Geelong Evening VIEW Club

President Prue's Message

I was introduced to Geelong Evening VIEW by a neighbour who was active within the club. I attend firstly as a guest, and then as a speaker. I was so impressed with this group of friendly welcoming ladies that I joined in 2016. I was shy and quiet, and I’d never been on a committee before.  Sometime later I was asked if I would consider nominating for Vice President and I remember being so pleased and proud that someone believed I could do the job. Three years later, I began to feel self-assured enough to nominate for President, something I never thought I could ever aspire to. I not only found my voice, but I found strengths I never knew I had, because someone had believed in me.

The same sentiment is present in the wonderful inspiring stories we hear from our sponsored students from disadvantaged backgrounds. With the financial support from our sponsorship, the students have the confidence and means to proceed from primary, through middle and senior school. Then for some to go on to tertiary level, this is even more rewarding.  The overwhelming sentiment we hear from them, is that someone believed in them.

Geelong Evening VIEW is a small club but perhaps one of the oldest in Victoria celebrating thirty years in 2023. What was so inspiring to me when I first joined was the loyal, generous, and caring nature of its members, women who not only cared deeply about their sponsored students but were also so nurturing of each other.

Our Essential Helpers

Our band of essential helpers who assist our club to run smoothly.

L-R:  Trading table Sharyn, Afternoon Tea coordinator Rachel, Speaker seeker Prue, Newsletter editor Frances, Raffle and website Shaaron,  Trading Table Margaret,  Learning for Life Contact Karen,  Hostesses Gayle (obscured) and Gwendy.  Absent Historian Lee.

International Women’s Day

Ten members enjoyed a very social lunch at our usual meeting place, The Waurn Ponds Hotel, to celebrate International Women’s Day in March. 

We all wore the IWD colours and lovely rosettes designed and made, with a little help, by one of our very talented sewers Meryl.

Delayed Birthday's

Celebrated

Due to Covid restrictions we were not able to have many in person meetings during 2020 & 2021.  This did not stop us getting together whenever we could, by ‘zoom’, picnics in the park or delayed social evenings.

We had a Masked Ball by zoom’ for our 2020 Birthday party.  Each member wore a mask and had their own cup cake with candle to blow out after we sang Happy Birthday to us.

Werribee Mansion Night Tour – What Was That?

A group of members and extras went out to dinner followed by a scary play put on by Essence Productions at Werribee Mansion.  Noises in the night, gruesome tales, moving objects and lights going out all added to the atmosphere. 

It was followed by a calming drink.  A most enlightening experience

Activities and Outings 

A summer picnic in the park in January when 6 members plus 2 husbands enjoyed a very happy time at our picnic.  We had shade from a lovely big tree and Gwendy introduced us all to beetroot and sweet potato chips – very yummy

Supporting The Smith Family

Our club supports 3 Learning for Life students as well as providing birthday and Christmas gifts and cards. Karen keeps in regular contact with these students. We also support TSF's Winter Appeal, Toy and Book Appeal and Joyspreader Programs.  We held virtual trading tables and raffles to help with our support.  Our knitting and sewing ladies made numerous items to put on our trading table or directly for our donations.

We were also asked to donate library bags for new students as well as beanies ready for the cold weather.

Supporting Our Schools

We also made Little Bags of Happiness and Knapsacks of Encouragement for our local Smith Family schools.

It was arranged that a group of five ladies would meet  at Steampocket Café to assemble the 35 Little Bags of Happiness containing five surprises and 12 Knapsacks of Encouragement with six objects offering support and encouragement to the students who had completed the 18-week mentoring program. 

These were warmly and gratefully received with our club providing the contents and assembling the 47 bags.

Supporting Our Communities

It required two trips to Bethany to deliver 49 Pamper Packs, two bags of men’s toiletries, 7 cuddle rugs, 3 children’s cardigans and 12 beanies for our annual donation to Bethany.

Barbara the coordinator summed it up in one word Magnificent. She was so pleased and grateful to receive our donations, so congratulations and many thanks for this wonderful effort, including the band of residents from Loris’ retirement village.

It was an outstanding result considering the lockdowns which cancelled some meetings.

Geelong Mums

It took 2 trolleys to take a car full of donations for our annual visit to Geelong Mums. Didn't have the kitchen sink, but we did provide a baby bath!

They were so happy to receive such a wide variety of donations.