On the back of a busy November and the Group Show, the start of December was also busy!

On Friday 6th December, it was Brockenhurst WI’s turn to host the Group Carol Service. Liz planned a lovely service which was held in St Saviour’s Church and was led by Reverend Canon Diane Webster. A member from each WI in the group did a reading. This was followed by tea and cake which was enjoyed by all.

Straight after the Carol Service was the Christmas Fun Evening and despite a dire weather forecast, we got our stall set up and ready.

The Christmas Human ‘Fruit’ Machine went down well and provided merriment and entertainment as well as raising money.

Thanks to our talented members, we had some lovely items on sale too.

A couple of days later it was our December meeting and Christmas Party, with a murder mystery as well as Sway Hand Bell Ringers. You can read about here.

On Christmas Day, some of our members who made Christmas Aprons for the Group Show took photos of themselves wearing their aprons:

Ann H has a longstanding link with The Queensland Country Women Association and received this message “Thank you so much for all your wonderful Brockenhurst WI news throughout the year. Kingsthorpe QCWA still has a membership of 19, among those we have 5 girls who are still gainfully employed at their careers & busy with young families. Having said that IF we hold a weekend function IF those girls are available to work they are just gifts from heaven, their energy never ceases to amaze me. Then on the other end of the spectrum dear Joy who is now 96 & living in Toowoomba & house bound but being a dedicated CWA member since way back down the ages she chooses to continue her QCWA membership with us. Dorothy is another who went from being very active to a battle with cancer & while “ok” no longer on our “workers” list. Then of course their is Marie, physically slowing but mentally runs rings around most us. When we were organising our Melbourne Cup function she volunteered for her phone number to go on the advertising, jokingly saying “I can still answer the phone”! Then last week we celebrated with a lunch for another 90 year old, Isabel. she no longer up to meetings & prefers to stay in touch via phone calls & emails. During this year we sadly lost our International Officer, Glenys in a road accident, when her car & a truck colliding just out on the Warrego highway barely 10 minutes from her home. Back in July, Val’s four year term as President ended & questions were asked can we continue under a Vice President, and yes it seems we could but after serious consideration I put my hand up with a hope that we can continue on. I have the most wonderful Secretary without whom I would definitely never manage. I send Seasons Greetings, may you all enjoy a blessed Christmas and good health in 2025.”

We wish to thank all our members who helped out at all the above events setting up, making cakes, serving tea and helping in so many ways. We also thank our members for their help and support at all events throughout the year.

We look forward what 2025 has in store for Brockenhurst WI. We wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025.