Paddington Bear, CWA and the finer points on making a delicious marmalade

Marmalade scone sandwiches anyone? Paddington Bear travelled down under for high tea with the Country Women’s Association.

Paddington Bear used his shiny new passport to travel down under for marmalade scone sandwiches and high tea with the Country Women’s Association – and Sydney City Branch president Alicia Kell says it was sweet as you would imagine.

“There was so much to discuss with Paddington, not least of which the finer points on making a delicious marmalade,” Kell laughs.

“Perhaps Paddington might prefer to have his marmalade on our Aussie scones instead of sandwiches? We’d be happy to provide him with our recipe – and would also love to hear more about Paddington’s travels, and his famous meeting with the Queen.

“The CWA is an iconic and highly respected Australian registered organisation that has stood the test of time and is now 102 years old.

“The CWA is known for its generosity and kindness, and we feel Paddington is a kindred spirit. Paddington is a caring soul who tries so hard ‘to get things right’ and, in effect, that is what the CWA is all about.

Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear have cream tea at Buckingham Palace as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Picture: Buckingham Palace/Studio Canal/BBC Studios/Heyday Films via Getty Images

“Our members are caring and also want to make things right for country women, children and communities.

“We aim to achieve this via advocacy, fundraising, connecting communities, and by just simply being present … with a cuppa and some cake, or marmalade and scones, which of course Paddington enjoys immensely.”

Paddington has a high tea – complete with marmalade scone sandwiches – with Sydney City CWA branch president Alicia Kell.

The coming together of kindred spirits on sparkling Sydney Harbour was to mark yesterday’s premiere of new film Paddington In Peru, starring Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, with Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. The new movie, perfectly timed for the school holidays, brings the world’s most beloved bear back to his roots in his homeland Peru.

“Paddington is such well-loved character for millions of people around the world,” continues Kell.

“His kindness and ‘can do’ attitude strike a chord with so many, and he never fails to bring a smile to my face.

“I’m looking forward to seeing his adventures and misadventures in the Paddington in Peru movie.”

Further enamouring Paddington is the fact that three Sydney City marmalade makers have won accolades in the Australian Marmalade Awards, including Rebecca Lim, who won two Gold Awards in 2023 and three Bronze in 2024.

First-time entrant Jocelyn Parker also took out Silver for her Grapefruit Marmalade, made with fruit from her family farm using a recipe passed down from her grandma.

“Making the marmalade is a labour of love, with days spent soaking, boiling and jarring the marmalade made from citrus grown at her mum’s farm at Kiama,” says Kell.

“Our marmalades are the perfect complement to our famous buttermilk scones, which we make fresh for sale at Carriageworks Farmers’ Market and Concord Rotary Farmers’ market. “It’s so satisfying to cook for friends and family, and there is nothing better than the aroma of a freshly baked scone.

“I had never made a scone before I joined the CWA, and now I regularly make them, along with other members, to sell at our market stalls.”

The CWA was formed in 1922 when country women were fighting isolation and a lack of health facilities, and its 8000 members across 370 branches say it is as relevant today as it was a century ago.

“The members still work tirelessly to improve conditions for country women and children and support rural communities in the face of environmental issues, including the impact of climate change, natural disasters and water management,” says Kell.

“There’s also a need to address cost of living pressures, lack of medical services in the country, affordable housing, mental health, isolation, and domestic and gender-based violence. “The work must – and will – continue, now and into the future.

“In most country towns you are likely to see a CWA hall and a sign out the front indicating when they meet.

“If you are lucky, you might be there on a day when they have a tearoom open, and you can stop for a cuppa and scones with jam and cream.

“The nostalgia and respect for the CWA runs deep in many people’s hearts, and we often hear our customers at markets fondly reminisce … but we are not gathering dust.

“The CWA is alive and thriving as the largest women’s advocacy organisation in Australia.

“We are more than just tea and scones – we make good stuff happen.”

Paddington In Peru is out now