Gympie VIEW Club
About
Gympie VIEW Club was formed in 1995. Each year we celebrate our birthday in June.
Currently, the Club sponsors two Smith Family Learning for Life students and Nestle Gympie sponsors four Smith Family Learning for Life students through our club, making a total of six students under our Club. We are actively involved in fundraising activities to raise donations for The Smith Family programs.
GYMPIE VIEW CLUB has over 40 members and covers a large area from Cooroy and Pomona in the south, from Kilkivan and Goomeri in the west, from Curra and Glenwood in the north and from Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach in the east to Gympie in the centre of the region.
We are always open to new members, so please get in touch today and come and see what it's all about.
Besides regular interesting speakers at our monthly meeting we have many social activities in between. Our active Program Officers organise activities such as craft days, lunches and coffee mornings and more, which are always popular with our members.
These activities assist us in raising money to support our Smith Family Learning for Life students, whom we have facilitated over many years, as well as enjoying ourselves.
When
- Meeting Day on 3rd Friday each month
- 10.30am for 11.00am start.
- At Gympie Bowls Club, 16 Bowlers Drive, Southside, Gympie
Contact
- President: Esme 0438 390 526;
- Email: viewclubgympie@gmail.com
Club News
Keep up to date with what is happening around the clubs.
Meet Our 2023 Committee
L-R: Judy (Delegate), Jean, (visiting National Councillor QB02 and QB01,) Michele (Ass. Treasurer), Nanette (Vice President), Esme (President), Jill (Secretary), Lyn (Asst. Secretary), Charmaine (Treasurer), Sharan (Programme Officer), Jan (Programme Officer), Pat (Publicity Officer) and Lainie, (visiting Zone Councillor, QB02).
2023 Upcoming Events
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Friday 28 April: Members are looking forward to a trip to Tin Can Bay with morning tea at Temptations Cafe, followed by lunch at the Bowls Club. Sounds as if it will be a case of Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside.
Celebrations
L-R: Trish and Joy celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style.
St Patrick's Day
With Gympie VIEW Club's monthly meeting falling on St Patrick's Day, green was the theme for the day, with members decked out in many different shades of that colour. Green icing-covered-cup cakes were on sale on our Trading table and one member really got into the swing of things, choosing a green drink with which to slake her thirst, and, of course, it wouldn't be St Patrick's Day without an Irish joke or two being told.
In addition to their ongoing support of the work of the children's education charity, The Smith Family, Gympie VIEW Club hosts social events, including Soup and Crusty Bread days, boat trips, jewellery and clothing swap days, craft days, etc.. Members are also given access to many talented and interesting guest speakers at their lunch meetings. Gympie VIEW Club is on the lookout for new members who want to give back to their community and make new connections with women in the area. Gympie VIEW Club's President, Esme Paterson, said this year is the perfect time to join VIEW as social events are back on the calendar after going into hiatus due to the pandemic.
Anyone interested in becoming a member can call President, Esme, on 0438 390 526 or Secretary, Jill, on 0458 416 881, or visit Gympie VIEW Club for further information.
International Women's Day
L-R: Jean, being presented with the floral arrangement which our International Women's Day Guest speaker, Gay, had made on the day
2023 March
Gympie VIEW Club members were joined by representatives of Quota Club, Older Women’s Network and War Widows and Legacy Laurel Club, amongst others, to celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday, 8th, at the Gympie Bowls Club. The lunch time event was opened by President, Esme Paterson, followed by a song parody on the well-known hymn, “Count Your Blessings”. After an appetising lunch, ably prepared by volunteers of the Bowls Club, guests were treated to an interesting speaker, in the person of well-known former Gympie businesswoman, Gay Lohse. And, what a tale she had to tell! After an idyllic early life on a cattle station, she was brought to Gympie to board with a family while she attended school, until her mother returned to the area to live permanently. As well as having a long career in singing, including musicals and being a wedding singer, Gay had a checkered working career. She has worked on the Census, been a Teacher’s Aide in a Special School, worked for the late Betty Cockburn in her florist shop and later purchased that business. As Licensee of the Empire Hotel for a few years, she won a Movers’ and Shakers’ Award. Gay also worked in the restaurant at the R.S.L. as well as at Skilled Centre. She was the 1st female President of the Gympie/Cooloola Rotary Club, a foundation member of Zonta, and is now a member of Probus.
At the conclusion of her talk, Gay gave a demonstration of her floral arranging skills, with the resultant arrangement being presented to the longest standing member of the Gympie VIEW Club, Jean Willis. Winner of the raffle for the Family Pass on the Mary Valley Rattler, donated by the proprietors of The Rattler, was Joy Anderson, with the $50.00 The Dolly and Oats Gift Voucher being won by Lucy Green. Our deepest thanks for their generosity go to these business houses.
Get-to-Gether in January 2023
A group of 28 of the Gympie VIEW Club ladies met at the Gympie Sports Club in Shields Street in January to celebrate the start of another year of fundraising for The Smith Family's Learning for Life program. A great time of fun and fellowship was had by all.
Christmas Cheer
December 2022
In December Members and guests enjoyed a festive lunch for our Christmas Party. The always enjoyed, continuous raffle was filled with some great prizes donated by both members and some local businesses, for which we thank them.
This year about 2 weeks before our lunch, the member storing all the raffle prizes had that part of their house burn down along with all our raffle prizes, our local businesses replaced the lost gift vouchers and our members and local businesses rallied to have prizes to raffle at our Christmas Party, a wonderful effort by everyone to ensure a successful party was enjoyed by all.
Our local newspaper, Gympie Today, also donated a gift basket and a page in their newspaper which will appear in the 13 January edition. Secret friend gifts were also exchanged and forms for 2023 were also exchanged.
Lots of love and friendship enjoyed by all. Carol entertained with some jokes. The highlight gift this year seemed to be the 2023 Fireman Calendar, which caused some laughter at that table and spread throughout the room.
December 2022
We started the month off with a clothes swap at Barbara's home, with seven members attending and we achieved $70 for our Learning for Life students.
We are all looking forward to our Christmas Party on 16 December and finding out who our Secret Friends are.
Celebrating Spring 2022
The Spring racing carnival is well and truly on, we celebrated with a Melbourne Cup lunch at the Victory Hotel with twenty members and guests. The raffle of a bottle of Chardonnay Pinot Noir was donated by the Victory Hotel and won by Christine.
The Melbourne Cup sweep was won by Heather, Jenny and Sharon. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to the ladies for attending and achieving $230 for our Learning for Life students.
Winners are grinners: Heather, Jenny and Sharon with Donna from Victory Hotel and Barbara our Program Officer
2022 October
This month has been a bit wet again, and we had lunch out at the Mt Pleasant Hotel. Our October meeting was attended by twenty ladies who enjoyed lunch, and we had one of our members Suzanne, who attended the National Convention in Adelaide spoke about her experience, which was very interesting. The raffle was won by Lee and the lucky door prize was won by Jeannie.
October Birthday girls: Tricia and Iris
2022 September
We started Spring with a Book Sale and morning tea at Mary's, home. It was a lovely morning where seven ladies enjoyed a chat, and a variety of sausage rolls as more than one person brought them along.
Our lunch was attended by seventeen members with guest speaker Robyn Bowman (pictured below), who spoke about archaeological digs she has been involved in; especially one that was a local historical building being a bank and residence. Robyn gave a fascinating presentation showing these findings, and how they could uncover the lives that were led by the then, residents. This was very interesting, and well received by the members. Thank you Robyn.
We were to have a clothes swap at Yo's, but due to weather and road conditions it was decided to cancel. This will be rescheduled at another date.
2022 May
Photo above of Birthday ladies, Elwyn and Jan
Busy Month
May started with a morning tea at Yo's home; what an enjoyable time overlooking her lovely garden and enjoying great company and yummy food, for the approximately thirteen members who attended.
Next was Hervey Bay VIEW Club's 27th birthday in Maryborough where two of our members attended and enjoyed the friendship and entertainment provided.
Lastly for this month was our lunch meeting where twenty ladies attended; our guest speaker was Linda a volunteer at Qld Garden Expo, who also donated two prizes for our raffles. Thanks Linda for a very interesting talk and for the raffle prizes which were greatly appreciated, and assist us to support our Learning for Life students.
We are all looking forward to our birthday celebrations next month.
Out and About
Photo above: Members enjoying Fraser Coast Birthday
Photo above of April birthday lady, Jean
2022 April
We started the month with a much looked forward to social outing, to the Gympie Sports Club which saw thirteen ladies enjoy a lovely lunch with stunning views over the golf course on a beautiful sunny day.
Our next outing was to join one of our fellow zone clubs to celebrate their 15th birthday party at the Hervey Bay Gold Club, Pialba. Fraser Coast VIEW Club made our 5 members very welcome, we were joined by members from the Hervey Bay and Maryborough clubs as well as some future members for the soon to be open Bundaberg Club. Great entertainment, food, birthday cake and great company was enjoyed by all. Thank you Fraser Coast for a great party.
For our monthly lunch meeting, twenty one ladies enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Gympie Bowls Club with our guest speaker Kelly Chapman who spoke about how to navigate the aged care system, very informative, thank you for your time and information Kelly.
Photo above: Guest speaker Kelly Chapman
National and Regional News

VIEW is coming to.... Gladstone
We need your help! VIEW Clubs are looking to develop a new club in the Gladstone area. To help us, we are asking you to provide us with your contacts, friends, relatives etc in Gladstone or the surrounding areas who may be interested in joining or helping form a VIEW Club in Gladstone.
Read more...
Black Pepper Scarf
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VIEW National Convention 2022 highlights
VIEW members from across Australia came together in Adelaide for three wonderful days of inspirational speakers, VIEW celebrations, learning, socialising and having fun!
Read more...Events Calendar
We have some great events coming up, take a look at the calendar and get involved!
VIEW National Convention 2023
We are pleased to announce the 56th VIEW National Convention will be held in Hobart, TAS from 8-10 September 2023.