FOR local children who have been taking part in this year’s Country Women’s Association’s International Day, learning about Fiji, the countdown is on for their luncheon finale.
Students from four local schools have been spending time learning about the Pacific nation through a mixture of research, creative projects, food and activities, with the program designed to give them a glimpse into a country many of them may never otherwise have the chance to learn about.
The annual CWA International Day sees the organisation choose a different country for schools to study each year, with Fiji the focus for 2026. Locally, students from selected Cabonne schools are taking part, with activities tailored to suit different year levels.
Jan Gibson, who is the local CWA International Officer, responsible for organising the program, said one of the best parts was seeing the children discover something completely outside their usual experience.
“It is amazing what you learn and what the kids learn,” she said. “It just opens the kids’ eyes a bit.”
The students have been working through a range of activities, starting with simpler projects such as making a Fijian flag for younger students through to more detailed work for older students, including creating posters about Fiji and its people.
While there is plenty of room for creativity, Ms Gibson said the competition also taught the children the importance of following instructions and working within set rules.
“They learn how to follow orders, you know, rules,” she said. “They must stick to them.”
With four schools coming together to take part, the children have an opportunity to meet students from neighbouring communities and work alongside them, something Ms Gibson said was particularly valuable for small schools.
“It is another interaction for these four schools to get together and do something on the same level,” she said.
The completed projects will be collected on Friday 4 September, before being assessed on Monday 7 September by a judge from outside the area.
The entries will then be displayed at the Cumnock Golf Club, giving members of the community the chance to see what the students have been working on.
The following day, Tuesday 8 September, the CWA will bring together students, staff, and Association members, as well as the wider community together for its International Day luncheon, and this year there will be plenty of Fijian food to try.
CWA members have been researching dishes they have never cooked before and practising in preparation for the event.
The menu is set to include meals such as lamb curry, coconut pie, honey cake, fresh fruit and rice dishes, as well as a traditional Fijian raw fish dish. Lemongrass tea will also be served.
For the CWA cooks, learning about Fiji has been something of an experiment too.
“It is all an experience for us,” Ms Gibson said with a laugh. “But never mind. We’re learning at the same time.”
A guest speaker from Millthorpe, who has travelled to Fiji several times, will also share her experiences of the country.
She will give a presentation during the event before answering questions from the children and other guests.
The lunch is open to everyone in the community, with no requirement to be a CWA member or have a child attending one of the participating schools. Tickets are $25 per person, while children attend free.
For Ms Gibson, the event is a good example of the role the CWA plays in their communities. While she said the organisation is sometimes associated mainly with cooking, baking and craft, she said there was much more happening behind the scenes.
“They do a lot that people don’t realise,” she said, pointing to the organisation’s work in advocacy, community support and helping towns address issues affecting residents.
RSVP for the CWA International Luncheon by 1 September by contacting Bev Worrall on 0428 636 774 or worrall.1@bigpond.com.