The presence of Cowra Rotary President Larry Walsh at the recent Inner Wheel meeting was good news indeed.
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President Larry presented Inner Wheel President Anne Holloway with a cheque for assisting Rotary for two days 'manning' their weekly Wood Raffle. Each year Rotarians gather at a member's property to collect, cut and stack fallen timber for a series of weekly wood raffles outside Woolworths. The money raised is donated to local groups who themselves assist people in need.
President Anne next welcomed the guest speaker Maria Bell, President of the Cowra Italy Friendship Association (CIFA). Maria spoke of her enthusiasm in making known to people of NSW the story of the Italian prisoners of war who had been held in the Cowra POW camp.
The Camp began operating in June, 1941, specially built to house POWs brought to Australia from overseas. Some Italian POWS were repatriated after the war, but many preferred to stay in Australia.It was these men that Maria devoted her energy into locating in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Cowra Breakout in 1994.
Maria is the child of Italian migrants who lived first in Griffith, then Cowra. The Cowra Italy Friendship group has continued to make known the contribution of these POWs with the Cowra Australian-Italy Friendship Memorial.
The Cowra Italy Friendship Monument was officially opened on Australia Day 1998 to celebrate the Italian link to Australia. In particular it was erected in recognition of the Italians POW`s and Internees in Cowra during World War Two.
Maria was asked if this task of making all aware of the Italian connection to Cowra had been daunting and exhausting. Maria responded in her positive and enthusiastic way that indeed 'it was her privilege and not what she had done, but indeed, what this experience had done for her and her family.'
Cowra Inner Wheel president Anne had made some Italian biscuits baci di dama and offered them to Maria and all the members present, thanking Maria for all she had done and will continue to do even though Maria has relocated to the South Coast.
The next meeting of the Cowra Inner Wheel Club will be held on Monday, September 15 at 12 noon at the Multifunction Room of the Cowra Library. It will be a quiche and slice luncheon with A50 District Chairman Elizabeth Tooke as special guest.
-Cowra Inner Wheel Club
