Grafton VIEW Club

“Senior’s Stories – Vol. 10” was presented to the Grafton VIEW Club at a book launch held at Parliament House. Jeanette Calvi, one of the 2024 winners, had the honour of presenting the book to Grafton VIEW Club President, Faye Stone, during the club's November meeting.

This publication is a collaboration between Senior’s Card NSW, the Government of NSW, the NSW Department of Communities & Justice, and the Fellowship of Writers. The book will be raffled, with proceeds going to support the sponsored children in the Learning for Life Program—a cause that is truly worthy.

The Grafton VIEW Club meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Grafton District Services Club, Mary Street, Grafton, commencing at 10:30 AM. Meetings feature a lovely meal, an engaging guest speaker, and a chance to catch up with friends. Additionally, there is a mid-month outing, offering a relaxed opportunity to connect with other members and friends.

Please note that there will be no regular meeting in December, and the next monthly meeting is scheduled for February 2025. However, a mid-month outing will take place on January 28th at the Copmanhurst Hotel for lunch.

If you are looking for a fulfilling way to give back in 2025, Grafton VIEW would love to welcome you.

For more information, please contact Secretary Helen at 66423867.

 Last week,  Publicity Officer, Jeanette, attended Parliament House for the launch of the 10th Edition of Senior’s Stories as one of the 2024 winners. Over 500 entries were received, and 100 chosen for the book. 

The publication of the book launched is a collaboration between Senior’s Card NSW, the Government of NSW, the NSW Department of Communities & Justice, and the Fellowship of Writers. It was interesting to note that eleven of the stories were translated into the author’s native language. Later several published authors spoke about their writing experiences. 

Hugh Riminton hosted the launching, and the Honourable Jodie Harrison congratulated the authors contained in the anthology. The proud writers listened to her uplifting words, and many photos were taken.  The Book Senior’s Stories Volume 10, will be available at local libraries, as well as an audio version. The book is also on Spotify, and many other audio book platforms. 

One of the books was donated to Grafton VIEW Club to be raffled, with proceeds going to the sponsored children on the Learning for Life Program. We are very grateful for this donation to a wonderful cause.

Accompanying photo shows Jeanette at Parliament House.

After her time of dedicated service, Merrelle is moving from Grafton to a new chapter in her life. A valued member of our Club, Merrelle has contributed significantly as both President and Committee Member, bringing her enthusiasm, leadership, and commitment into everything she undertook.

To mark her departure, a morning tea was held at the Clocktower Hotel, where many gathered to wish her well. Merrell’s presence in the club has been more than that of a leader she has been a friend and mentor to all Members, offering support and encouragement to those around her. Her tireless work and dedication to this cause has made a difference. She is always there to ensure that all goes well. Now, Merrelle no doubt will extend this to another VIEW Club at her new abode. Grafton VIEW will miss her.

Please note, there will be no regular meeting in December, with the next gathering scheduled for February 2025. However, a mid-month outing will take place in January.  For more information, contact Secretary Helen on 6642 3867.

Members celebrated their 57th birthday on Friday 1st November, which was a momentous occasion. The venue was transformed with the party theme of a Secret Garden.  

Please click here to read Publicity Officer, Jeanette's full report

Accompanying photo shows National President Elizabeth (Centre) and Cutting of the Cake  

Photo shows National President Elizabeth, (3rd from left) with the recipients of VIEW's 40 year badges; a wonderful milestone for the individual Members and Grafton Club.

Photo shows members of the Jacaranda Party that came to join our 57th Birthday celebrations.

Photo shows the talented entertainers who came to our birthday party; The Good Vibes.

Recently, members and friends mingled at the Grafton District Services Club for a morning tea and catch-up. These friends are inspired by the club’s passion for sponsoring disadvantaged Australian children through the Learning for Life Program. At present, our Club sponsors three delightful students, so come along to share the camaraderie and purpose for such a good cause.  You are always welcome.  For more information, please ring Helen at 66423867.

It needs to be noted there will be no October meeting, because we will be hosting a huge 57th birthday celebration on Friday 1st November. Details can be seen in the Coming Event shown above.

The guest speaker for September was Donna Laverty, who spoke about Aged Care and the changes in 2025. She advised those over 65 years to register with Aged Care, and ask for an assessment to be done for a decision about funding. It is advisable to do this between now and June 2025, so that you are in the system ready for the transition. 

During the meeting, members signed a petition to be taken to parliament to reverse its decision to replace Norco as the milk supplier for hospitals across the North Coast, and Mid-North Coast regions. Norco is Australia’s last 100% farmer-owned dairy cooperative. We need to support our local farmers, secure local jobs, keep profits in our own state, and not send them overseas.

Our social outing to the Clocktower Hotel was another golden opportunity for friends to catch up and have an enjoyable morning tea, including lovely big scones with jam and cream. Friendship can make an extraordinary difference, and VIEW Club could be your answer! 

Don’t forget to mark our Club's 57th Birthday Party on your calendar, commencing 10.30am on Friday 1st November. Entertainment will be Good Vibes Choir, and a special visit from the Jacaranda Party. There will be heaps of raffles and tombolas. The decoration theme will be The Secret Garden. Tickets are $30 at Birdscage in Prince Street. 

Vale Vorna:   Vorna was a valued member of the original Grafton Evening VIEW Club, and has been a Member for over 40 years. She continued her membership when the club became Grafton Day VIEW, which is now celebrating its 57th birthday this year. Vorna held the position of Programs Officer for 13 years since the amalgamation of the clubs. 

Vorna upheld the principles of VIEW, which are  Inclusion and Welcoming; Supporting and Caring. She was always willing to help with the tasks of running the club, and was a friend to the Members.  Vorna was known as The Queen of Scones by the Members. She was a great cook, and she was committed to supporting the Learning for Life Educational Program, thus helping the needs of Australian children experiencing disadvantage. She will be deeply missed by her VIEW friends.

Members were privileged to have Emma Pritchard as guest speaker for the August monthly meeting. She spoke about her role at the Independent Newspaper. Emma started her career with the Daily Examiner as a feature writer before joining the Clarence Valley Independent newspaper, where she has now reached her fourth anniversary.

She commenced as a sports and arts journalist, and is currently focused on the coming Local Government election. The reports are made on accurate facts and truth. Emma is out and about to various events covering Grafton and surrounds. Recently the 150th Anniversary of the Refining and Sugar Mill was covered,  sharing the story and history. Emma enjoys her work, in the local community to learn and share, including ways of introducing a story to make it more interesting.

Emma is part of the community for the community creating a balance to her articles; an interesting talk!

Accompanying photo shows Julie and Debbie receiving their new member’s badges, and being welcomed to our Club

Guests at the August meeting were Bev, Hazel and Margaret, and the Raffle was won by Kay, while the Lucky Door prize went to our lovely guest, Margaret. 

The mid-month social outing for our Members was held at The Vann on the Hill.  As can be seen in the accompanying photo, this was a great opportunity for a catch up over a cuppa and goodies. 

The next meeting is on Tuesday 27th August at the Grafton District Services Club, Mary Street, commencing at 10.30am. There will be lunch, and Emma Pritchard will be the guest speaker. She is a motivated writer for the Clarence Valley Independent newspaper. 

All are welcome, so please come along and bring your friends. For catering purposes, please phone Helen at 6642 3867 no later than the Friday before the meeting. Please come along, we really hope to see you there!                

Recently, Members enjoyed an outing to see Calendar Girls at the Criterion Theatre. The singing and acting were exceptional, leaving everyone with a smile on their face.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday, August 27th, featuring Emma Pritchard, an informative writer for the Clarence Valley Independent newspaper. 

As our scheduled guest speaker, Donna Laverty, was unwell, Members appreciated that Ray Smith,  stepped into the role at short notice.  Donna will now speak at the September meeting to talk about Aged Care and the changes by 2025.

As guest speaker, Ray Smith gave an insight into his career in Local Government, commencing in 1971. He progressed to Hornsby, Penrith, Waverley, and various other councils around the state. Whilst working in Waverley, Ray acquired his first taste in politics. Later, he moved on as a successful candidate to Grafton Council. Now, back in Grafton, Ray hopes to become an effective councillor. Helping the community is his passion, and his platform is making good decisions based on knowledge and experience.

The Lucky Door Prize was won by Merelle, and the Raffle to Helen C. 

The next mid-month outing will be on Thursday August 15th at 10am for morning tea at The Vann on the Hill. This coffee shop is next door to The Blue Goose Hotel.

Guest speaker for August will be Emma Pritchard, who is an informative writer for the Clarence Valley Independent newspaper. All are welcome, so please come along and bring your friends. For catering purposes, please phone Helen on 66423867, no later than the Friday before the meeting. Hoping to see you there!

Once again Members ventured into another historical tour. This time the day commenced with a delicious morning tea at the Cathedral Parish centre. The tour began with a walk past the original old bell Tower, the rose garden and into the Cathedral.

As the story goes, funds were being sought to build the edifice of the Cathedral in 1883. Bella and May Greenway, young daughters of the clergyman of the diocese, wanted to help. Bella insisted on donating her doll to the cause, and it was placed high up in the west wall of the Cathedral, where it can be seen today. The other doll, belonging to May, can be found inside the Cathedral to the right of the imposing entrance, enclosed in a glass-fronted frame for all to see. In the Baptistry a painting by artist Frances Bell Parker was viewed, as well as the beautiful stained-glass windows.

Later, the group sat in the Cannon Stalls, near the grand pipe organ, for a photograph. Grafton is very grateful to have such a unique and historic building in our city.

The June monthly meeting commenced with a warm welcome to new Members Sandra, Gloria, and Dorothy. The Raffle was won by new member, Kay, and the Lucky Door prize to Debbie.

The guest speaker for the July monthly meeting on Tuesday 23rd July will be Donna Laverty from Aged Care. She will speak about the availability of Aged Care, and the changes by 2025. 

• A mid-month outing is planned for Thursday 15th August at the Van on the Hill at Junction Hill, commencing at 10am.
• On Sunday 11th August, there will be a theatre party to the Criterion Theatre at 2pm to see Calendar Girl.

The photo shows Kay receiving her new Member's badge.

The guest speakers for June were Julie and Michelle from the Action Bus Company. Action has been driving people around for about ten years, with a growing following since Covid.  They now offer more day tours and trips to various destinations like Norfolk Island, Toowoomba, Hunter Valley, and Cairns. Michelle handles bookings, while Julie manages the office with Stuart.

The company also supplies buses for the Jacaranda Festival and caters to various travel needs. The meeting developed into a lively discussion about what our Club would like to do regarding bus trips, with Members enthusiastically sharing ideas.

Accompanying photo shows Julie and Michelle receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from our Club.

The latest VIEW social outing was an historic tour of the Saraton Theatre. Shelley, the Saraton manager was a mine of information. She told of its history, including the story of the theatre’s friendly ghost. 

The Saraton Theatre (Notaras spelt backwards), is a heritage-listed theatre, owned by Notaras Brothers Entertainment Pty Ltd. Shelley told the story about its history and how the brothers, Ionnis (John) and Anthony Notaris arrived from Kythera to join the family in Grafton, and opened the theatre in 1926. By 1963 TV had arrived, and eventually the Saraton was closed until 1982. 

By 1999, the theatre had deteriorated and Hazel Hawke was interested in saving the building. Through Hazel, the theatre was granted a permanent heritage listing. The theatre opened after many restorations, and received a National Heritage Award. Shelley’s tour took us behind the scenes, including backstage, all the dressing rooms, the box containing the grand piano and stories of how the stage was improved and enlarged to accommodate modern productions. We heard many stories. So interesting!

Following the tour, there was a lovely morning tea at the Clocktower Hotel. A very interesting social outing for the month of June!

Our Club table was fortunate in winning prizes for the Tombola, and also prizes for both the oldest and youngest mothers present as shown in the accompanying photo.

It was a delightful morning enjoyed by all. Everyone left with a big smile!

Members were delighted to attend the Grafton Hospital Auxiliary Mother’s Day Morning Tea, held at the Jockey Club. 

The guest speaker for April was Maree Burrows, assisted by nephew, Larry. Maree spoke of how Wraps with Love began. She told a story about Sonia Gidley King, a descendant of Philip Gidley King, third Governor of NSW. Sonia had been unwell in hospital with cancer. She had heard about people with no food or water, and thought about how these people could be made warm. She had a collection of wool at home, which she thought could be knitted into squares and joined together to make warm wraps. With this in mind, she said a prayer, Dear Lord if you get me through this, I’ll do something special.

So, while recovering, she gathered friends to make rugs two metres long, by one metre wide. And so began the voluntary organisation of Wraps with Love Inc., which now has thousands of contributors from around Australia. The Grafton knitters are part of this, and Maree’s nephew helps with the packing and distributing of rugs to where they are needed in Australia and many other countries around the world. The shipping is paid for by large organisations like Red Cross, UNECEF etc. Sonia passed away at the age of 84 years, and her legacy lives on.  The knitted blankets warm the heart and soul of those who give, and those who receive.

The Raffle Prizes at the April meeting were won by Faye S. and Joy F, and the Lucky Door Prize also went to the lucky Joy F. 

Another  adventure for Members who enjoyed a delightful outing to Geoff Crispin’s studio at Whiteman Creek. Geoff, a renowned potter with exhibitions in various Australian museums, graciously guided the group around his farm, showcasing colourful hens and roosters in a dedicated pen and a sprawling vegetable garden nearby. The studio, overlooking acres of lush land teeming with diverse wildlife, was fascinating.
 
Geoff provided insights into his craft, leading our group through his workspace to view the impressive kiln he constructed himself. He explained the intricacies of firing pottery, discussing temperature requirements, and stacking techniques. Adjacent to the main kiln was a slightly smaller one, now in regular use. The studio also housed exquisite porcelain and pottery awaiting firing, while Geoff's home displayed finished pieces destined for museums.
 
The front veranda featured a selection of Geoff's pottery for sale, with many pieces eagerly purchased at bargain prices. Grateful for the opportunity to witness Geoff's 55 years of dedication to his craft, our Members bid farewell and returned to Junction Hill for coffee, followed by lunch at the Blue Goose Hotel.
 
Looking ahead, the next monthly meeting of the is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd, at the Grafton District Services Club on Mary Street, starting at 10:30 am. The guest speaker, Marie Burrows, will enlighten attendees on Wraps with Love, offering insights into supporting the disadvantaged. All are welcome to attend, and guests are encouraged, bring friends and ultimately help disadvantaged children. For catering purposes, kindly RSVP to Vorna at 66424719 by the Friday preceding the meeting.
 

Our March guest speaker was Geoff Crispin. Through a powerful screen presentation, Geoff took us on a journey to explore the various aspects of his work in the development of ceramics over the last 50 years. He shared his expertise from the Whiteman Creek studio to places like the Tiwi Islands, Jamaica, Oman, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Ernabella in Central Australia, and West Timor. A selection of Geoff’s Whiteman Creek Pottery is on display at various museums.

Members are looking forward to our April outing which will be to Geoff Crispin’s studio at Whiteman Creek to take a rare glimpse into the making of Whiteman Creek Pottery as part of the Plunge Art and Cultural Festival, 2024, followed by lunch at the Blue Goose.

Photo of Geoff accepting a Certificate of Appreciation and small gift.

Members met at the café Toast, in Grafton for a mid-month outing, where we indulged in delicious food, delightful company, and catch up on all the latest news.  

We would love to see more ladies join us on these outings so please contact Vorna on 6642 4719 for details.

February social outing for our Club was held at the Brewhouse; a great opportunity for friends to catch up over a cuppa and goodies.