General News
20 October, 2026
CWA Hall celebrates 60 years
The Horsham CWA Hall celebrated 60 years since the venue’s opening on October 16, 1966, with the unveiling of a plaque, local entertainment and a delightful high tea.
The Horsham CWA Hall celebrated 60 years since the venue’s opening on October 16, 1966, with the unveiling of a plaque, local entertainment and a delightful high tea.
On Friday afternoon, almost 60 past and present CWA members and guests from the CWA Central Wimmera Group covering Beulah, Hopetoun, Murtoa, and Willenabrina attended the afternoon's celebration.
Past group presidents, craft leaders, and secretaries from the West Wimmera CWA Group, which the Horsham branch used to be a part of, were also in attendance, representing areas such as Serviceton, Kaniva, Natimuk, Drung South, and Dimboola.
Organiser Bev Shalders said the CWA received good reports from Friday afternoon's event.
“It went off really well, we’re very happy with it, and a lot of people didn’t know it was 60 years,” she said.
“It could have gone on longer because they still wanted the entertainment and all that, but we had to stop at some time, but we could have been there all night.”
Entertainment was provided by The Silver Strings and local singer Sarah Campisi.
An official plaque was unveiled by Cr Ian Ross to commemorate the 60th anniversary, adding to the collection of past plaques commemorating the 40th anniversary and the opening of the hall.
Prior to the establishment of the dedicated CWA clubrooms, meetings were held in the Horsham Masonic Hall, with the first and only meeting held in that venue recorded on November 1, 1937.
CWA member Rene Vivian was given the honour of cutting the cake at the afternoon's celebration.
Ms Shalders reflected on her history with the hall:
“I’ve had ties with the Horsham branch; my grandmother was one of the ones who raised money for the hall, and my aunty and my mother as well, so I knew a bit because I used to help out in the school holidays doing the weddings and the birthdays,” she said.