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Member local VIEW Club. Someone
there mentioned VIEW’s
connection to The Smith
stories Family. This sparked
Coleen’s curiosity,
and she learnt that
Coleen’s childhood The Smith Family
was now focused
connection to on supporting
The Smith Family the education
of children
living with
Coleen is the President of disadvantage.
Bundaberg VIEW Club in Central
Coleen was
Queensland, which opened in 2022.
delighted to learn
Coleen has a rich history with VIEW
that VIEW’s 14,000
and The Smith Family.
members around
It was the 1950s, and Coleen was Australia share a
just five years old with two young common goal: to
siblings and more on the way. support the work of The
Her mother was caring for the Smith Family. “I joined that
family, while they were living with night and found my purpose,”
grandparents as they waited for says Coleen. “Children are our
housing. It was such a difficult time future. To support children on their
– then The Smith Family entered education journey is paramount.” After a lifetime connected to The
Smith Family, Coleen can’t think
their lives.
In 2021, Coleen and Michael retired of a better way to give back. “The
“They gave us food hampers, to Lowmead, a small, rural town impact The Smith Family had on my
clothing and financial assistance,” in Queensland. With no local VIEW life was huge,” Coleen says.
Coleen recalls. “We never felt ‘less- Club, Coleen, with help from an
than’; the caring people from The experienced member of the VIEW “Helping children experience a
Smith Family made sure of that.” National Leadership Team, Jean positive and happy school life is so
Jennings, set to work to start one. important. I didn’t have all the items
Coleen never forgot that interaction, Within six months Bundaberg VIEW I needed in my early years, so I try
and decades later, The Smith Family Club was formed, with Coleen as every day for this to be available to
re-entered her life. She’d moved President. The Club’s 45 members the children Bundaberg VIEW Club
to northern NSW with her husband worked hard to make connections sponsors.”
Michael and was invited to visit her in their community and have now
Now Coleen is helping lay the
raised enough funds to sponsor
groundwork for a new VIEW Club in
four students on The Smith
another Queensland community.
Family’s Learning for
“Every child deserves the best
Life program.
education and the items and
tools for them to grow, dream and
prosper,” she says. “My heart is full
re-living my Smith Family journey
and the joy of VIEW.”
Marie’s experience
at Learning Club
Marie joined Tonsley VIEW Club
(SA) in October 2021. After learning
about The Smith Family’s Learning
Clubs in 2022, Marie became
a Learning Club volunteer in
February 2023. Having enjoyed the
opportunity so much, she’s signed
up again in 2024! Read about why
she loves her volunteering role.
10 VIEW MATTERS
