VIEW Club members from St George and Sutherland Shire were among those to attend a morning tea at Government House, Sydney, this month to celebrate the organisation's 60th year.
About 100 members from across the state were invited to the morning tea, which was hosted by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.
The event marked the start of diamond jubilee celebrations for VIEW's 15,000 members, of which 9000 are in NSW.
There are 196 VIEW Clubs in NSW, including five in Sutherland Shire - Caringbah, Engadine, Heathcote, Miranda, Sylvania - and two at St George - Kingsgrove and Lugarno.
Five VIEW Club's are also celebrating 60 years, including Caringbah.
Caringbah VIEW Club Secretary Beryl Howlett said one of their longest-serving members Jan Bradshaw, who joined the club 55 years ago, attended the event.
Mrs Howlett said both she and Mrs Bradshaw were among several Caringbah VIEW Club members who had racked up more than 50 years' service.
Mrs Howlett joined the club in the mid-60s and remained a member for about a decade until her family relocated overseas, rejoining when she returned in the early 90s and remaining a member ever since.
"It was very different because in the 60s women did not work so when their children went off to school they joined as a way to get out of the house," she said.
"It was mainly young mothers with young children and we could not work so we looked forward to our monthly outing and lunch.
"It was quite formal. You never went anywhere without your hat and gloves."
They would listen to prominent speakers at meetings and raise money to help the underprivileged. As organisations such as St Vincent de Paul emerged, their focus shifted to supporting the Smith Family's Learning for Life program, which provides financial support to help disadvantaged children stay at school.
Caringbah VIEW Club currently supports two children.
Mrs Howlett said the club has about 30 members - down from its heyday when it had 80 to 100 - who range in age from their 70s to 103.
"We still get a kick out of meeting our friends," she said.
"It has meant a lot to me over the years."
Lugarno Evening VIEW Club president Helen Taylor also attended the event.
Mrs Taylor said she was a relative newcomer to VIEW, having joined in 2005, but some of their memberships date back 40 years.
The club first formed in August 1972.
A club formed in Peakhurst a couple of years later but folded in the 1990s, at which time some members moved to Lugarno.
Mrs Talyor said that in the early days, the members of both clubs would wear evening gowns to their monthly dinner meetings.
"The ladies would come in their finest evening wear," she said.
While some VIEW Clubs have struggled to attract members in recent years, Lugarno is going strong.
"We have 76 members now who range from mid-50s to our oldest member who is 93," she said.
"We have had a few new members sign up in the past year."
Mrs Taylor said the club offered friendship and social outings. On top of their regular monthly meetings, which includes dinner and a guest speaker, they hold monthly outings.
"It's the socialisation. We have friendship days where we meet at someone's house as well as outings," she said
They also support five students through the Learning for Life program.
Lugarno Evening VIEW Club meets on the third Monday of every month at Gardens on Forest, Peakhurst, from 7pm. Details: 9546 7986 or 0403 795 195.
Caringbah VIEW Club meetings are currently suspended.
ABOUT VIEW
VIEW, which stands for the Voice, Interests and Education of Women, was formed in 1960 by the General Secretary of The Smith Family, George Forbes.
At the time, women were excluded from most service clubs and Mr Forbes thought an all-female club would offer women a friendship group and also allow them to support the education of disadvantaged young Australians through its charity arm The Smith Family.
Today, VIEW provides a network for women, allowing them to form connections and long-lasting friendships, acquire new skills, and support each other and their community.
Over the years, members have volunteered more than three million hours of their time and raised more than $40 million.
VIEW currently sponsors more than 1400 students as part of The Smith Family's Learning for Life program.
To learn more about VIEW, visit view.org.au or phone 1800 805 366.
