Branch president Gay Cowan says the library event on Monday September 3 helped focus attention on healthcare inequality.

"There is a definite lack of GP services in country and regional areas while mental health services are harder to access for non-metropolitan residents," she said.

"The CWA is trying to focus on this inequality to apply a pressure point on government.

"As an organisation in NSW, the CWA is concerned that people in rural and regional areas have a lower life expectancy of five to eight years compared with their city counterparts.

"There is also a higher burden of chronic diseases too," she said.

The concerns about this ongoing erosion of health services is leaving country people feeling like they are second class citizens, Mrs Cowan said.

Coupled with the library information session, the evening branch members made a donation to the Hastings Cancer Trust.

"This year we have heard from many speakers about health and health care services in our area," the branch president said.

"During one address, from Dr Stephen Begbie, we were told about the benefits of exercise prior to and during treatment of cancer.

"We hope to see our donation lead to the creation of an exercise program of some kind.

"Like the wider community, our little family (of CWA members) is affected by cancer. We have members who have been touched by this disease."

The branch has also led discussion and guest speakers on dementia in the last six weeks.

Port Macquarie Evening Branch meets at 7.15 pm on the third Wednesday of the month at the Lion’s Den, Hastings River Drive.

Mrs Cowan said CWA has a state-wide membership of 8000 with 400 local branches. The Port Macquarie CWA Evening branch boasts almost 30 members.

For information call 6583 1452 or check Facebook page CWA Port Macquarie Evening Branch.