The Queensland Country Women's Association
Servicing the Community since 1922

Knitting & Crochet

Our Committee is very proud to be part of this wonderful Association which brings together so many ladies from throughout Queensland, and to refresh memories of those who have been members right through this journey of the years, here is a little segment of our beginning.

Prior to the 1969 Conference the State President of QCWA arranged an interview with the Country Life Newspaper of NSW with a view to starting up a knitting and crochet competition similar to that in NSW.  At the Council Meeting before Conference the then State President outlined the conditions for a State-wide Knitting & Crochet Competition, and from there a resolution was passed at Conference that a Committee should be formed from one of the nearest Divisions to Brisbane, which was either West Moreton, Darling Downs or Nambour & North Coast.  The State President selected Nambour & North Coast as the Division from which the State Committee would be drawn. From there the Chairman was chosen and the new State Knitting & Crochet Committee was formed.  The inaugural meeting was held on the 13th June 1969, the committee was formed with 10 members, all from the Nambour & North Coast Division.   It was interesting to note that our first committee reported to their July meeting that the brochures received from Queensland Country Life had all been parcelled and despatched to the branches so that all entries for the first contest would close on May 15th, and be opened and listed and judged before Conference.  You can imagine how pleased they were when they handed $126.75 to State Office for the Trainee Teachers' Hostel Account.  It was a wonderful effort for the very first contest. 

At one of the early meetings an inquiry came "Where could you buy pure knitting wool?"  The committee was able to advise that it was available from McDonnel & East in George Street, Brisbane or Bayards of Nambour.   These first committee ladies set a goal for us to continue this competition which not only provides much needed funds for our State Projects, but is a form of relaxation for so many, with such useful items being created, and always helping to promote our wool industry.  In the early years of the Knitting & Crochet Contest there were approximately 5 classes in the Knitting section and 3 classes in the Crochet section.  We now have 13 classes in the Knitting section, 1 class for machine knitting, 11 classes in the crochet section and 6 classes in the raw wool section.   The QCWA Branches hold a contest, then the winners of each class go on to the Division finals.  Again the winners are forwarded on to the State Finals, held on the Sunshine Coast just before Conference.  All prize winning items are then on display at Conference.  Prizes are donated by sponsors.

The contests are open to all members and non-members of QCWA - a small entry fee applies.  The Knitting & Crochet Competition brochure is included in the QCWA Journal in August, and information can be requested from the Chairman of the the Knitting & Crochet Committee Mrs. Leonie Dingle 07 4156 3246

Last modified: March 16, 2010