By Jan Whitaker*
At its May meeting, the Berwick Evening VIEW Club welcomed 10 new members for 2022 and awarded 10-year anniversary pins to five on-going members.
Karen Cook, Pauline Downes, Maureen Jarvis, Robyn Piazzon, Joy Pilgrim, Jenny Robson, Sandy Spencer, Jill Swift, Maureen Taylor, and Monique Thomson officially joined the club as new members while Maree Cummings, Kaye Di Carlo, Leonie Murphy, Wendy Scott, and Vynn Wills celebrated 10 years with the club.
In Volunteer Week, the addition and continuance of members is important to the work of the club in supporting The Smith Family scholarships for disadvantaged students.
Earlier this month many participated in a very successful sausage sizzle on a rainy Mother’s Day weekend to raise funds for the three students sponsored by the club.
One of the key themes for National Volunteer Week this year is about bringing people together through volunteering, which Berwick Evening VIEW Club President Jan Whitaker
said is more important than ever before.
“Last year, Covid meant we couldn’t have that hands-on connection with the community very often, which was really hard for a lot of people.
“Volunteering is a great way to get back out there, make friends, and feel like you’re really making a difference to the lives of young people and their families,” she said.
“We are always looking for women to join us in supporting The Smith Family and we’d encourage anyone interested to get in touch and come along to our June meeting to learn
more about VIEW and hear a talk from StrokeSafe.”
The Smith Family’s CEO, Doug Taylor, said that volunteers have played a vital role in delivering much-needed support for its work during a particularly disruptive period.
“It’s been a tumultuous year with the impacts of COVID-19 and most recently the devastating weather conditions across Queensland and New South Wales affecting so
many Australians,” Mr Taylor said.
“We are very grateful to all VIEW members for continuing to donate their time and energy throughout these times.”
If you would like know more about the Berwick Evening VIEW club, which meets every third Monday of the month for dinner from 6pm at The Hill at Parkhill Center, please contact Jan Whitaker on 9705 9009.
*Jan Whitaker is president of Berwick Evening VIEW Club.
