Redlands VIEW Club

October has been a very busy but interesting and fun month for our Club.

Early in the month we enjoyed a great day out on a bus trip to the Farm Shop near Kalbar and enjoyed a beautiful morning tea and browsed the shops on site as well. The countryside looked magnificent in the area known as the Scenic Rim in South-East Queensland. Some retail therapy in the delightful village followed along with lunch at the local hotel.

A pink theme to acknowledge Breast Cancer month saw beautiful table decorations by our extraordinary talented Program Officer, Margie and her helper Nerelle. Our tables have looked stunning all year thanks to their efforts.

Our Guest Speaker was J J Cowley, Manager of our local Bendigo Bank, who spoke about the Community Raffle they sponsor which supports local organisations from the profits and which has benefitted our Club in 2025.

Members decorated their own table with a tropical theme for the September lunch meeting. They were absolutely stunning!  The quilt raffle was drawn and won by Dawn. This was one of major fundraisers for the year to support our ten students.

Trevor Hamley, a glaciologist on the Mawson Base in Antarctica gave a wonderful visual presentation about working on secondment to the Soviets and working at the coldest place on Earth. We learnt a lot about Antarctica, emphasising the ‘É’ in VIEW.

Members marked this momentous occasion at their birthday meeting in May 2025.

A great lunch meeting again in August, with wonderful table decorations thanks to Margie and Nerelle.  Congratulations to Nerelle on receiving a Making a Difference award; this was so well deserved.

Our Guest speaker was Chief Inspector/Detective, Mel Anderson who spoke about bravery and fear and the many Honors that have been received in her Family Tree over several generations dating back to 1764 and the feats of bravery that these represented, both military and civilian. Amazing speaker and also a member of a VIEW Club in Brisbane.

The June lunch meeting was one in which we belatedly acknowledged International Women’s Day.  Our special event had been cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred.

Gorgeous table arrangements in purple which can be seen in the photos. brought wonderful comments.  Zone Councillor Irene presented an update on VIEW and The Smith Family; Delegate Carolyn presented a segment on the meaning of our VIEW colours and their historical connections.

Members enjoyed exciting lucky door and raffle prizes all decked out in purple.

Our 28th birthday in May was a beautiful, happy and friendly celebration. Using a Blue Sapphire theme to acknowledge 65 years of VIEW, more than 40 members including Zone Councillor Irene, National Councillor Lyall and other guests enjoyed a delicious lunch. Gorgeous table decorations made by Margie and Nerelle made the room look very special. A Black Forest cake was cut by President Vivien, ZC Irene and NC Lyall. Members enjoyed lots of raffle and lucky door prizes to end an enjoyable day.

April has been a very busy month for our Club. A street stall raised further funds for our Learning for Life students.

Members enjoyed brunch at the Pere Palace Ottoman in a neighbouring suburb, with delicious food and friendship in classical Ottoman surroundings. Our monthly lunch with an Easter theme featured a presentation on Pain Management  by the Guest Speaker.

As this was in the lead up to Anzac Day, Retired Defence Force member Marion B read the Ode of Remembrance and the Last Post and Reveille were played

Our new Committee conducted their first meeting since taking office which was an enjoyable lunch and get together.

Our Guest Speaker was May Wild, a local author who travelled Australia for 326 days, resulting in the writing of a book of her experiences, A lap of Australia for Beginners. Her talk was illustrated with wonderful pictures, funny antidotes and great information for those contemplating such a trip. This was enjoyed by everyone present along with good food and friendship and lots of catchup chatter.

Our final club meeting for 2024 was a festive celebration of Christmas. With a Christmas lunch, members dressed in Christmas colours, fun and friendship and entertainment by a singer what more we could ask for. The tables were decorated with a Christmas theme and every member received lovely Christmas goodies. A wonderful end to the year.