Many look forward to this time each year, eagerly awaiting the handicrafts schedule, the recipes for The Land competitions, and already some are carefully monitoring articles in the media on the various issues in agriculture and the environment, or preparing activities connected with the country of study.

The latter often including involvement in projects with local primary schools.

There are competitions for cooks, writers, poets, also painters, knitters, embroiderers, dressmakers, mosaic artists, doll makers, china painters, photographers … an almost endless list.

There is also a handicraft competition with prizes by The Land newspaper, most of these requiring the use of natural fibres. The Land Cookery contest also is conducted by the CWA of NSW.

These two contests are open to any resident of NSW. More information available from your local CWA.

The final competition in the calendar year is the Recycled Article.

Its challenge is to make something from an article that is no longer used.

This resourcefulness was required by many women as they made items for their families, during the Depression years.

Stories tell of the making of sandals from car tyres, trousers from chaff bags, flour bags for underwear, and prams from fruit boxes on wheels.

The Wollondilly Group winner was Mrs Rita Gilroy of Mittagong Branch, and her work was displayed at the CWA State Conference in May.

Her imaginative entry was made from the mesh netting bags for fruit and vegetables.

More information about the CWA and their competitions can be found at www.cwaofnsw.org.au.