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Country Women in a Changing World Notes From the A.C.W.W. Conference ence of the Associated Country Women of the World at Melbourne, Australia on October 2nd, the President Mrs. Geerda van Beekhoff of the Netherlands urged the members to cultivate a fuller understanding of the power and possibilities of their organiza- tion. She said: “When we really succeed in throwing open the famous windows on the world for the individual member, as has been the case with the constituent societies who are very well aware of their neighbors and always on the alert and ready to help and to co-operate, it would be a force we hardly could control "Fancy. when all the members belonging, via their society, to A.C.W.W. stood as one body to pay their pennies (or their coins) for friendship, we would have no financial problems in contributing to the Lady Aber- deen scholarship. How many a woman from a less fortunate area we could help in her train- ing to help her women who are depending much on the best form of extension we can think of! We could release a wave of direct self help. In a joint effort we could stamp out at a terrific speed hunger and malnu- trition." The president asked “How can we disâ€" tinguish the worthwhile from the things of no value at all? As ‘the hearts of the home,’ ” she said, “we are asked to have the confidence based on knowledge to be able to guide a younger generation, to understand our hus- band‘s new farming methods, to know what we are buying in our new household gadgets and spending the family income. Psychological re- search should have a woman‘s interest to em able her to fully understand those around her, her fellow travellers to the better world we hope for." But Mrs. van Beekhoff reminded the women that some of these fellow travellers are women in countries far away and that every member of the Associated Country Women of the World needs to be aware of the import- ance of her co-operation in a world in which we will become more and more interdependâ€" ent. Nearly 3,000 women from 25 countries and representing a membership of six million met at this conference to discuss “The Country Woman's Part in a Changing World.” Among the Australians at the opening reception were two aboriginal women from the Northern Territory who received an especially warm welcome. Members of the Maori Wom~ OPENING the Tenth Triennial Confer- 6 en‘s Welfare League in traditional costum were there as observers. The Fijian groin. also in national dress “tall, striking wom. were noticed for the grace of their earring. ' Scandinavians added color in the vivid rtr and blues of their long flowing skirts cup. with native embroidery. A representative the All-Pakistan Women’s Organization w. a sari of peacock blue banded with gold 3. ' embroidered with sequins. The leader of 1 Irish delegation was in white lace and cam. a handkerchief of Carrickmacross lace Will she had made herself. And one reporter sa‘ “Another national touch was the sash of t McGrigor tartan worn over a strapless e‘ ning gown by Mrs. D. M. McGrigor, trc urer of A.C.W.W. The four special concerns of the conferer were listed as Food and Friendship, Leisi and Learning. Freedom From Hunger At the last conference in 1959, A.C.W pledged five years’ support to the Freedi From Hunger Campaign and one of the i speakers at this conference was Mr. Fri. Weisl, Assistant Director of F.A.O. (Food J Agriculture Organization of United Natim Following are excerpts from Mr. Weisl's dress: “The Freedom From Hunger Campaign officially launched by F.A.O. just over t years ago. Its objectives Were and are tv fold. First, in the developed countries the ca paign seeks to arouse and educate public opt ion to just how immense is the extent undernutrition and malnutrition in the we! to the threat which this peses to our peace and orderly progress, and to the need for continuously expanding mobilization of effol toward helping the developing countries- their economic plans and tasks. The campaigi second aim is to help the developing countr: to help themselves in their agricultural d velopment. “For example, many devel0ping countrix lack basic capital for investment in land it. provement. Then, incentives to the farmer “ increase production, such as credit and ma' keting facilities, are often not available f sufficient measure . . . or not available at at Also, badly organized in many countries at the extension services needed to bring “‘- knowledge of modern farming and nutrition; Practices to rural communities. Agriculture services designed to help the farmer in sucl= HOME AND COUNTRE