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Gympie VIEW Club
About
Gympie VIEW Club was formed in 1995.
Currently, the Club sponsors two Smith Family Learning for Life students and is actively involved in fundraising activities to raise donations for The Smith Family programs.
We are always open to new members, so please get in touch today and come and see what it's all about.
Location
- When: Meeting Day on 3rd Friday each month
- Time: At 11.00am
- Where: Gunabul Homestead,
- Address: 9 Power Road, SOUTHSIDE QLD 4570
Contact
President: Esme - 0438 390 526
Email: viewclubgympie@gmail.com
Club News
Meet Our 2025 Committee
Our Club held the Annual General Meeting in January, when Zone Councillor QB02, Christine, installed the 2025 Committee (pictured), led once again by President Esme. The year ahead looks to be another exciting one, with interesting guest speakers, fun outings and opportunities to promote our club, one of which will be at the biennial Heritage Makers Fair in July. Members had a marvelous response to this in 2023 and hopefully, we will have just as good results this year. June this year marks the 30th anniversary of our Club, as well as marking the 65th anniversary for VIEW Clubs of Australia.
In her annual report, President Esme said that 2024 was a good one for Members, in which we were delighted to welcome twelve new Members to our ranks. We were also awarded a grant from the Bendigo Bank for the purchase a Square Terminal. This means that we can use our card for the payment of our luncheons - much less work for the Treasurer and her assistant, and with the advent of cheques being phased out, it keeps us up with the times. Our Club was invited to showcase ourselves at the Gympie Community Expo and the Gympie Seniors Expo. We had a booth at both, with lots of promotional material relating to VIEW. The Trading Table and social outings, have been very successful, enabling us to pay for the sponsorship of our students and any extra monies that we send to The Smith Family for the Joyspreaders.
February 2025
Early February saw another large gathering of members enjoying the marvelous food at the Coffee Barn Café. Guest speaker for February was Greg Jones from U3A, who informed us of the many, many classes that are available through that organization.
January 2025 Outing
Our first outing for the year was a visit to the Kandanga Hotel for morning tea and lunch.
As can be seen by the accompanying photo we had a great turnout! This is always a much-looked-forward-to event to catch up with one another after the hustle and bustle of Christmas.
Christmas 2024
December 13th saw Members celebrating Christmas in true Aussie style, including a musical/acting performance of Waltzing Matilda in which all those present joined in singing the chorus. We may not make it on stage, but we sure had fun doing it.
Kudos to the staff of Gunabul for the marvelous table decorations and the wonderful meal provided for us. Di Cross, music teacher, professional jazz singer and keyboard vocalist, donated her time and talents to entertain us throughout the day.
December 2024
Members enjoying the Christmas celebrations, and once again, some of them decorated a tree in Mary Street for the Christmas on Mary celebrations.
Jean Makes a Difference in 2025
Our Member, Jean, has certainly played her part in the furtherance of education for many a child over the past 28 years. At our Birthday meeting , Jean was honoured for her tireless work during the years she has been a part of the VIEW Club, being a recipient of a Making a Difference award, which was presented to Jean by Zone Councillor QB02, Christine.
As well as serving on committee in a number of positions, Jean has always been willing to volunteer as Hostess for the day or help on the Trading Table; and has always been welcoming to new Members and has attended as many meetings, social and promotional functions as possible, thereby contributing greatly to the Club’s financial ability to support The Smith Family, in its endeavours to further the educational outcomes for many Learning for Life students.
Photo shows Jean, on the right, at our recent 1st-for-the- year gathering, at the Kandanga Hotel.
Op Shop Outing in 2024
Members had the opportunity to relax and get to know one another better with a recent visit to the Imbil Op Shop, some retail therapy at the old Picture theatre shop and a wonderful lunch at the Wild Vine Café and Restaurant.
Accompanying photo shows Charmaine, Sharan and Jenny at the Wild Vine Cafe and Restaurant at Imbil, in the beautiful Mary Valley.
August 2024 Guest Speaker
Long standing ex-Shire Councillor, and now Member of Gympie VIEW, Julie, was the Guest Speaker for our August lunch meeting, and what a tale she had to tell, from initially working in a real estate office, progressing to owning her own real estate business, then, at the age of just 30, being elected, albeit with a margin of just 7 votes, to the old Widgee Shire Council. Apart from her time with that Council, she subsequently served on both the Cooloola Shire and Gympie Regional Councils.
Along the way, Julie also went into Real estate again and got her qualifications as an Interior Designer; a lady with many talents as well as an Honorary Life Member for the Blue Light Association.
Bring and Buy Day in 2024
Around 20 Members gathered at Elwyn’s home, with its delightful view over the valley, for a Morning tea and Clothes, Jewellery, Handbags and Shoes Bring and Buy Day.
Many a I really don’t need anymore clothes etc, BUT…… was heard, and our Members had a marvellous time trying on new clothes and oohing and aahing over the shoes, bags and jewellery, with everyone going home with a smile on their faces.
The delicious food that was on offer could have had something to do with that as well, and I can assure you that none of us would have needed lunch that day. It was a day for celebrating as well, as another new Member signed up.
Gympie Expo 2024
Members never let the opportunity go by to promote our Club, organising a wonderful stand at the local expo.
Accompanying photo shows Lyn and Esme, at the Gympie Community Expo, where a lot of interest was shown in our organization
Social Outing to Welcome In 2024
Members are now back into the swing of things, with around 16 of our group braving the rain to have lunch at Kingston House in January. We were all pleased to see Annie and Marcia join us for the first time in many months.
Photo shows Christine, Carol and Marcia.