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Celebrating Centenary 
In 2013 Catholic Women's League Sydney will celebrate its centenary and to recognise this remarkable feat there will be a range of events planned throughout the year. Stay tuned for all details!
 
Join Our Journey
In anticipation of this exciting time why not take a trip down memory lane and enjoy some snippets from historical and archival material
'Truly Feminine, Truly Catholic', by Hilary Carey
(1987) Robert Burton Printers
 
“The CWL has always felt confident to speak out publicly on issues relating to the family, but in the late 1960s and 1970s it became increasingly vocal and eloquent on issues that most directly affected values cherished by the organisation.  In short, the CWL became a subtle, persistent and efficient lobby group.  There was the old problem of whether it was appropriate for a Catholic organisation, especially one run by women, to participate in politics, but these objections were easily overcome. 
 
President Mrs. Chandler defined the problem neatly at a council meeting in 1969 when there had been some worry in the branches about signing a petition:  Catholic women’s League is definitely non-political, but that does not mean it cannot approach the Government when the need arises. By 1969 the League was providing representation to ten different bodies ranging from the Road Safety Council to Austcare and to its own National Council.” Pg 158
 
"In Sydney, Lady Strickland became the first President of the CWA and later the first patron of the NSW branch of the Red Cross, besides having an active involvement in the Australian Council of Women...Strickland was able to bestow 'Vicarious Stature' on the CWA, as well as allowing them to retain links with the wider community at a time of severe sectarian division between Catholics and Protestants." Pg 13
 
"Although Mary Kate Barlow ('Queenie') had taken no part in the inauguration of the CWA in April 1913, she was unanimously elected chairwoman for the year 1914 at a meeting held on 5 January 1914. From this time until her death in 1934 Barlow was to be the driving, uniting force behind the successful establishment and growth of the CWA." Pg 15
 
'The Catholic Women's Review' (December 15, 1936)
 
"The work of the Association for 1936 has exceeded that of many of the previous years. Much has been accomplished, but the work is never—ending, and there is still much to be done within the confines of the Catholic Women’s Association there is a field for labour and progress infinitely vast, but we must have the labourers willing and zealous to carry on.
 
At the Catholic Women’s League Conference in 1935, Rev. Father Phillips, C.M., made an appeal to the Association for its active interest in adult deaf mutes. Monetary assistance was immediately forthcoming for the picnic, then being arranged. At the December meeting of the C.W.A committee, a sub-committee was formed to make plans for regular entertainment of Catholic deaf and dumb– pending the formation of their own club.
 
The Hospital Visitation Committee is happy to record that 12 hospitals are visited weekly, and Waterfall Sanatorium monthly. 1928 articles of clothing were supplied 27 patients were given boots, shoes or slippers and a number were supplied with toiletries.” pg 2.
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