Inverloch VIEW Club

Guest Speaker Sister Joan Healy

Inverloch VIEW club was honoured this month to have as our guest speaker Sister Joan Healy. Joan is pictured here with her two sisters, Veronica Fennessy on the left, and Ann Humphis on the left.

Talking to Joan prior to her presentation she talked of her connection with South Gippsland. Apart from having two sisters living here, Joan's first teaching appointment was to Loch primary school in the 1950s when she was just 18. Her parents put her on steam train from Melbourne to Loch. She lived in the pub until a local family offered her accommodation. It's a small world  isn't it?

Joan is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph who has lived among Cambodians since she began working in a refugee camp on Cambodia's border in 1989, around the time of Pol Pot's reign.

When the population of the camp was relocated back to Cambodia, she was invited to mentor efforts  to rebuild community in villages divided by civil war. Until 1997 her home was in a village at the edge of Battambang in the war-torn north of the country. 

During her talk she constantly referred to the her role as being behind the locals who were working to rebuild their country, not leading them. Joan talked of the continued dangers faced by many of the Cambodians leading this rebuild. She spoke of the resilience of the people and of the love and the sacrifices they made in helping each other. She also  talked of the poverty and of the struggles the people have.

Many VIEW members reflected afterwards on how lucky we are living in this country.  Joan continues to be invited back to Cambodia to facilitate, and share her experience of education and human development.

Making a Difference

Photo is of Trish Brooks, Zone Councillor,  on the left, presenting flowers to Jean Robinson, on the announcement of her “Making a Difference” award.  Jean is the first VIEW Club member in our Zone to be acknowledged with this award.

Outgoing President - Thank You

Photo is of our outgoing president Jill Widmer being presented with flowers by our assistant secretary Lorraine Gray. Jill worked tirelessly for our club over many years. She is not retiring, she is taking on the position of Secretary, and will, no doubt, put her energy into this role.