Dorothy Houlden was 22 years old when she first climbed aboard a horse and gig with her mother and sister to travel six miles for a Country Women’s Association meeting in Goornong.
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It was 1956, and the six-mile journey took as long as 45 minutes to complete.
Bendigo’s CWA branch held a celebratory afternoon tea on Friday afternoon to mark Ms Houlden’s 60 years of service to the women’s organisation.
Throughout her six-decade long membership, Ms Houlden has held down a long list of CWA titles, including president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer of the Goornong group.
She also had stints on the Victorian state council and executive committee during the 1990s.
But perhaps her proudest CWA achievement happened back in Goornong where she instituted a Tidy Farms competition, which encouraged local workers to keep their properties neat and clean.
“My husband was a farmer, and he used to leave his tools wherever he finished with them,” she said.
The contest ran for 20 years.
“But it didn’t help my husband at all,” she said, laughing.
Asked what she loved about the association, Ms Houlden explained it was the connection with other women that kept her coming back.
“It’s the fellowship and the friendship,” she said.
“You get to meet wonderful people and make lovely friends for life.
“Being part of the group helps you to grow.”
Ms Houlden said the organisation continued to grow in strength, with women connecting over the internet and newly retired professionals seeking community involvement in later life.
She also lauded her branch’s commitment to social causes, recently knitting scarves and beanies for homeless Australians vulnerable to icy conditions.
She said homelessness was an issue of “considerable concern” to the CWA, as was the sovereignty of central Australia’s Kidman land.
Despite her commitment to the community organisation, Ms Houlden still finds time for her five children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, as well as satisfying her interest for gardening and genealogy.
Ms Houlden’s daughter and granddaughter, Kathy Cooper and Denita Bickley, attended Friday’s celebration and while they were not members, they said the CWA was a constant part of their childhood.
“It’s kept her as young and as sharp as she is,” Ms Cooper said.
“And there has always been leftover scones, jelly cakes and sponges,” added Ms Bickley.
