The Country Women's Association (CWA) of New South Wales is moving with the times and has launched an online branch meeting for its members.

Key points: CWA of NSW launched a Virtual Branch which now has 22 members

CWA of NSW launched a Virtual Branch which now has 22 members Members vary in location and age, but the branch was initially launched to connect with grey nomads

Members vary in location and age, but the branch was initially launched to connect with grey nomads The CWA of NSW has 8,000 members that are part of its 400 branches

As of this week, the CWA of NSW Virtual Branch now has 22 members, and surprisingly they are not all young and tech-savvy.

Virtual Branch convenor, Merrie Hunt from Macksville, said the group was initially created to help cater for grey nomads.

"We wanted them to be able to stay connected with the CWA while they were travelling," she said.

But it did not take long for the demographic of members to broaden, and now women of all ages from across NSW and the Australian Capital Territory are meeting online.

Just like any branch of the CWA of NSW, the Virtual Branch meets monthly, has an executive committee, and guest speakers.

The Virtual Branch also meets fortnightly for a social meeting and has a Facebook group to stay connected in between meetings.

"I'd call them 'more dynamic' and that's what going to make the branch special," Mrs Hunt said.

"We have people that may have been CWA members before, but because they work and there was no evening branch where they live they weren't able to attend.

"We also have people that are new to the CWA," she said.

CWA of NSW convener of the Virtual Branch Merrie Hunt from Macksville and Virtual Branch vice president Jacqui Herrmann, from Albury. ( ABC Riverina: Cara Jeffery )

Maintaining CWA connection

CWA of NSW Virtual Branch vice president Jacqui Herrmann has a long association with the Murrami CWA Branch part of the Murrumbidgee-Lachlan Group.

"For a wedding present I was given a CWA membership and I joined the Murrami CWA branch with my mother-in-law," Mrs Herrmann said.

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When she relocated to Albury for her son to attend The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Mrs Herrmann was keen to maintain her connection with the CWA.

"I have always enjoyed the CWA philosophy and being part of the CWA movement," she said.

"The friendships through CWA last a very long time."

The format of an evening online meeting, which runs between one and two hours, is ideal for Mrs Herrmann, as it enabled her to be at home with her son, but also be involved in a social network online.

"I think that it's the best way we can bring people to the CWA in the future," she said.

"It allows people who do shift work or live a distance from a branch to all join in."

"Where you live shouldn't matter, it's just about connecting with each other."

The CWA of NSW Virtual Branch members also interact via their Facebook group. ( Supplied: CWA of NSW Virtual Branch )

'You still need face-to-face meetings'

Mrs Herrmann said the Virtual Branch complemented the role of local CWA branches.

"They will never be non-existent," she said.

The Virtual Branch does have a few challenges including judging cooking or handicrafts ahead of the State competition.

"Taste testing and judging over the computer is difficult," Mrs Hunt said.

She said poor internet connectivity has also been an issue for some members who wanted to join.

"Better internet connection in rural and remote areas is something we want to bring to the CWA conference as a motion next year."

Outgoing CWA of NSW president Annette Turner, White Cliffs, was a keen support of the virtual branch concept, she's pictured with the NSW CWA state agriculture and environment officer, Tanya Jolly, from the Barellan branch. ( ABC Riverina: Cara Jeffery )

Outgoing CWA of NSW president, Annette Turner of White Cliffs, said she was excited to see online meetings come to fruition.

"The idea had been on my whiteboard for a while as I love technology and really wanted to see it eventuate," she said.

"But there still needs to better internet connectivity in the outback for more people to be involved."

The CWA of NSW has 8,000 members that are part of its 400 branches.

While she supports the Virtual Branch, Mrs Turner said branch meetings were still relevant and necessary.

"I still think you need meetings that are face-to-face and to see that people are okay," she said.