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"That was brilliant, Bradley!" I called out after we all joined him in the final strains of 'Islands in the Stream.'
The small band of CWA broke out into applause as Bradley, flushed with the success of nailing another Dolly Parton number, took a bow.
"Alright everyone, shall we start?" I clapped my hands and put my clipboard on my seat. "Pat, if you could lead us in."
Pat stood and solemnly recited the CWA values, which I also recited but with gusto.
"Okay, Lana, shall we open the drinks? Have a white wine while we run through the minutes?"
"Already on it."
"Choc chip muffin anyone?" Gemma handed around a container, which we all looked dubiously at. "I didn't make them. I bought them. From a shop. Honest."
Geoff dove in first and once we noticed he was taking more than one bite, we all put our hand up for one.
"We've got quite a bit on actually," I said, scanning the agenda. "We should probably get a wriggle on."
It was Geoff that had mentioned that the role of Secretary was probably more up my alley than President. He said the President was more of quiet presence whereas my skills were more dynamic. I assumed he'd been wanting to step back into the role, which I was dubious about, but he'd had other ideas.
"Yes, let's start," said Jane, quietly. "Molly, if you could note that everyone is in attendance and that we have a new member in Alice Baker."
I beamed at Alice across the semi-circle as she held up her drink to me.
"Someone told me the CWA is where all the fun is at so, here I am."
Alice had been remarkably forgiving for my televised drunken comments about the education standards in Cameron Valley. Josh had told me later it had been her that had spurred him into action to come and get me.
"She told me I was an investigator and that this case had holes in it. She said I was an idiot for not seeing it myself."
"But she was so angry!"
"Of course she was angry. Her feelings were hurt, but you know Alice, she's practical. And once she simmered down, she put two and two together. Then she led me to the answer."
"Which was?"
"She just pointed out the obvious, that you were really excited about the show, excited to be doing something for the town. That you wouldn't have had everyone around to celebrate if you knew what was coming. That perhaps you had been used as much as the rest of the town. She told me I'd made a few mistakes in the past, but I was able to always come back to Cameron Valley. She didn't think it was fair that you had made a mistake and had to leave. That this was your home. And that you shouldn't feel like you had to have one foot out the door."
I'd fallen on Alice the next day and sobbed out how much I loved her and how sorry I was. I cringed now thinking back to it. She told me if I stopped crying she would join the CWA. I had pulled myself together in record time.
"Like Molly said," Jane continued, "we've got a lot of options coming our way after the success of the bake off, and we really need to think how the money will be spent."
"I hear the footy club over in Gilberton are desperate for money to go towards some ventilators. I think it would be a really good idea to build some rapport between the towns, and it's a cause that's in line with the CWA values."
"That's a great idea, Pat."
"The Cameron Valley Christmas Carnival will come up quick. I was thinking we could put our own float in this year," said Saskia.
"I love Christmas," Glennis added, shrugging in her usual way.
"Me too, Glennis," I said, smiling at her.
"I love Carnivals," she piped up again.
"Do you? I probably love a good carnival myself."
"And I love Cameron Valley."
"Me too, Glennis," I agreed. "Me too."