Shine Awards 2023: Eugowra CWA’s Margaret Swift and Frances Anderson nominated for flood recovery efforts

Two CWA members who have seen flood devastation first-hand say the heartache and loss is often made worse as clean-up begins.

“Someone else might need it more than me” is a phrase Frances Anderson and Margaret Swift have heard countless times over the past nine months.

As treasurer and president of the Eugowra branch of the Country Women’s Association of NSW, they have been distributing donations of money, clothes, homewares and toys to as many people in the flood-hit town as possible.

“Most of our friends had walked out with absolutely nothing,” said Frances, whose farmhouse was spared but lost fencing in the November 14 disaster.

Eugowra CWA treasurer Frances Anderson and president Margaret Swift have been supporting their flood-hit community while also working to save the CWA room. Pictures: Rachael Lenehan

Margaret said the flash flood that “rolled into Eugowra like a tidal wave” washed houses off foundations, swept away livestock, fencing and belongings, and tragically claimed two lives.

“I don’t know how it will get back to what it was,” Margaret said.

Frances said one heartbreaking part of the recovery had been hearing from people who returned home to search for family heirlooms only to find that all their belongings had been cleared and taken to a tip.

She has inspired a CWA advocacy campaign calling for change in natural disaster response, so clearing of buildings must be carried out with permission of an owner or authorised representative.

“We heard time and time again, especially women saying they didn’t know which was worse, losing their house or losing their valuables,” she said. “I know (disaster response crews) are wanting to get the job done, and that’s fair enough. But it is just heartbreaking for the people who are so badly affected.”

Margaret Swift and Frances Anderson with quilts and homewares donated to the town by generous people across Australia.

Damaged contents of the CWA rooms at Eugowra after the flash flood of November 14 2022.

The flooded CWA building in Eugowra after the November 14 2022 flash flood hit the town in Central West NSW.

In the immediate aftermath, Frances, Margaret and CWA members worked to salvage whatever they could from the CWA rooms while organising help for those who had lost everything.

“I would do that by day,” Frances said, “and by night I would sit down and try to get my brain to work and apply for funding.”

Her diligent work secured a grant to repair the CWA rooms, and funds from head office to help the town.

Frances and Margaret outside the Eugowra CWA rooms, which are now undergoing repair works.

Frances and Margaret in the CWA “op shop” where they have organised donations to give to community members.

“Margaret and I parcelled it all up, and it was my chief aim to get it out into the community,” Frances said. “I just wandered the streets and anyone that was there, I spoke to them and gave them the money.

“They always wanted to tell their story. That was a bit hard to take when so many had such sad stories.”

For the first five months, the pair worked nearly seven days a week to help the community. Now, Frances spends three of four days organising donations, and on weekends opens the CWA op shop, where everything is free for those who need it.

Frances said they were part of a huge recovery effort by many generous volunteers.

“I feel a bit of an impostor,” she said. “My effort seems so little when you look at the beautiful items people have made, and the distance they have travelled to donate them.”

Margaret and Frances are nominees in The Weekly Times Shine Awards, supported by Harvey Norman.

The Shine Awards celebrate Australia’s rural women who make a real difference to their communities and industries. If you know a rural woman whose story deserves to be told, nominated her in the form below.