This week – CWA Awareness Week – local women are pushing for politicians and decision makers in the health sector to look into the contraction of the potentially fatal disease.

“We believe that Lyme disease needs to be recognised as a legitimate medical condition and that we need acknow­ledgement that this disease can be ­contracted in Australia,” CWA Maitland City evening branch president Dianne Innis said.

“We are communicating with the ­federal Minister for Health on this ­subject and will be bringing up this issue with our local politicians as well.”

Lyme disease is an infection cause by bacteria that infects humans from the bite of ticks, which are infected with the bacteria.

Some doctors believe that Lyme ­disease does not exist in Australia and that anyone who has contracted the ­disease must have travelled overseas in more endemic areas including America and Europe.

The CWA of NSW has also partnered with WorkCover NSW to raise awareness of the health and safety risks ­associated with working and living on a farm.

“Working on a farm presents many unique risks and safety concerns,” Mrs Innis said.

“By helping communicate these risks we hope to minimise the rate of injury which will improve life for rural communities.”

This year alone the CWA has donated more than $70,000 to disaster relief, provided 59 educational grants to rural students and lobbied the government to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors.

“The CWA has always been about much more than tea and scones and this is a good opportunity for us to tell the community about the real work of the CWA of NSW,” Mrs Innis said.

The CWA Maitland City evening branch will serve a morning tea at Maitland Library on Tuesday at 10am. 

For more information about joining the CWA phone Mrs Innis on 0408 664 796 or Deb Schaefer on 0410 590 076.