There is lots in the pipeline for Gundagai’s CWA for the remainder of the year. Together with Gundagai LHAC, the CWA are hosting ‘Dying to Know Day’ on August 21 from 11.30-1.30pm at Mirrabooka, Gundagai Neighbourhood Centre, where adults at all stages of life are invited to have conversations and improve knowledge around end-of-life choices.
Dying to Know Day will see a MLHD Specialist Palliative Care Team, as well as a funeral home, along with Gundagai LHAC attend and talk about palliative care, advance care planning, enduring guardianship and preparing a Will.
Jessica Butler, CWA Gundagai Acting President, said these events play a vital role in raising awareness and encouraging open and meaningful conversations.
“It’s all about preparation. So having the conversations with your family about how you would like things to happen at the end of your life. It is an important conversation for most people to have, but it is also a conversation that a lot of people don’t have until it’s too late,” Jessica said.
“These conversations can be challenging to have, but are necessary. We all need to prepare for the inevitable end of life. It can be done without fear, with intention, love, and a focus on a legacy. If nobody knows your final wishes and you don’t have the conversation, nobody ever will. When nothing is ever shared, confusion and family disagreements often follow,” Jessica said.
“The event will bring together some support and information services in the area so you can piece together what you would like to do,” Jessica said.
This year, the CWA is celebrating 100 years since the first Gundagai CWA branch was established, and as part of the celebrations they are hosting an inaugural ‘Step Back in Time’ ball, which will be held on October 25, with a limited number of tickets available.
“We wanted to do something for the community so that we can all come together and have a bit of fun, get dressed up, have a dance and a catch up,” Jessica said. “We are trying to keep it not too big, as it is the first time we have done anything like this. It will be a step back in time to the 1920s or 30s.”
“It’s us doing something to acknowledge and celebrate that the CWA has been in Gundagai for 100ish years, but it’s not a specific celebration for Gundagai’s 100 years, it’s a community event for us to celebrate as a CWA group but for everybody to come and celebrate as well,” Jessica said.
Earlier in the year they had a guest speaker from Tumut Family Services, who spoke about the services available in the area and what they do to support the community.
“We have organised with the Neighbourhood Centre to have Escabags in town, which are bags that contain items for someone who may be escaping domestic violence,” Jessica said.
“CWA as a group are really focusing on trying to help that situation, not just Gundagai but all of NSW. The message has been consistently going through branches of how can we help? We donated some Escabags to Tumut too,” Jessica said.
“I have been trying to organise guest speakers to come and speak to our members, because I feel that it is important for us if we know how to approach certain things. If we know somebody in our community who might need it, we can approach them in a way that is friendly.”
The CWA meet on the third Thursday of every month at Mirrabooka, starting at 10am. All welcome
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