Smoking ceremony held at CWA hall

A smoking ceremony has been held at the Woy Woy CWA Hall to raise the aboriginal flag.

The ceremony was part of the national Country Women's Association Awareness Week

"This was our way of showing that the CWA is inclusive and welcomes everybody with respect, love, kindness and open arms," said Woy Woy branch president Ms Jane Bowtell.

"We were honoured to have Aunty Diane, Uncle Phil, Uncle Reg and Uncle Rob from Umina's Mingaletta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation conduct the welcome to country and the smoking ceremony,".

Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch, CWA group president Ms Lynne Radley and group representative Ms Christine O'Rourke also attended the ceremony.

"We will continue to strive to help as many people in our community and work alongside other community organisations to help make a difference," Ms Bowtell said.

"As our motto stands: we are more than just tea and scones."

Ms Tesch said it was a beautiful ceremony and a great step toward continuing recognition and reconciliation in our local community.

"I know CWA Woy Woy always conduct an acknowledgment of country before every meeting and it's nice to see the product of this recognition flying high over the CWA Hall," she said.

"It's a wonderful representation of progress not just for CWA Woy Woy but also for our community who will no doubt see both the Australian and Aboriginal flags raised together as they travel on and off the Peninsula.

"We need to think about the ways we can always recognise the traditional owners of the land on which we live."

CWA Woy Woy meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 10am.

SOURCE:

Media release, 5 Sep 2018

Emily Bowtell, Woy Woy CWA branch