Founder Mary Warnes, from Old Koomooloo sheep station east of Burra, understood the loneliness and isolation of rural life and responded to a call by the National Council of Women in SA to establish the CWA movement in the state.

As a result, the first branch was formed in Burra in 1926 and called the Burra Country Women’s Service Association with the motto: “Loyalty to the throne through service for country women by country women.”

The second branch was formed at Spalding, and closed in 2001, and the third branch was metropolitan and is still going strongly as the organisation’s oldest active branch.

Mrs Warnes was president of the Burra branch for 15 years and is on record as saying that it would be: “good for women to meet together and share ideas”.

The South Australian Country Women’s Association, as a state body, began in 1929 and last Tuesday, June 16, 2009, women from throughout the district and from further afield celebrated 80 years of service to the community at Burra Town Hall.

Members from branches from throughout the state held displays and gave demonstrations for visitors in an enjoyable day of fellowship.