment ago, they have provided significant fundraising for a number of important projects in South Australia. It is one of the truly great service organisations in our community and deserves to be commended for its longevity and for its service to the people and the country women, in particular, of South Australia.