Ms Laubsch clocked up 38 years of service at the town’s CWA branch.

She was awarded a medal of service from CWA Tasmania state president Lindy Cleeland. 

The Bridport branch is this year celebrating its 80^th birthday.

Newly elected president Leesa Greenacre is pleased to see the branch’s future continuing.

“Without a past there is no present or future,” Ms Greenacre said.

“We are blessed by the hard work of our previous members and we have a wonderful legacy with which to go forward.”

Ms Greenacre said the branch recently welcomed 16 new members, and introduced some new activities at the hall.

She said the Bee Bop Dance Studio from George Town will this month start weekly dance classes at the Main Street hall.

The dance classes range for fairy ballet for beginners aged two to six years, through to jazz-exercise classes for adults.

This adds to the branch’s weekly Monday morning craft groups, and markets on the first Saturday of every month.

Ms Greenacre said it was exciting to see women of all ages becoming involved with the branch.

“The Bridport branch is very keen to continue to work with the state organisation to make the CWA as relevant today as it has been in the past.”

CWA Tasmania is currently supporting the product of the year which is hemp; and is supporting research into Polymyalgia, an inflammatory disorder causing muscle pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips.

CWA was responsible for having child endowment paid to mothers, introduction of low alcohol beer to reduce family violence, the compulsory wearing of seatbelts, proper packaging of button batteries and the lollypop people at school crossings.

Anyone interested in joining the branch can contact Ms Greenacre on 0428 661 612, or branch vice-president Viv Sarich on 0457 622 221, or pop into the hall on Mondays between 9am and 1.30pm.