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Camden’s Treadle Sewing Machine: A Revolution in Women’s Agency

The Camden Museum's treadle sewing machine symbolizes the significant role of sewing in women's lives from the 19th century onwards. Sewing machines democratized work, enhancing women’s agency by saving time and allowing for business opportunities. Women contributed immensely to the war efforts through Red Cross circles, producing thousands of items during both World Wars.

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Camden Red Cross 110 Years Display: Objects and Ephemera Exhibition 2024

The Camden Red Cross exhibition at Camden Library in August 2024 showcased the historical contributions of local women to the Red Cross during World Wars I and II. Women from the Camden district played a pivotal role in supporting soldiers and shaping the narrative of the Australian Red Cross, creating over 20,300 articles in 40,000 volunteer hours during WWI.

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Blue Plaque recognises Camden Red Cross sewing circle in wartime

The wartime efforts of Camden women have been recognised by the successful nomination for a New South Wales Blue Plaque with Heritage NSW. The women volunteered thousands of hours of their effort and skills to supply hospital requisites for soldiers at military hospitals.

Aesthetics · Art · Artefacts · Colonial Camden · Cowpastures · Cowpastures Bicentennial · Craft · Crafts · Cultural Heritage · Fashion · Heritage · Leisure · Local History · Local Studies · Memorial · Memorials · Memory · Place making · Placemaking · Public art · Quilting · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Sewing · Storytelling · Women's history

A Cowpastures memorial quilt

Hanging on the wall in the Camden Library is a quilt, but no ordinary quilt. It is a hand-made quilt that had previously hung in the foyer of the Camden Civic Centre for many years. The quilt celebrated the Cowpastures Bicentenary (1995) and was made by members of the Camden Country Quilters Guild.