Twin Towns VIEW Club supports students through fundraising

TWIN Towns Day VIEW Club has raised funds for disadvantaged students while hosting a guest talk on the history of the postal system at its latest monthly meeting.

More than 30 members attended the March 5 gathering, where raffle proceeds were donated to The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program.

The national VIEW organisation supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their schooling, with the local club sponsoring seven young people.

Club president Lorraine Gilkison said helping students succeed gives members a strong sense of purpose.

“It’s very fulfilling,” she said.

“We’ve had former students come back and speak to our club after they’ve finished school, and they’ve told us what a difference the support has made to their lives.”

Gilkison said rising education costs have made the club’s contributions increasingly important.

“The way education has changed nowadays means every child needs a laptop, so it’s a lot more expensive,” she said.

Guest speaker Rod Preston also entertained members with his talk It Started with a Kiss, which explored the colourful and often humorous history of the postal system.

“It focuses on the interesting and comical history of the postal system over the years,” he said.

“For example, in America in 1913 you could send your children through the mail via parcel post.”

The next meeting will be held on April 2 and will include a presentation on helping older women manage balance and reduce the risk of falls.