The efforts of some of Canowindra’s most tireless and industrious volunteers, the Canowindra PA and H Association Ladies Auxiliary, have been recognised in a new publication launched at this year’s Canowindra Show in September.
Titled simply, Ladies Auxiliary, the book highlights the women who, since the 1940’s, have made the Canowindra Showground’s Cobley Pavilion their hive.
With the assistance of many community members and the Canowindra Historical Society author Debbie Rutter collected more than 100 photos of the women who have worked in the pavilion putting together the flower, craft, art, cooking and photography sections for more than eight decades.
“This book acknowledges the ladies who have contributed their time and energy,” Ms Rutter said.
At the Canowindra P. A. & H. Society Ladies Auxiliary meeting held on Thursday June 6 this year it was decided to close the ‘official’ Ladies Auxiliary due to a lack of members.
The reduction of the Auxiliary will however continue with its ‘official’ management undertaken by the Canowindra P. A. & H. Society Committee which was the case pre 1940.
Ms Rutters involvement in the show auxiliary stretches back to the mid to late 1990s, first becoming part of the “hive” under the guidance of the late Mrs Veronica Davis.
“I wanted to contribute to the community, attended meetings and tried to help generally until a lovely lady, Mrs Veronica Davis, asked if I could help her,” Ms Rutter said.
“Veronica was looking after the Fine Arts at that time and just needed somebody to assist. Unfortunately we lost and I ended up taking on the Fine Arts and the Photography (sections) with helpers.
“Where would we be without helpers,” Ms Rutter said revealing part of her motivation for putting together the book and recognising the many women involved.
“I felt the ladies of the auxiliary deserved recognition for their tireless efforts. Year after year they invest themselves with passion, giving their time so generously.
“My primary goal was to get as many individual photos of the ladies that had been with the Ladies Auxiliary.”
Ms Rutter’s completed work features 115 of the ladies involved.
“There were only about eight, going back to the 1940s, that I couldn’t get,” she said.
“The book is about putting a face to a name. It’s also for the families (of the ladies involved) so they can see their heritage and what their families did.
“It is a record for the general community but also about families seeing a grandparent or aunty, their mum captured in there and knowing they are not forgotten, they’re recorded.”
Ms Rutter’s book compliments a Canowindra PA and H Association publication called The Shop Window of Canowindra
“It celebrated 100 years of the show in Canowindra,” she said, “and captured a great history and overview of the show and committee, including the ladies auxiliary.
“It was a great resource and with their permission I was able to access it.
“My book is not about repeating everything in there, I was just focused on the Ladies Auxiliary and predominantly in the Cobley Pavilion which is where the Ladies Auxiliary have their area of expertise, craft, cooking, sewing, art, flowers, etc. That’s their hive.
“I was tunnel vision on the auxiliary and their sections.”
Copies of the book are available by contacting Debbie Rutter by phone (6344) or email (debrutter@bigond.com), or at the Canowindra Creative Centre shop in Gaskill Street between 10am and 3pm on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Copies are also available at Virginia Cullane Books.
The Canowindra Historical Society Museum also has copies.
The book is just $20 and can be posted for an additional $10.
Printed locally at Duck IT in Canowindra, the cost just covers printing.