News from Cowra Evening CWA
Member Anne Jeffery introduced the guest speaker at our August meeting, Janet Sprigge from Orange. Janet had lived in Cowra for 20 years with her husband, Geoffrey Sprigge. Before this Janet lived in other countries where her husband was employed as a surgeon.
We heard about Janet’s life growing up in India at the March Festival of International Understanding dinner. The family left India in 1969 for England, shortly after which they arrived in the African country of Liberia where Geoffrey Sprigge joined the mostly British medical staff at the Firestone Medical Centre. The Centre looked after around 3,500 expats from England, Holland, Germany, and the United States. They lived in a residential compound in the town of Harbel. The Firestone Company had its own security force who wore police uniforms.
Rubber plantations were run by the Dutch. Local Liberians worked on the plantations and as paid domestic help for expat families like Janet’s. Liberia was founded by returned American slaves and English is the official language, with their currency being the US dollar. Malaria was a big health problem, but most people recover from it. After 25 years of stable government by the President, William Tubman, his successor turned out to be cruel, corrupt and unpopular and his successor was even worse for the country.
Janet had 3 male employees who worked in her home They were referred to then as “houseboys”. If she needed to go to the capital city, Monrovia, a driver was supplied by the medical company. Plantation hours were 7am to 3pm after which the expat community could get together for golf, bridge and parties. When Geoffrey’s 2-year contract finished they left Liberia. The next African country she lived in was Zambia which Janet liked a lot more than Liberia. Branch member, Ruth Fagan thanked Janet for sharing some of her life in Liberia with us and gave her some lovely flowers
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Cheryl McAlister described Central West Group CWA’s “4 in 1 Day” held in July which included Korean food as our International Country of Study for this year is the Republic of South Korea. The other three aspects of the day were Cookery (how to make pork dumplings); Agriculture & Environment (frogs as fauna of study and primary product Australian grown cut flowers) and Cultural (changes in Australia from the 1940’s to today). She also spoke about the recent Group Council meeting and the forthcoming Australian National Field Days held at Borenore near Orange where CWA volunteers will be needed over 3 days.
One of our members, Barbi Carne is a beautiful knitter and has been busy knitting gorgeous rugs. One of these was raffled at our meeting, with the lucky winner being Jo Chambers. Another two of the rugs have also been donated to Cowra’s Ability Network, where they were gratefully received.
President Ros Ryan called for help with 2 forthcoming catering events, namely a 100th birthday party and a morning tea at the Billimari Hall for the Canowindra Baroque Festival. Our next meeting at Club Cowra will be on Wednesday,10 September at 6pm for 6.30 start. Visitors are welcome. Contact Cinda at scrubbyrush@gmail.com or phone Ros Ryan on 0421604861.
