In this issue, meet a member preparing to celebrate her 50th year with VIEW, get a sneak preview of VIEW Convention, learn how VIEW volunteer work is helping students develop important literacy skills, and get to know the new National Manager of VIEW.

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If you have any feedback please email: view(at)thesmithfamily.com.au

Real people, real stories

Introducing Heather Wood – an inaugural VIEW Club member.

Next year I will be celebrating my 50th year of VIEW membership.

Like so many members I have spoken to over the years, I too attended my first meeting just to look, but I arrived home in shock as the new treasurer of the newly formed club at Campsie!

VIEW was quite different back then because we were little known in the community. We were very engaged in the work of The Smith Family and got great satisfaction out of coming together regularly to assist with Smith Family initiatives and to raise the profile of VIEW.

In the early days of membership, I travelled by train all across the state, starting up new clubs. I wasn’t working at the time and nearly every day involved VIEW activities. We made that many friends and had so much fun. I founded and was a member of Roselands for many years and am now a member of Bangor.

I’ve formed so many lasting friendships over the years. As a member of VIEW, I value friendship above anything else, because I firmly believe if you have solid friendships within your club everything else will follow naturally.

I’ll be 83 in September and think the future of VIEW relies on recruiting younger women to strengthen the friendship network. It’s harder these days with women in the workforce and so many things competing for their time and attention, but it’s worth it for the friendships.

VIEW Convention

Time is running out for you to register for this year’s VIEW Annual National Convention, which will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September, featured right.

The year’s Convention will run over the weekend, which means many Evening VIEW women will also be able to participate. And for the first time members can invite a female friend along, including to Convention ‘day’, which in 2009 will be spread over two half days.

Also new to 2009 are breakfast conversations with inspirational speakers. The full program is now available. Registrations close August 7, for more information please contact VIEW National Office at view(at)thesmithfamily.com.au.

For more convention information, click here

Supporting a new generation of literacy skills

Reading help is just a phone call away for Perth students relying on student mentors at Midland Christian School in Perth, with mentors in turn receiving support from a number of generous VIEW members.

VIEW Club mentor supervisor Monica O’Donoghue with Year 7 mentors [l to r] Alex Richards and Ruby Dawes.

Telephone peer support reading program student2student is offered by The Smith Family to nearly 1000 primary school students nationally. Students who are more than two years behind in their reading development are partnered with older peer buddies, who offer feedback and constructive advice as they are read to over the phone two or three times a week.

Nine VIEW members have been volunteering as mentor supervisors since the start of term two, ensuring the student mentors each have an adult to turn to for support as the program progresses.

Student2student has proven very effective in developing students’ literacy skills and confidence. The Smith Family’s research shows that 85 per cent of past participants agreed that their participation helped them feel more confident with their school work.

VIEW members acting as mentor supervisors are integral to the success of student2student in many communities across the country. Anyone interested in learning more about this program, can visit here.

Reluctant readers no more at Tamworth learning

Back row [l to r] Student Matthew Goldspink, Tamworth Evening VIEW Club President Della Ruttley, Glenda Noble, The Smith Family's Sarah Taylor and school principal Jeremy Mills. Front row [l to r] Students Brendan Smith, Kooriana Boney, Jaydifah Boney, Molly McRae, Dylan Johnston and Matthew Smith.

Community-minded VIEW members in Tamworth have ensured the continued success of a Learning Centre established by The Smith Family three years ago which supports students with their homework.

The Learning Centre is available after school hours to students aged 5 to 12 who need extra learning assistance.

Up to 12 students receive one-on-one assistance once a week from volunteer tutors, including many members of the Tamworth Evening VIEW Club.

Not content with supporting students through tutoring, Tamworth Evening also recently used funds collected at monthly meetings to buy 40 new books and donated them to the Learning Centre.

VIEW member Glenda Noble was responsible for buying the books, and tutors at the Learning Centre regularly. She said Tamworth Evening greatly values education, and is particularly interested in supporting the learning opportunities of Tamworth children. “We hope the books will inspire the children to develop and maintain an interest in reading,” she said.

Generous Aussies brighten winter

At the launch of The Smith Family’s 2009 Winter Appeal there were a few concerned onlookers, uncertain of how The Smith Family would fare against a backdrop of economic gloom. We are pleased to say that Australians not only responded with their generosity, but their support in hard times shows a fortified belief in the importance of education in helping those less fortunate.

We’re delighted to report that the 2009 Winter Appeal has outdone expectations, having raised more than $4m to help The Smith Family provide education and learning opportunities for disadvantaged Aussie kids. Thank you to all the VIEW members who helped to contribute to this.

Equally important is the need to continue this good work, and in so doing provide long term, sustainable support for these kids. To do this, The Smith Family is about to launch our revamped Gift Catalogue, which has many great gift ideas suitable for all members of the family and friends alike.

We’re asking all VIEW members to get behind these unique gifts of kindness this Christmas and for special occasions alike. For a gift that will not only bring joy to its recipient, but will also make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged Aussie kids, visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au and click onto SHOP.

Goodbye Heather!

After seven and half years with The Smith Family (three and a half as VIEW National Manager), the time has come to say goodbye to Heather Barton.

In early 2006 Heather moved into the role of National Manager, VIEW Clubs, initially working alongside Ann McClintock and then taking full responsibility following Ann’s departure. Over the past three and a half years, Heather has worked tirelessly with the executive and national council team to continue the evolution of VIEW.

On behalf of The Smith Family and VIEW, we would like to thank Heather for her many contributions and wish her well for the next chapter of her career.

Maryanne Maher – VIEW National Manager

Hello, I’m Maryanne Maher and I’m delighted to have recently been appointed VIEW National Manager. I am looking forward to getting into the regions to meet you all and finding out what you want most from my role.

I joined The Smith Family in April 2008 as Strategic Resource Manager, following a three-year stint at the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia for Medical Research (CCIA). Previously as a commercial lawyer I practised in leading law firms in Sydney and Melbourne before moving into business management.

I see VIEW as a great place to be at this stage in my career, especially with the 50th anniversary celebrations in train for next year. I am equally keen to be part of where VIEW is headed as we look to the next 50 years!