In 1930 Australia, James Scullin was Prime Minister, Australia had a population of 6,462,610 people and the Great Depression was impacting lives worldwide. On Sunday April 6 of that year the Inaugural meeting of the Shepparton Branch of the Catholic Women’s League was held. The foundation members were Mrs Catherine Kennedy (President), Mrs Eileen Leahy (Secretary), Mrs Rose McNamara (Treasurer), Mesdames Halpin, McLennan, Morison, Thistleton, Brown and Mulcahy, Misses MG Farrell, Collins, and Carrol. The Spiritual Director was Archdeacon Hogan PP.
This small group of women worked hard in the ensuing year to ensure as many women in the parish as possible knew about the League and had the opportunity to attend the regular meetings. The initiative and perseverance demonstrated by them over the next eight months resulted in a significantly increased number of women attending the first Annual Meeting on Friday December 19.
The Shepparton Branch owes a debt of gratitude to the foundation executive members, Mrs Kennedy, President for two years, Mrs Leahy, Secretary for three years and Mrs Rose McNamara who demonstrated a remarkable ability as Treasurer for the first two years of the Shepparton League. The leadership, guidance and foresight demonstrated by these three office bearers sowed the seed from which the Shepparton Branch has grown and flourished, bringing us to 2021 and the celebration of 90 years of Catholic Women’s League in Shepparton.
A celebration was planned for December 2020, however Covid 19 impacted this, as it did so many other events throughout the year. This remarkable group of women, however, were determined to celebrate this wonderful milestone and celebrate they did. Catholic Women’s League members came from all over the state to celebrate Mass then share a meal and reflections about the work of the CWL, not only in the Shepparton area, but across the country.
Stories such as the 1930’s CWL collecting, making, and distributing 540 preloved garments, 466 new garments, 12 baby layettes, 30 pairs of shoes and 19 pairs of socks to Shepparton families affected by the depression are testament not only to the generosity of the League, but also to the organisational skills of the women. During the war years, particularly during the winter months, the CWL prepared and served warm meals to the staff and students at the St Brendan’s Primary School. Some of the routines and traditions established in the early days of the League, Euchre parties, annual fetes, the Altar Society and catering team, still exist in the St Brendan’s Parish today. With such a busy and thriving team it is no wonder that twice in the 1930s the Shepparton Branch won the coveted award for the largest number of country members.
In recent years the League has continued to meet, offering shared faith and companionship to its members through many and varied activities, including retreats, guest speakers, fundraising and even fashion parades. Many works of fundraising and charity have been carried out by the League; one of the more recent ones, of which the women are particularly proud, is having donated a number of Pyxes for Ministers of Communion to carry the Holy Eucharist to the sick and housebound.
The Mass, speeches, cutting of the cake and stories shared around the tables made for a truly memorable 90th Anniversary celebration! To commemorate the event, a portrait of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey (founder of the Catholic Women’s League) will be sourced and donated by the Shepparton Branch to St Brendan’s Catholic Church to hang proudly in the Marion Chapel.
