It’s been 70 years since the CWA Matthew Robinson Hostel was opened and in September a reunion dinner is being held to celebrate.
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The last reunion was held in 1989, but this time a dinner will be held Sunday September 20 at the Wongarbon CWA rooms.
The hostel was opened in 1944 when, following the death of her husband, Matthew Robinson donated five thousand pounds to renovate the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Boys Hostel into a boarding house for rural girls.
Girls stayed at the hostel either during the week or for the whole term while they attended Dubbo High School, along with a few younger girls who attended primary school.
In 1958, 14 years after it was opened, the hostel was closed down.
Girls from out of town were able to take buses to school and the building was in need of extensive repair, making the CWA Hostel uneconomical to run.
The money used from the sale of the building was used to establish the Matthew Robinson Scholarship for Far Western Girls.
Reunion organisers Barbara Smith, Eunice Sweeny and Audrey Tremain are encouraging even those who cannot attend the reunion to send a message and share their stories of the hostel.
Inquiries about the event can be made to Audrey Tremain by phoning 6887 8338 or emailing audloth@bigpond.com.
