After nearly 12 months of preparation, members of the Peachester History Committee are getting ready to present an exciting new exhibition that pays tribute to the vital contribution of women in supporting home and community life over the last 100 years. Launching on Saturday June 18, ‘A Woman’s Work’ will honour the considerable effort and capabilities of women in local communities as they maintained families, farms, and communities. Filled with intriguing objects and household items from bygone eras on loan from local families, photographs and historic newspaper clippings and articles, the exhibition will also feature a section celebrating the State centenary of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA).
President of the Peachester History Committee Helen Page said the initial idea for the exhibition flowed on from an observation that most of the set exhibits at the Peachester Heritage Centre were ‘very masculine’.
“When we first set up the Heritage Centre, we realised that most of our exhibits related to men. We then put together a wedding collection, and now with a change of exhibit we wanted to continue the women’s focus, as well as acknowledge the important contribution and fellowship that the QCWA offered,” said Helen.
The exhibition will have three main sections: home life featuring historical kitchen and laundry objects; crafts featuring knitted, embroidered and crocheted items; and the history of the QCWA with particular focus on the Peachester branch which opened in 1945. Helen said the QCWA section featured lovely old photos, cookbooks and article cuttings and she hoped that the entire exhibition would prompt people to relive their own memories.
“We hope the exhibition will generate some great conversations and an appreciation of the incredible effort women undertook in their commitment to community and family – often in challenging rural conditions.”
Community members are welcome to attend the Peachester History Committee and Peachester QCWA joint celebration event on Saturday June 16 from 1.30pm at the Peachester Community Hall and Heritage Centre. For more details contact Helen on 5494 9557 or visit the Peachester History Committee Facebook page.
Main image: Peachester CWA members in front of the Peachester Hall, 1948