In early 1937 the wife of the Boronia Postmaster, Mrs Duffield, held a meeting of fourteen women in her home to discuss the possibility of forming a CWA Branch in Boronia.  As a result of this meeting, the inaugural meeting of the Boronia CWA Branch was held in the Boronia Progress Hall on Friday, 30^th April.  This meeting was chaired by the Group President and there were seventeen founding members.  Mrs Duffield was elected as the first Branch President.  In the early years meetings were held in either members’ homes or the supper room of the Progress Hall. 

Throughout the first year new members were welcomed at every meeting and by the end of 1937 branch membership had risen to fifty.  Branch membership increased gradually and by 1976 there was a membership of 84.  Since the mid 1970’s membership has slowly decreased, and with the increase in the age of members, 

During the war years members were involved in the making of camouflage nets for overseas troops. Weekly meetings were held to make the camouflage nets and after sending over 50 nets to HQ, the Branch was asked “for a greater effort regarding nets and the men of the district to be asked to help”.  This request was met by net making sessions being held twice a week with the men meeting on a different day.  In 1940 a war savings group was formed and certificates and bonds were purchased over a period until 1948.

The branch adopted a ‘lonely soldier’ and sent him regular hampers.  Members kept themselves busy knitting for the soldiers, sending parcels of food and fat to Britain, and also parcels to ex prisoners or war.  Money was also raised for Red Cross, YMCA, the Polish Patriotic Fund, the Empire Gift Fund and Somers House.  This money was raised using various ideas such as a Ball, catering for a land sale, charging members for a monthly newsletter and the hiring of books from the Branch library.  Branch birthdays were very well attended and this meant that different venues were needed to entertain between one hundred and two hundred guests.  In fact, in 1958 over 300 guests attended the Branch’s 21^st birthday celebrations, which were held in the Boronia Church of England Hall.

In 1949 a building fund was started and in 1950 a block of land was purchased for £120 in Ringwood Road, which is now Dorset Road.  This block of land was never used to build a hall and was sold for £250 and in 1953 the Branch purchased another block of land in Erica Avenue for £180.  In 1956 a decision was taken to build a hall in Erica Avenue and subsequently the branch built its own hall at a cost of £1,658 with costs being defrayed due to several donations by members of windows, furnishing and fittings.  The building was built in less than a year, and it was officially opened by the CWA State President in May, 1957 on the occasion of the Branch’s 20^th Birthday.  A squash court was later built next to the hall and as the owner of this venue wanted to buy the land on which the hall was built, the Branch accepted his offer of the site where the current Boronia CWA Hall now stands.  This transaction did not cost the Branch any money and in 1973 the Branch moved into its new home.  In 1997 the Boronia Rotary Club carried out extensions to the hall as part of their community service.

In the 1950’s the Branch had many small groups such as drama, choir, craft and cards and all these groups have disappeared.  Social activities play a large part in branch activities and during the Branch’s history members have enjoyed garden parties, special lunches, annual holiday trips and bus trips to various place of interest around our State.

The Branch continues to fulfill the aim of the Association by supporting local, State and world wide organizations which help women and children.  In 1981 Branch members decided to support the City of Knox Welfare fund by donating toys, gifts and money every Christmas.  This support is still being carried on today and each year a representative from Infolink, Boronia is present to receive our donation.  We have also supported Breast Cancer Support Unit at the Angliss Hospital by making special pillows and bags needed by women who use this service.  Members contribute to CWA Victoria’s international support for women and children by donating items of haberdashery, material, woollen knitwear and stationery.  Donations are made annually to local community groups to enable them to continue their work.

We may not be large in numbers today, but what is missing in ‘quantity’ is made up by ‘quality’ as members continue to support one another and warmly welcome new comers to our Branch.  Branch functions see members working together harmoniously and our more senior members are more than willing to share their knowledge of CWA and thus give our newer members a glimpse of what happened in the past within our local area.