Roll up your sleeves and get involved: Carol Maygar’s call to arms

The Country Women’s Association is more than just scones and cream, says this passionate member, who has dedicated her life to helping those in need.

It might be easier to list the things that Wonthaggi’s Carol Maygar hasn’t done to support her community, rather than the ways she’s volunteered.

Whether it’s donning the orange uniform of the Victorian SES, sticking up her hand to help first with her kid's Auskick group and then rugby group, being actively involved with the Homeless Coalition, or simply helping pay for someone’s groceries in the supermarket when they were caught short, Carol has a panache for rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in.

“You have you get out, and help out where you can,” Carol said.

“I’d rather be doing something.”

As an active member of the Wonthaggi Owls CWA branch for the past two years, she has wasted no time in getting involved, and has helped spearhead the establishment of a food pantry in town.

The pantry, located discreetly in the Wonthaggi Library, is designed to be a resource for those in need, whether they require food, cleaning products, or personal toiletries.

“It’s certainly being used,” Carol said. There is a trolley positioned at the local supermarket to encourage shoppers to make a donation when they do their weekly shop.

“The idea for the pantry is if everyone who does a shop just puts in one item, whether it’s a tin of food or something bigger, to someone who has nothing it means a lot.”

CWA Wonthaggi member Carol Maygar isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and get stuck into helping her community. Picture: Madeleine Stuchbery

Carol is part of a cohort of CWA members determined to open up the group to more women – hence the extension of the Owl branch, a title reflective of the group’s meeting hours outside working hours to encourage more women to become involved.

Their hands-on approach to working proactively in their community has yielded incredible results, Carol said, with one coat drive during the winter seeing the group inundated with warm coats to donate to those in need.

She has also taken a more practical approach to donating to local groups, recognising a need for school stationary at a youth club and donating $500 worth instead of cash that could get lost in layers of red tape.

“We’re all very hands on, and we’re a very mixed group,” Carol said.

“We want to get past this idea that the CWA is just scones and cake.”

Having lived in Wonthaggi for the better part of a decade, Carol said one of the best things she’s done since moving to the country was getting involved in community and volunteering, and encouraged others who can to give back.

“If you can do it, you get to know a whole mix of people, and you make friends. We’ve got such a mixed group. And we look after each other,” Carol said.

“The more you put in, the more you get out”.

The Shine Awards is a joint partnership between The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman that is a true celebration of women right across rural and regional Australia.

Use the form here to nominate a rural or regional woman who is making a real difference to her community or industry, and shine a light on their incredible achievements.

Or, send an email to [e-mail]

Nominations close on October 23.