Burnett's sweet result

After enthusiastically driving many months of fabulous fundraising - from raffles to barbecues, high teas and plenty of bake sales - the Howard Branch president from the Burnett Division was sashed as the Queensland Country Life CWA Fundraiser of the Year 2014 after raising a staggering $9374.75.

Coming in second with $4258 was Marj Bundesen, of the North Mackay Branch, followed by the third highest fundraiser Carol Jeanes, Kuranda Branch, who hit the mark with $2693.

The added efforts of Maranoa Division's Beth Brown and Port Curtis' Renee Keitley brought the total fundraising figure to a mammoth $17,873.25 - all of which will go to support QCWA projects.

But for the Queensland Country Life CWA Fundraiser of the Year 2014, who tried hard not to cry after the announcement was made, the win was a fitting nod from the association that Mrs Sheean said had warmly embraced her with open arms from day one.

A self-proclaimed "city girl" raised in Townsville, Mrs Sheean and her Vietnam War veteran husband settled in Howard in 2007 for a peaceful retirement.

"Coming from the city to a country town for a city girl, it's a very big step and I felt very isolated," she said.

"I thought well the only way to meet people was to join something and so I joined the CWA and I've never looked back.

"They're just a great bunch of ladies and they're my best friends."

Add to Mrs Sheean's win the three new 'city' branches having recently opened and it would appear the CWA is gaining more traction outside rural and regional Queensland than ever before.

"I think we're trying to make it not just for country women any more," Mrs Sheean said.

"You'll never take the country out of it, but if we can involve the city ladies as well, then that's half of the battle.

"Born and raised in the city, I had never been anywhere else. Now that I'm in the country you can't get me out!"

As such, becoming involved in the competition was a natural progression for Mrs Sheean.

"I wanted to show people that we have a lot of fun with CWA and that we're not a bunch of old fogies, and that there are great things to be done for the younger people to come along and join.

"So I did so with leading by example," she said.

Though the branch of 26 people is considered to be one of the "younger groups", boasting ladies in their early 40s, Mrs Sheean is eagerly striving towards gaining greater involvement from the age group.

"As [Howard Branch] president I'm hoping to attract women in the 30s and 40s age bracket to see that we're actually a great bunch of friends and that we do a lot of good for the community."

And while she's certainly proven fundraising is her forte, Mrs Sheean's other talents lie in the kitchen, where she is known for whipping up a mean batch of jam drops.

Her secret: cook the biscuits in the oven until they are just starting to take shape. Then remove them to add the jam, prodding it individually into position with a trusty index finger - no licking allowed!

Talk about a sweet lady.