Die Vrystaat Vroue Landbou-unie

In 1930 word daar ’n kongres van boereverenigings in Bloemfontein gehou waar o.a. besluit word dat die Vrystaatse vrou ook geaktiveer moet word om georganiseerde opheffingswerk te doen aangesien die land in daardie tyd in ’n treurige ekonomiese toestand verkeer het.

Die mans het met hul terugkoms na afloop van die kongres, verskeie dames genader met die versoek om werksgeselskappe te stig. Teen die einde van 1930 word al hierdie werksgeselskappe en Huisvlyttakke genooi om ’n kongres in Bloemfontein by te woon ten einde saam te snoer in een provinsiale organisasie.

Hierdie kongres, gelei deur mnr. Manie Wium, LPR en voorsitter van die Vrystaatse Landbou-unie, vind plaas op 5 Desember 1930 en bygewoon deur 60 afgevaardigdes. In sy voorsittersrede het hy daarop gewys dat die vrou, in samewerking met die man, moet help om die plaaslewe vir die jong seuns en dogters aantreklik te maak om sodoende ontvolking van die platteland te stuit. Saamstaan moet ook die leuse van almal wees sodat die boer ’n seggenskap in die ekonomiese afset van sy produkte kan hê.

Mev. D.F. Malherbe word as die eerste president van die Vrystaat Vroue Landbou-unie gekies met mev. J.J. Grobler van Rouxville as die vise-president.

90 Jaar later, is dit met trots dat ons kan sê: Die VVLU het ongeveer  900 lede in die Vrystaat met ’n tak/ke op bykans elke dorp. Die vrou is steeds betrokke by die plaaslewe en nie net met opheffingswerk in haar eie gesin besig nie, maar ook in die gemeenskap en veral onder voorheen benadeelde gemeenskappe. Die VVLU het uitgekring van organisasie vir plaasvrou na ’n moderne organisasie vir die vrou uit elke denkbare omgewing – ’n groot getal werkende, professionele vroue en besigheidsvroue is ook lede van VVLU vandag. Die VVLU is ook lid van Vrystaat Landbou en gaan haar voortaan beywer om ook hier ’n duidelike verskil te maak.

VVLU se geskiedenis is deur lede opgedateer en is in 2020, tydens die organisasie se 90ste verjaarsdag, bekendgestel.

The Free State Women’s Agricultural Union.

The Free State Women’s Agricultural Union (FSWAU) was founded at the old “Gedenksaal” in Bloemfontein on 5 December 1930.In the 93 years that have since passed, FSWAU has linked women across cultural borders around the Free State province in South Africa and has provided a training vehicle towards the development of our people and our province.

The organization is continually trying to adapt to the many changes in the world and the country and continues to meet the needs of its members. 
In the dissemination of culture in many facets and in the improvement of educational facilities, FSWAU members have a proud record of service to their homes, their communities, and their country, but in particular, their province.

FSWAU is an educational organization in which opportunities for development are offered to women, and interested men, with the same values and who are prepared to render a positive contribution to the development of the community and country.

The purpose of FSWAU is to:

• to provide women with high quality programs, courses, and seminars to develop knowledge and skills for the benefit and expansion of the family, community and country.
• to broaden members’ knowledge.
• to cooperate with other similar Women’s Associations in and outside the Free State.
• to accept any additional activities that will help achieve these goals.

Because education and preservation of our South African history is of cardinal importance FSWAU offers educational opportunities in different courses, seminars, conferences and congresses in different fields of study such as:

• The woman of today,
• Interior i.e., decorating etc.
• Needlework
• Tourism
• Actuality/ Topical matters
• Lifestyle/s
• Benevolence towards all cultures,
• Creativity i.e., painting, photography etc.

Although FSWAU is not solely a charitable organization, members are continually involved in the support and upliftment of their local communities. Excepting for aid as stated, Head office has an annual project in this respect. In 2022 an amount was given to the Burre Burger project for aid to farmers in drought-stricken areas and the project for 2023 is to, in a small way, assist the amazing organization, Gift of the Givers.