Community
11 June, 2026
Exhibition draws a crowd
THE talented members from Country Women’s Association (CWA) branches across the south west united to display hundreds of items at the 2026 Creative Arts Exhibition over the long weekend.
The biennial event showcases thousands of hours of work which members had diligently crafted, including baking, crafts, photography and floral arrangements.
The works lined Soldier’s Memorial Hall in Mortlake over the weekend, drawing in a strong showing of viewers to see what members of the CWA South Western Group had created.
The CWA South Western Group comprise branches from communities across the region including Terang, Mortlake, Panmure, Cobden, Camperdown, Allansford and Warrnambool.
CWA Mortlake Day Branch secretary Sue Long, who also serves as the creative arts officer for the CWA South Western Group, said she was pleased to see the Creative Arts Exhibition return to Mortlake.
“We think it’s been quite successful,” she said.
“We won’t know just how successful until we tally up all the numbers but we had a steady stream of people coming through.
“Monday is always the busiest because you’ve got the Mortlake Art Show and the Mortlake Markets all happening in the same area of town.
“You’ve got three things happening on the one day which helps everyone.”
This year’s title of Most Successful Exhibitor was awarded to Warrnambool Branch president Pan Andrew, a long-time stalwart of the CWA community.
Mrs Andrew said she was elated to have earned the title after struggling with a family health matter.
“I’m a bit overcome, really,” she said.
“We’ve had a bit of illness in the family so I haven’t been thinking too much about it.
“I’ve been relying so much on Sue, and I’m so grateful for her for all the work she’s done.
“It’s been a great surprise.”
Ms Long said she was pleased to see Mortlake earn the aggregate title, which proved a feather in the cap for the branches playing host to this year’s event.
“The winner this year after tallying the aggregate was the Mortlake Day Branch, which was our most successful branch,” she said.
“In the branch exhibits the Warrnambool Night Owls got the handicrafts exhibit, and the Mortlake Day Branch topped the home industries section.
“It was a great result for Mortlake.”
Mrs Andrew had been among the members who had first helped to deliver the Creative Arts Exhibition to Mortlake, serving as the creative arts officer for the CWA South Western Group when the show first arrived in Mortlake two years ago.
“It was a group decision, we take a vote on everything we do,” she said.
“The Mortlake branches offered to have it in Mortlake, and we’d been trying around after having some in Warrnambool and Allansford.
“It’s all part of our district so we want to try and make it as easy and successful as possible for everyone.
“A great thing we’ve brought in is the group exhibits have five mediums for display, so it’s not just five items of knitting or crochet.
“It’s got to be different, so it shows all the talent from all the different branches in the south west.”
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