Page 6 - View Matters - November 2024

New beginnings and

exciting developments

The development and creation of new VIEW Clubs is vital for the

future of our organisation. We’re excited to report on the opening
of two new clubs, plus provide updates on other developing clubs.

Lake Illawarra with help from Dianne (aka “the key Busselton
driver), interest meetings were hosted
VIEW Club (NSW) to spread the word about VIEW. VIEW Club (WA)
More than 100 VIEW members, As the number of attendees at the In July, VIEW members and Smith
representatives from The Smith interest meetings grew, fundraising Family team members gathered
Family and guests from the activities were introduced to begin to mark the inauguration of
local community celebrated the attracting donations to support Busselton VIEW Club – the 8th
inauguration of Lake Illawarra VIEW The Smith Family. By the club’s VIEW Club in Western Australia.
Club (NSW) in May, the 14th in the opening in May, enough funds had Seventy women from VIEW clubs
Illawarra region. been raised to sponsor two Learning across WA attended a wonderful
for Life students on celebration. Demonstrating VIEW’s
Starting a new VIEW Club often only
The Smith Family’s program. strong connection with The Smith
takes one or two women with the
Family, Leonie Green, Head of
passion, drive and interest to begin At the inauguration, guest speaker State and Territory Operations and
investigating the prospect and Paul Ell, who is a Learning for Life Julie Walker, General Manager
viability of a new club. In this case, alumni and Senior Associate, WA, spoke and thanked all VIEW
it was Dianne Martin and Vanessa proudly presented a generous members in Western Australia for
Beattie, members of Illawarra VIEW donation from his employer, RMB their ongoing support.
Club who saw an opportunity to Lawyers, to fund a third student on
form another club in the region. the program. With a good base The first interest meeting for
Vanessa, (aka “the ideas person”) of members and a solid start to Busselton VIEW Club was held in
sowed the seed for the new club its fundraising activities, President February. It took just five months to
after forming a walking tribe for Helen Theuns is excited about attract enough women to officially
local women interested in meeting what’s to come for Lake Illawarra open the club! It was truly a team
new people. The connection to VIEW Club! effort of local VIEW members and
interested women, helped by the
community fostered by the walking Contact Dianne at
group gave Vanessa the idea to lakeillawarraviewclub@gmail.com skills and expertise of Wendy Lewis,
suggest a VIEW Club. The response if you are interested in joining Lake WA Development Team, the Capes
was overwhelmingly positive and, Illawarra VIEW Club. VIEW Club Committee and Zone
Councillor Mary Deakin.
Since the event, President Pauline
Rockley, her committee and the
new VIEW members have been
hard at work organising outings,
finding guest speakers, and planning
fundraising initiatives to ensure they
can make a difference to children
experiencing disadvantage. The club
has 42 members and has started
fundraising with the goal of being
able to support their first Learning for
Life student next year.

Lake Illawarra Committee and club members

6 VIEW MATTERS