Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club

2023 March

Such a fun night at VIEW, we enjoyed a beautiful dinner, steak or fish. Then our program officers Sue and Kerry cut loose with the fines ... they certainly have imagination these two. The last fine was, "whoever has not paid a fine tonight"! So sneaky.

We had a trip down memory lane with some old fashioned parlour games, with a little twist.

Pass the parcel did not go in a circle to music, each wrap had a message like "the one who is wearing the most green", or the "tallest person in the room" or the "biggest earrings".

Then Kerry had us all crafty with a piece of paper tearing the shape of camel - one hump or two! The judges sent their selections to the front and we had to vote - Michelle Riordan was most creative - her camel looked like a camel. Well done Michelle.

Musical chairs rounded off a great evening with lots of laughter.

Those who are taking part received the names of their new Friends in VIEW. Our club will host the area gala day with the Day VIEW at the Servies on Saturday, April 29, it should be a great day. The cost of $40 will include lunch.

Next month will have an Easter theme and our guest speaker will be Shirley Palmer who came to Australia with her family as "A Ten Pound Pom".

Th next dinner meeting will be at the Harvest Lodge, on April 5 - Members are invited to "wear your Easter bonnet".

National Councillor Aletia Norman, right, presented 10 years membership badges to Christine Mirow, left and Trish Conway  

Linda Lee’s secret VIEW friend sent a card and a teabag every month with the message "I can’t be with you for a cuppa but please have one on me”. Naturally Linda’s present for her  unknown friend  Veronica Shakeshaft on 'reveal night' was a pretty cup and saucer.

2023 Annual General Meeting

Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members returned after the Christmas break for a night of fun and friendship and election of office bearers for 2023.

It was also a night to discover their secret Friend in VIEW who had been caring and supporting them anonymously over the past 12 months, a birthday gift, a card and perhaps flowers if they were unwell or a thank you card for kindness. There were quite a few surprises along the way, with some guessing the secret while others were completely taken by surprise.

National councillor Aletia Norman travelled from Tamworth for the dinner chairing the election of office bearers, presenting badges and taking the pledge. She also presented 10-year membership badges to Trish Conway and Chris Mirow.

Kate Knight was returned as president, with Liz Ironmonger accepting the role of vice-president., while Linda Lee was elected secretary, with Deirdre Andren voted in as assistant-secretary.

After nine years as treasurer, Trish Conway stepped down from the position and although this important position is yet to be filled, Aldyth Hailes has taken on the assistant treasurer’s role.

Other office bearers to be elected include Ro Eveleigh and Michelle Riordan (delegates),  Marie Hobson (publicity officer),  Sue Braby and Kerry Keating (program officers).

In her annual report, Kate Knight highlighted a successful year of fund-raising to support the club’s three disadvantaged students through The Smith Family Learning for Life program. There was an Easter hat parade, movie night and finger food dinner supplied by our members, fun filled trivia, Melbourne Cup refinery and sweeps, a spectacular garden party with thanks to Anne Finnigan and our Christmas dinner with the elves returning to hand out the Christmas gifts.  

Other means of income throughout the year came from catering for a clearing sale, raffles, our wonderful craft ladies, donations and the Greater Bank community funding program.

Kate thanked the committee and members for their outstanding support throughout the year and congratulated the incoming committee. 

Learning About Koalas

2022 September

Members heard about the dire plight of koalas in the Gunnedah region with an interesting presentation from Angela Baker at the September dinner meeting.  A Senior Land Services Officer with Local Land Services Natural Resource Management/North West, Angela said studies had shown that the koala population is in severe decline and there is no evidence of any real breeding happening.  She said the recent drought has had a terrible impact on the koala popular along with different strains of chlamydia, habitat fragmentation, vehicle strike, habitat loss and dog attacks.

Sydney University researchers are monitoring some of the koalas in this area with radio collars and health tests.  Angela is urging local landholders to retain native vegetation as far as possible for shelter and learn which trees are best for koala food.  Angela also spoke about the Guda NSW Koala Strategy formed following widespread concern of the declining numbers of koalas in the Gunnedah region, resulting in government funding. The goal is to try and double the koala population by 2030.

Gunnedah Shire Council has received funding to construct a koala park and koala hospital on the edge of town.

Trivia Memorial Trophy

Winners are grinners:  The Marvels

                            Welcome New Member, Debbie

2022 August

Brains were tickled and memories tested at Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club’s annual trivia night last week, with teams vying for the Sue Ebbage Memorial trophy.  Sue was a much loved member of the club who loved trivia nights but sadly lost her life to cancer.

Quiz maestro Ann once again excelled herself, with long distance member Lyn, returning home to deliver the questions and provide encouragement through the cryptic questionnaire.

Topics ranged across many subjects and embraced the Irish as well as the subject of horses, minerals and colours.  The winning team of Adrienne, Chris, Lyn, Fran, Deirdre and Margaret  lived up to their team name The Marvels, and will have their name engraved on the coveted shield.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of a membership pack an badge to Debbie who joined recently. The club also welcomed another new member Robin and visitors  Debbie  and Barbara.

The club has receive an invitation to the VIEW Spring Gala Day at Oak Tree Village in Tamworth on September 24. Bookings must be made by September 19.

New members are always welcome at VIEW, a women’s friendship group offering Voice, Interests, and Education for Women under the umbrella of the Smith Family charity, with members sponsoring disadvantaged students.

Program Officer Judy Sills presented flowers to guest speaker Nikki Morrison

2022 July

At the July dinner meeting we had a wonderful evening with member Raelee’s granddaughter, Nikki Morrison, who spoke to us about falls prevention and what we can do to avoid them.

Nikki is a qualified exercise physiologist - four years study at uni!

She works with clients through Rural Fit to aid recovery and help people of all ages live their best life.

We have been given a simple range of activities to help us with strength and balance and tips on how to avoid a fall.

We also wore “a touch of purple’ recognising 100 years of The Smith Family.

A touch of purple Shirley, Trish and Michelle.

A Very Royal Affair

2022 June

What a right royal evening we had in June; the girls went all out in pearls and tiaras, Veronica even had the Queen's Orb  and a packet of CROWN biscuits.

The highlight of the evening was the royal entry of the committee with the royal wave from gloved hands followed by singing of God Save Our Gracious Queen

We had some reminiscing with the girls recalling different times they had a brush with royalty - Anne's tale was very royal as her correct name is Elizabeth Anne. Anne Mc's grandson slipped under the rope during a tour of the palace and ran off with security in hot pursuits - they found him on THE balcony.

Our guest speaker Linda Taylor from the local volunteer branch of the RSPCA gave a very interesting talk about the work they do in caring for homeless dogs and cats, rehoming, and pairing animals with their new owners. It is sometimes exhausting work, especially with newborn puppies and kittens.

Linda told us ways that we could help by donating canned or dry animal food in the sulo bin near the entrance at Woolies, donating towels or sheets, buying a raffle tickets, donating unwanted household items that they can sell on buy, swap and sell or at garage sales.

Appreciation of Nurses

Photo above: Day Club Members also attended.

2022 May

Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members were pleased to have Sr Christine Belling as guest speaker at the May dinner meeting - Sr Chris told us about the life of Nurse Annie Egan who grew up at the family property Rosewood at Emerald Hill and the ceremonies held in Gunnedah to commemorate her sacrifice in caring for returned WW1 soldiers with Spanish Flu at the North Head Quarantine Centre.

Annie died within a week of arriving at the hospital but the refusal of authorities to allow her to have the last rites of her Catholic faith caused an outcry, that reached the highest level, and it was this campaign that led to a change to the strict rules, allowing ministers of all denominations to attend to the dying.

The ceremonies were held at Rosewood and ANZAC Park, Gunnedah, where a memorial plaque was unveiled by General Sir Peter Cosgrove, and later at North Head QS. Michelle Riordan presented a small gift to Sr Chris in appreciation.

2022 April

Easter came early for Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members who donned their Easter hats and decorated tables for a great celebration at last week’s  dinner meeting.

A guessing competition was held where members had to estimate how many easter eggs were hidden in a bowl of flowers - the closet answer won the prize with the gold coin donations going towards our three LFL students.

A prize was also given for the best decorated table, and prettiest Easter bonnet, with plans under way for a charity movie night at the theatre and a fashion parade with a difference. Members are also catering for a clearing sale at a nearby property to raise funds after a very lean time during COVID.

This week Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members are mourning the loss of much loved member Pat Green who died after battling poor health for some time. Pat was 85 and loved coming to VIEW.

Next month’s dinner meeting will be a celebration of mothers.

2022 February AGM

Kate Knight was returned as president of the Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club at February annual general meeting, with Trish Conway staying on as treasurer.

VIEW councillor Aletia Norman and retiring councillor Sally Cronberger, travelled from Tamworth for the dinner with Aletia Norman chairing the election of office bearers, presenting badges and taking the pledge.

Margaret Stevens will stay on as vice-president, with Linda Lee accepting the position of secretary, while Judy Sills was returned as program officer and Adrienne Stubbs and Ro Eveleigh will share the delegate’s role. Marie Hobson will continue in the role of publicity officer.

The fun evening included the ‘friends reveal’ with members discovering who has been their secret Friend in VIEW for the past year and presenting a gift. There was much fun and laughter as a connection was made with the many acts of kindness and thoughtfulness people had received anonymously over the past 12 months. 

In her annual report, Kate Knight reflected on a Covid affected year which had impacted on the club’s fund-raising efforts to support disadvantaged students through the Smith Family charity’s Learning for Life program.

“Our club is about having fun and enjoying each other’s friendship while raising funds for our three students,” she said. 
 “Although some dinner meetings had been cancelled along with a day trip to the Reg Lindsay Memory Barn, the club was able to raise enough funds for the sponsorship as well as donating book prizes to the six schools in Gunnedah. 
 “I believe in the saying ‘many hands make light work’ and without all of your help and support our club wouldn’t exist,” she said. 
“I would like to congratulate the incoming committee and hope they have the same support and friendship I have received.”

Next month’s dinner meeting is all about friendship with members encouraged to introduce a friend to VIEW.

2021 November
Melbourne Cup Theme

After months of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members gathered in November to celebrate the Melbourne Cup in a fun-filled night.

2021 December Meeting

In December it was all about Christmas and a belated celebration of the club’s 30th birthday.

Christmas gifts for our Friends in VIEW were delivered by four cute elves, Charlie and Izaac, and twins Georgia and Harry, and their “coaches” Charlette and Mckenzie who have stepped down after playing elf for the past 10 years.

Members were honoured to have as special guests nine past presidents including foundation president, Shirley Jones, who expressed her pride and gratitude that the club was still going strong.

The club will meet again in February for the annual general meeting and “Friends Reveal” when members discover who has been their secret friend all year. Our club wishes each an everyone a joy filled Christmas, stay safe and well.

Gunnedah Evening View, past presidents Mararet Stevens, left, Lyn Gollan, Adrienne Stubbs, Pauline Grant, Judy Sils. Seated: Laurel Hall, Kate Knight (current), foundation president Shirley Jones, Aldyth Hailes.