The Canberra Committee was one of the first committees to support the then Children's Medical Research Foundation in 1960, with its initial meeting attracting 50 women which included Mrs Betty Watson as the first President.

In 1959, when Gerringong resident Dorothy Bailey contracted rubella while pregnant, her son was born with a congenital heart problem which led her to become passionate about the CMRI cause and that spirit still lives on today.

The Goulburn and Surrounds Committee covers an area of the South Tablelands between Sutton, Gunning & Windellama in the South and West, Penrose and Wingello in the North East, Marulan, Goulburn, Crookwell and Taralga in the north.

The Hills Committee was established in 1991 when a group of mothers in the Hills District rallied together. Patti Payne, the President, had been a member of the Beecroft Committee since the 60's, motivated by the loss of her first daughter as a result of a genetic condition.

In 1958 Sir Lorimer Dods (co-founder of Children's Medical Research Institute) visited Kangaroo Valley to raise much-needed funds for CMRI. At that time, Dorothy Brown was involved in starting the committee as President, and began catering for special events in the local area, which the committee continues to do today.

The Maroota Committee of CMRI was formed in 1966 as a result of a genetic blood disorder in one of the founding member’s family who wanted to give support to the hospital and the fledgling research centre.

Joy Loneragan became the first President of the Mudgee Committee in 1966 , after Sir Lorimer Dods (co-founder of Children's Medical Research Institute) visited the small town of Mudgee.

The Northern Beaches Committee of CMRI has been around since 1960, but was known as the Allambie Committee until 2003, when the network widened and the name changed to Northern Beaches. They host a wide range of fundraising activities to attract everyone, from tennis international championships to old fashion bush dances.

The Quirindi Committee was established by 10 local ladies who were motivated to support the efforts of Sir Lorimer Dods (co-founder of Children’s Medical Research Institute) and CMRI.

The Racquet Committee of CMRI originated from the Springtime Committee when three young married women and ex-nurses joined. In 1991, there was a diverse group of 20 tennis players which prompted the committee to change its name to the Racquet Committee.

The Strathfield Committee started in 1959 when five local women, whose husbands (including Dr John Harley, who later became Director of CMRI) were working with Sir Lorimer Dods at the RAHC, decided to form a committee to raise funds for the Children’s Medical Research Foundation, as it was known then.

The Taree Committee of CMRI started in June 1981 with 20 members; each had in some way been affected by children’s illnesses such as leukaemia, cancer or premature babies.

The Thumbelina Committee of CMRI began in 1958 and was made up of doctor’s wives and their friends and was known as the Rainbow Committee. In 1967 the name of the committee was changed to the Thumbelina Committee.

The Double Bay/ Vaucluse Committee of CMRI was formed in 1961 in a very formal fashion with Sir Lorimer Dods (co-founder of Children’s Medical Research Institute). Committee meetings then were held in the nurses lecture hall, after which Sir Lorimer would take the committee members round the wards to reinforce the raison d’être.

The Wagga Wagga Committee started in 1983 and many of the original members still actively serve today. The Committee is most well known for its annual Christmas Fair with over 95 stalls participating, held over two days each October at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

Established in 1980

The Judith Hyam Memorial Trust Fund for Cancer Research supported PhD students at CMRI for many years and has now become a Committee