Page 11 - VIEW_Matters
P. 11

VIEW from Two: Carleen and Sonia




        Carleen Maley and Sonia Workman call themselves virtual VIEW friends. The pair, who
        work closely updating VIEW’s website, rarely see each other in person yet have formed
        a special friendship based on mutual respect and care for each other.




        Carleen:                            of the Website Working Group. She was
                                            such a quick learner and reliable.
        I joined Bega Evening VIEW Club (NSW)
        in 1979 as it appeared to be an exciting   Working on the website together has
        new initiative just for women, coming to   strengthened our friendship. I can phone
        our small country town. I am the VIEW   Sonia with my computer frustrations and
        Website Administrator. Clubs email    my personal problems. To me Sonia is a
        their photos and stories to         carer, who has the skill of being a good
        admin@view.org.au so the Website    listener. She actually hears the wri“en
        Working Group (Sonia Workman,       word, and listens to the frustrations of
        Jenny Masche and Liz Griffiths and me)   our new club computer people.
        can upload these to the website.    Sonia is a very dedicated and confident
        I first met Sonia via Skype in 2016 when   person, with a kind generous heart.
        she volunteered to become a member



        Sonia:                              Carleen was very considerate and
                                            extremely patient training me. There
        I was invited to a Milton Ulladulla    are still times when I come up against
        VIEW Club (NSW) luncheon in May 2015   something I am not sure of, and Carleen
        and joined in June. I had never heard of   is always ready to offer timely advice
        VIEW and having recently retired to a   or calmly talk me through a previously
        new area it sounded like a great way to   unknown procedure.
        meet new people.
                                            She is a compassionate woman, with
        In 2016 I became Publicity Officer for   a beautiful personality, whom I truly
        my club, with very li“le idea of what the   admire and respect. She is inspirational.
        position involved. Then somehow I ended   No ma“er what is happening in her
        up on the Website Working Group! This is   personal life she still has time for others.
        when I met Carleen who trained me and
        others via Skype.                   Carleen and I live miles apart, however
                                            through our mutual work, I feel a
        I now have a supporting role, assisting   delightful bond with her, which only   I hope VIEW members know that
        Carleen where I can. I regularly monitor   gets stronger each year. I love the   Carleen is a wonderful, clever woman
        the admin@view.org.au inbox and post   communication we share together.   with a great sense of humour.
        photos and stories from individual clubs
        to their webpages.




        I like the informality of Learning Club,   room cha“ering away to us as they   for me. As well as the pleasure
        which makes the children feel special,   arrive, dump their bags and keep   of maintaining contact with our
        while also endeavouring to assist with   sharing with us.             sponsored students, it enables me to
        each one’s learning preferences. This   I also like to see the expression on a   easily keep my fellow VIEW members
        approach has made some results feel   child’s face when they discover the   focussed and interested.
        especially rewarding for us as tutors.
                                           delight of learning something and   It’s very important programs like
        As I’ve shared at VIEW meetings, it’s   knowing that they know it.    Learning for Life and Learning Club
        particularly rewarding when withdrawn   Being the Learning for Life officer   continue and expand.”
        children, a•er a time, bound into the
                                           at my VIEW Club is very meaningful


                                                                                                   APRIL 2022   11
   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16