Four of the walls above the pictures rails are covered in the most charming murals depicting fairy land scenes.

“They’re really sweet,” said Marcia.

“I’ve had different people come in just to look at the paintings.”

It is believed the paintings are the work of a talented artist, and long time CWA member, Ruth “Bittie” Periera.

“We think Ruth painted them in 1972,” said Marcia.

But it’s not clear if that date is accurate.

Or if Ruth had any formal training as an artist.

“We don’t really know much, there’s no record anywhere to tell us anything.”

The longest serving members of the local CWA are Kay Hoad and Elizabeth Renn and while they say they do remember Ruth, they can’t really expand any further on who Ruth was as an artist or how and when the CWA building came to be so colourful.

The trouble is the paintings have sustained water damage and could do with some restoration work.

The CWA approached local artist Ron Hindmarsh if he could touch up the paintings but he was hesitant to do so without a proper analysis of the original paint. 

Marcia wondered if a grant could be applied for to help get the paintings preserved.

”We’d hate to lose them,” she said.

In a recent letter to The Country Women Journal, Wingham CWA publicity officer Jac Hyde shared photos of the paintings and said they were so delightful they “bring joy to the heart.”

She suggested the paintings had been created for the waiting room when the CWA had a baby health clinic.

“If every member could leave a lasting feature of joy what a wonderful world we would have,” she said.

Marcia is calling on anyone with any information that might help the CWA piece together a broader history of their fairy paintings to get in touch with the Wingham CWA on 6553 5723 or email mgilligan@westnet.com.au.