Where it all began
In 1960, VIEW was founded by The Smith Family as a service to women. VIEW provided women with the opportunity to promote the Voice, Interests and Education of Women; this was at a time when women were restricted by legislation and regulation about where they could go and what they could do. Nearly 22,000 women of all ages, and from all walks of life, belong to VIEW.
The Smith Family's General Secretary at the time, George Forbes, with extraordinary farsightedness, determined that if women were to regularly meet with other women, many family concerns that were exacerbated by social isolation would be eased.
While the role of women has changed significantly since 1960, most women, regardless of their circumstances, be they single, married, retired, divorced, a parent, widowed, pursuing a career or working from or in the home, need and value female friends and confidantes.
In VIEW there are no hidden agendas, no obligations to attend all meetings and, yes, VIEW is an all-Australian organisation.
And, in the words of one National Vice President of VIEW, 'I joined because it was the only local women's organisation where I didn't have to take a plate'!
