The Wonderful Women of Wamboin
Contact
Gail Ritchie Knight
0416 097 500
whirlwind1@argonite.com.au
Facebook page for you to follow and like what we do
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559480500285
The Wonderful Women of Wamboin (WWOW) is a social group for women in Wamboin and the surrounding rural areas of Bywong, Sutton, Bungendore and Gundaroo. Women in Queanbeyan and the ACT are also welcome to come along. WWOW was started about late 2007 to provide women living rurally an avenue for social connections in their community.
WWOW meets on Mondays, 10:00am to 12:00 noon at the Wamboin Community Hall, Bingley Way, Wamboin. Except for the last Monday of the month when they go out for a group lunch. A contribution of $2.00 per visit to help cover hall hire is appreciated.
What do the Wonderful Women do?
All women are welcome at WWOW to share stories, news and skills. It’s a great way to meet new people as well as catching up with old friends. The group consists of a wide range of women who are multi-age and have many different life experiences. It isn’t just for retirees or seniors, some members are still working or are stay at home mothers or homeschooling their children. WWOW allows participants to share their achievements and activities with others and experience new things.
Every year WWOW conducts a Christmas mailbox and gate decorating contest for Bywong and Wamboin residents to enter. This is supported by the Bywong and Wamboin Community Associations. The competition is a highlight of the year and many residents create amazing displays with painted timber cutouts, lights and other found objects. One year there was even an upside down Santa in a toilet!
Whilst connecting with each other WWOW also support the local and surrounding communities. Over the years WWOW have helped raise funds which are then donated to the local community. One example is the curry stand WWOW ran for a few years at the Wamboin Bonfire Night. Some members have also helped students at a local primary school with a reading program. As well as participating in community crafting by sewing drainage bags for breast cancer post-surgery patients. WWOW also knit trauma teddy bears for the Queanbeyan Ambulance Service.
Sometimes WWOW might have a creative challenge for the year for members who wish to participate. One activity was making treasure bags with a complete choice of materials. The final results were treasure bags that were crocheted, knitted, needle-felted, beaded, patchworked or embroidered. One was even made of metal rings and rabbit fur.
Members have the opportunity to share with others their achievements, hobbies and interests, what they are making, or just to chat about anything. Some WWOW participants are award winning sewers, knitters, artists, makers and crafters who have entered many local shows and exhibitions. Some of these members choose to share their skills with other WWOW members to teach the technique or skill they are using. Whilst other members have personal interests which they then share at the weekly meeting (if they wish to).
Some of these talks and activities have been: the art of kusudama, a Japanese paper-folding method for creating stunning flowers, a number of tours of the National Gallery of Australia led by a WWOW who is a graduate of the Gallery’s tour guide program, the recovery process they went through from a health concern or even how to shimmy with bellydance coin scarves. WWOW members make social connections which then enables them to support each other in times of need when there is bereavement, illness or just because they need some comfort and encouragement.
WWOW also invites local guest speakers to special events where the community is invited. Some of these events have heard from:
- Randy Knispel who spoke to us about caring for knives;
- Former Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison visiting to discuss local issues;
- Captain Bruce Legge CSC, RAN spoke to commemorate Anzac Day 2024, albeit a few days early.
On occasion the BOWWOWs (Boyfriends—husbands, partners etc...—of the Wonderful Women of Wamboin) are invited to a meeting or a special dinner/lunch activity.
So all you Wonderful Women out there come along and join the other Wonderful Women in our locality to make new friends and connections.
