Country Women’s Association president expelled from organisation

Talking to the media has cost the SA president her post, she says, after members sensationally voted her out of the country institution.

Former SA CWA president Davina Quirke outside the State Council meeting on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

The exiled South Australian Country Women’s Association president Davina Quirke has been expelled from the organisation for speaking to the media and failing to uphold its good name.

The association’s two-day State Council meeting started today where a vote was held to ultimately decide Ms Quirke’s future in its decades-old organisation.

Ms Quirke had been stood down by the state administration in May, following allegations of keeping a messy residence at the president’s property and being late for a meeting.

“They expelled me from the association for talking to the media – none of the other stuff I was accused of,” Ms Quirke told The Advertiser.

She said an independent report into her conduct – only provided to her lawyer this morning – had cleared her of “frivolous” complaints.

Former SA Country Women’s Association state president Davina Quirke. Picture: Facebook

“They (the SA CWA) had gone through my residence while I was in hospital with Covid and took photos as they considered it too messy,” Ms Quirke said.

“The microwave had fallen off the wall and there things were knocked about.

“The photos looked bloody terrible, but any photo can look terrible if taken out of context.

“The report found it wasn’t an acceptable reason for me to be expelled and it was discounted.”

However, the report found Ms Quirke had breached the association’s media policy by participating in “extensive media coverage” while suspended.

“The trust of SA CWA members and broader community association has been put at risk through a broad misinformation campaign,” the report stated.

It noted Ms Quirke had provided information to the media that “represented the association in a negative manner“ and had made “inaccurate statements” about the administration committee.

Her commentary was also found to have failed to “uphold the good name of the Association”.

Ms Quirke, who was banned from entering the meeting at the Adelaide Royal Coach Motel, was told of the vote outcome by Pinnacle HR, which participated in the report.

“I only got 10 (out of about 50) votes for me to stay, but what I was told (by a member) is that people were very confused about what they were voting for,” she said.

“Life goes on and I’ll still buy the scones and the Laucke scone mix, but this has all been very extreme, especially for talking to the media.

“I first started this because of the bullying issue (within the organisation) which needs to be jumped on top of, but this has obviously put a strain on me emotionally and mentally.”

The Advertiser reported in October, the association’s 1600 members had been kept in the dark about Ms Quirke’s ousting after less than a year in the role.

The SA CWA was contacted for comment.