Shine Awards 2022: CWA Victoria president Pam Mawson nominated

When the pandemic ground Victoria to a halt, Pam Mawson rolled up her sleeves to keep the CWA, and its mission, alive.

The Country Women’s Association of Victoria will rack up an 80-year milestone at Melbourne Royal Show this year and dedicated member Pam Mawson says there is nowhere else she would rather be in September.

She has been part of the volunteer army for the past 20 years, peeling potatoes, working the cafe fryers, judging the art and crafts and of course baking up a storm in preparation.

Whether it be catering or event categories, the CWA has a convener in charge and a team of 150 volunteer members come together to pitch in.

CWA Victoria president Pam Mawson, from Warragul. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“It doesn’t matter the job, you put out a plea and people come along and help,” Pam said.

“We are doing 800 show bags this year. It is a lot of trips around the table. Gets your steps up.”

Pam is the current CWA Victoria state president, a demanding role that is limited to a two-year term.

“It’s like working full time,” she said. “There is a room in Toorak (head office) for the state president. I’m here more than in my own home at Warragul. If you added it up, it would be more than a 40-hour week.”

Pam’s idea for a pop-up shop on the lawn of the group’s Toorak headquarters kept income rolling in during the pandemic. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Pam’s belief in the CWA is measured in those countless hours of willing service.

“I really believe in what we do. It’s such a worthwhile organisation. We are high in helping and advocating and that’s just a good feeling all round. You get back what you put into things,” she said.

A highlight of her time in the CWA was creating a pop-up shop during Covid to help make money when all their other income streams, including the show and the Toorak B&B, were shut down.

“All our financial inputs had gone and so I had this idea to open a pop-up shop on the lawn because you could sell food outside,” Pam said.

“There were only three of us doing it because that was all we could manage in the mileage we were allowed to move at the time due to Covid. I would be furiously baking scones and Anzac biscuits and the girls were running back and forth to get some more.

“That was one of the biggest contributions I made to CWA because it kept us going.”

Pam Mawson is a nominee in The Weekly Times 2022 Shine Awards, supported by Harvey Norman. Nominate a rural woman in the form below and read here to find out more about the Shine Awards.