Morning Tea to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Voice, Interests and Education of Women (VIEW) Clubs of Australia

National President, Mrs Anne-Louise O’Connor; National Councillors, Presidents and Vice Presidents from various branches; ladies and gentlemen.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands around Brisbane, and extend respectful greetings to Elders and emerging leaders.

Kaye and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House. It is a pleasure for us to host this morning tea, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of VIEW Clubs of Australia.

The VIEW Club story is a fine example of what happens when caring, observant and motivated women unite to address community needs.

In 1960 a group of such women gathered in a Sydney suburb. The aim was to connect socially while supporting the work of The Smith Family.

Sixty years on those same ideals remain at the heart of every VIEW Club. From those humble beginnings, clubs sprang up across Australia, including, from 1986, in Queensland.

Together, they continue to effectively advocate for positive social change and have raised over $40 million – an extraordinary figure – to support The Smith Family.

Today, Queensland can boast 38 clubs with over 2,500 members. I have had the great pleasure of welcoming many of them to Fernberg over the years on guided tours.

Members are women from all walks of life.

You place high importance on friendship and support for each other.

As your names reveals – Voice, Interests and Education of Women – you value opportunities to expand your skills and share your talents.

You love having fun, but it is a sense of purpose that drives and unites you.

Your commitment to supporting the education of disadvantaged Queensland children is exemplary.

May I sincerely thank VIEW Club and The Smith Family for their ongoing commitment to education in this State.

I was particularly impressed to learn of the ‘Learning for Life” programme, with VIEW Clubs in Queensland currently sponsoring 286 students. 

Every child desires success and every child needs someone to believe in them. As mentors, VIEW Club members are that someone. I look forward to hearing some of your stories. There is no greater reward than to see a young person grow in resilience, overcome adversity and find their pathway to a meaningful life.

More broadly, as Governor, I also publicly congratulate The Smith Family on their important social justice mission. Our society is enhanced through civic-minded organisations such as yours.

In the true tradition of a celebration, our wonderful chefs here at Government House have baked a VIEW Club Diamond Jubilee cake – an opera cake with local passionfruit – to honour the organisation’s accomplishments; I very much look forward to shortly cutting the first slice with the National President.

On behalf of all Queenslanders, Kaye and I express our deepest gratitude for your generosity and service to this tremendous State.