The Narrabri VIEW Club had a special milestone to celebrate on Wednesday, September 28.
The club has had a longstanding relationship of 44 years of community service in the Narrabri district working with The Smith Family and this year is commemorating the organisation’s centenary.
The Narrabri VIEW Club members celebrated the occasion with a luncheon held at the RSL Club.
More than 20 ladies attended the celebrations joined by special guests from Tamworth and Gunnedah.
Guest speaker NI01 (Northern Inland Region) VIEW zone councillor Aletia Norman from Tamworth attended the luncheon.
Also speaking at the event were Narrabri Bushwalking Club members Ruth Paulsson and Joan Griffiths with a presentation of wildflowers discovered on their walks in the Kaputar Ranges.
The Smith Family was founded one hundred years ago.
On Christmas Eve 1922, five businessmen walked into a Sydney orphanage carrying armfuls of toys and sweets and walked out inspired by a single goal – to improve the lives of children experiencing disadvantage in Australia.
When asked who the children could thank, one of the men, preferring to remain anonymous, said “Smith”.
“What about the others?” the matron asked.
“They’re Smiths too”, replied the man.
“We’re all Smiths. We’re The Smith Family.”
And The Smith Family was formed.
In later years, in the 1930s, this was a decade characterised by hardship, but it was also a time when people came together to help one another.
The Smith Family’s vision – a better future for young Australians in need – was truly launched.
With the help of caring Australians, food and clothing packages were delivered by volunteers.
Hospitals and orphanages were established during this decade to help the most vulnerable members of society.
George Forbes, general secretary of The Smith Family in the 1960s, saw the potential for an organisation that enables women to come together outside the home, to socialise, network and assist others less fortunate than themselves.
This was a visionary idea as the 1960s was a time when women were excluded from many aspects of public life.
The first VIEW Club (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) came into being in 1960 in Balgowlah, Sydney, with a meeting at the home of Gwen Crozier in Balgowlah Heights.
Six months after this first club was formed, 21 more clubs were established across the Sydney suburbs.
Sixty-two years on there are nearly 300 VIEW Clubs across Australia with more than 15,000 members, and their fundraising efforts help support more than 1500 students on The Smith Family ‘Learning for Life’ program.
The Smith Family has expressed its heartfelt thanks to their generous supporters, organisational partners and VIEW Clubs, who have worked with them to share their goals.
The 2023 National VIEW convention will be held in Hobart.
