Despite investing in women from marginalised communities, awarding scholarships to disadvantaged students and even making camouflage nets for the military during World War 2, Julia Toffolon believes most people still carry misconceptions about what it is the Country Women’s Association does.
As the president of the Werribee South branch, Ms Toffolon has helped raise funds for flood-affected communities, mother’s support groups and kids in foster care, yet she says people often reduce the CWA to a group of frail old ladies making homemade jam.
“People will say things to me like ‘oh, are those old ladies still around? are they still making scones?’,” she said.
“But they don’t look any deeper, they don’t ask, ‘why do they make scones? what do they do with the money?’.
“They just dismiss it.”
Ms Toffolon said the group doesn’t want recognition just for people to be “more generous of spirit”, take the time to ask questions to understand what the CWA does behind the scenes and consider joining to help members elevate those in need.
“Someone said to me, ‘oh, I thought about joining but I don’t sew and I don’t cook,’ but there’s other things you can do, are you good with PR? Are you good with computer skills? Are you good with mopping a floor?,” she said.
“Everybody has gifts that they think are ordinary…It’s starts with just a small thing.”
