September 2011
Old friends and new friends gathered at the Kangaroo Valley Bowling Club for the August lunch and meeting.
We did not have a guest speaker but instead looked back at the first 12 years of the Kangaroo Valley VIEW Club history.
Down through the years the publicity officers have kept a scrap book with photos and newspaper articles.
At one point June Holdaway became the custodian and we have her to thank for preserving and renovating this wonderful book of memories.
The first date mentioned is 30th October 1987 when about 30 women of the valley got together and decided to form a VIEW club. VIEW clubs started in 1960 to encourage women to have a voice-V; to expand interests-I; to educate-E; women-W.
The aim is also to raise funds for the Smith Family and provide women with an opportunity to run meetings and fund-raising events as well as invite speakers to their luncheon meetings.
Each year four resolutions of social and political importance are considered by each group and their input discussed at the annual conference with the intention of taking these ideas further.
An early luncheon venue was The Kangaroo Valley Bowling Club sporting some extremely striking brown wallpaper.
The collection of photos show events at most other Kangaroo Valley venues.
The photos in this book include many well-known faces from the valley.
The first year of the Kangaroo Valley VIEW club was 1988 and Kangaroo Valley VIEW club activities were publicised in The South Coast Register.
There is a lovely photo which appeared in the South Coast register of four ladies: Ruth Ross, Lorna Smart, Dorothy Nixon and Betty Allen.
There are photos of VIEW club ladies performing in the pantomimes Cinderella, Snow White and a play Bus Stop.
These photos brought back many happy memories for those present and many ladies shared their special memories and often hilarious stories.
The first President was Ros Mein.
In 1990 Narelle Cochrane was our second president and she is still a member today.
Many women over the years have held various positions and a lot of them are still members. Betty Allen’s memory is joining one year and being asked to fill a position the next. Unfortunately the rain flooded Betty in (again) and she was very disappointed to be unable to join us for this trip down memory lane.
Betty was president from 1995 to 1997.
Other photos are of mystery tours, garden parties and picnics.
There is a photo of Joan Bray dressed in bright pink and showing lots of leg!
Everyone always seems to having a good time.
Many guest speakers have come from Kangaroo Valley.
Food has also been a major theme.
Carole McCallum remembers in the early years four well known valley ladies cooking lunch for the meeting and to her amazement a disagreement arising between them.
Apparently it got physical!
Other presidents at our lunch from this era were Norma Norris, Robyn Dale and Eileen Laughlin who are all still members.
Jean Wilson read us some of her VIEW club poems and enjoyable day was had by all.
The next luncheon meeting will be held at Kangaroo Valley Bowling Club on Friday 9th September 11.30 am for 12 noon.
Karen Anstiss will be speaking about her organisation which offers work to people with a disability.
Karen recently received an Australia Day Award as “Shoalhaven Citizen of the Year”.
Members-if you are unable to come please phone Jan Starkey 4465 2080 or email jjstarkey@bigpond.com by 6 pm on the Wednesday before the meeting.
It is necessary for us to provide the Bowling Club with accurate numbers.
New members and guests are welcome.
Please phone our president
Margaret McLachlan
4465 1946 for details.
Jeannette Dumbrell
Publicity Officer