“I can’t cook,” she conceded.

“And I’m a terrible quilter.”

Five faces in the Cloncurry Country Women’s Association (CWA) hall stared back at her.

They’d recently invited Fran to join their branch.

Little did Fran know, she’d go into her first meeting with an interest to learn and come out as president.

“I didn’t really know much about CWA,” she admitted, reflecting on the experience.

Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, Fran had moved to the region three years earlier to be closer to her daughter who’d married a Cloncurry cattle producer.

She’d been working at the Cloncurry Shire Council as the property management officer.

After receiving her new role as Cloncurry CWA president, Fran decided to do her research on the organisation and come back to address the group of ladies with her confession.

While she bucked the trend of turning on the impressive cooking and sewing abilities for which the CWA ladies are renowned, there was something more important about the organisation which resonated with her.

 “When Ruth Fairfax formed CWA her vision was to provide support for women and families living in remote and rural communities,” Fran said.

With that vision in mind, she made many changes to the organisation as it exists in Cloncurry over the past two years since she first joined.

She decided the branch needed to look to other means of raising funds to remain relevant and practical for time-poor members.

And besides, she “was not very good at making cakes.”

Fran’s first fundraising initiative was a successful 1950s-themed high tea.

The branch had since provided catering for the local Returned and Services League on Anzac Day and managed gate sales for Quamby rodeo.

The business opportunities continued.

While the Andrew Daniels bypass was being constructed the CWA branch renting out their rooms to contractors for eight months.

They also bought equipment to provide town laundering services which proved far more lucrative than baking goods.

At the same time the branch can boast jumping from six to an incredible 50 members; all in just two years.

Fran’s next challenge came six months ago when the president or North West Division resigned.

The North West division incorporates the branches of Gregory, Normanton, Cloncurry, McKinlay, Nelia, Boulia, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden and Mount Isa.

The division faced dissolution unless someone put their hand up.

So Fran did.

She was elected the interim president until the regional meeting in August saw her selected for the position in her own right.

“I’m hoping to strengthen the division the same way I’ve strengthened our branch,” Fran said.

This year’s state CWA conference was held in Gympie this week.

Seven ladies represented the North West division, mingling at ease with the 350-plus attendees from right across Queensland.

The group included two members from Boulia, one Julia Creek delegate and four from Cloncurry.

Fran believes it was the largest contingency of North West delegates to attend the state conference in a very long time.

Next year will see the regional conference of eight divisions in northern Queensland meet in Cloncurry from April 29 to May 1.

Following the meeting, Fran said the she will be negotiating to see the Country Kitchen program visit Cloncurry.

“I’m very passionate for having opportunities in country communities that we have in other regions,” she said.

Looking towards the future, relevancy to young women continues to be the greatest task for the CWA.

“Not all women want to do crocheting and knitting,” Fran said.

“They want to do Zumba, Thai cooking classes and the like.”

With Fran at the helm, that’s just what they’ll get.