Mongolian was on the menu when the Pambula-Merimbula CWA combined it’s Awareness Week campaign with the annual International Luncheon, which was held at the Wharf Restaurant, Merimbula on Wednesday, September 7.
Almost 60 guests attended and dined on a Mongolian inspired menu, as this is the country of study for 2016.
Guest speaker, Peter Sykes, who is a photographer and children’s author is a regular visitor to Mongolia and has spent time living there too. Mr Sykes, of Goulburn, said that the nomadic way of life in Mongolia had a lot of parallels with life in the Australian bush.
All monies raised from the luncheon will be donated to the Associated Country Women of the World, which offers mutual support, friendship and practical help to women and communities around the world.
This year Pambula-Merimbula CWA along with the 400 other CWA branches across NSW, have chosen to highlight the significant impact a lack of connectivity is having on the local community.
Members believe a lack of internet connectivity is severely hindering people’s ability to conduct business and are concerned about the difficulty in accessing education and healthcare, and specifically mental health services.
While 78 per cent of NSW regional residents love living in their community, they cite critical infrastructure, including telecommunications as being underserviced. Only 37 per cent of rural and regional Australians have good access to high-speed internet, with regional NSW being the worst, the CWA says.
Across rural and regional Australia, 46 per cent report poor access to mental health services and half have poor access to specialist health services.
Local women interested in joining the Pambula-Merimbula branch of the CWA of NSW can contact secretary Joy Dawson 6495 6064, e-mail jjdawson@bigpond.com or come along to the next meeting on Friday, September 16 at the CWA Hall, Toalla Street, Pambula at 9.30am.
