![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/gilkisonandharveywlo_11185.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
“There are corporate, obviously, areas, but VIEW Clubs of Australia is the largest of the community support.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we fundraise and sponsor disadvantaged students in education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomson said the support provided through The Smith Family extended beyond school-based learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat support is three-pronged,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it’s support for their education, it’s support for the families and a learning area outside the school as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said one of the organisation\u2019s challenges moving forward is attracting younger women to join clubs across Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cChange is a big thing with ladies,\u201d Thomson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the issue that we have across the board, across Australia, of course, is the age factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd can I just say, we are vibrant as aged ladies, but the change, of course, is encouraging younger ladies to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomson said economic pressures had made it more difficult for younger women to participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, the issue with that is the economy,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Ladies work longer. They babysit now.”<\/p>\n
“So, it’s difficult to encourage that younger group.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite the challenges, Thomson said VIEW clubs continued to play an important role in fostering friendship and connection within communities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s important to be welcoming,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen anybody arrives at a VIEW Club, the welcoming and the respect is just so important.”<\/p>\n Twin Towns Day VIEW Club president Lorraine Gilkison said the club also played an important role as a social and welfare support network for women in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the ladies, a lot of them are on their own and so by coming and being part of the club, they’re absorbed into the club and they form friendships,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Gilkison said the club maintained a strong welfare network, with members regularly checking in on one another during periods of illness or hospitalisation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a welfare officer who keeps in touch with everyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo from time to time people have operations and medical things that they have to deal with, and she contacts them and we sign cards and send them out to the members.<\/p>\n “We make sure they know they\u2019re being thought of and supported while they recover.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TWIN Towns Day VIEW Club celebrated 58 years of friendship, fundraising and community support at South Tweed Sports Club recently, with members joined by national president of VIEW Clubs of Australia Lorraine Thomson for the occasion. The club marked the milestone by reflecting on nearly six decades of community connection and fundraising support for disadvantaged […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/thomsonwcakeview_11642.jpeg\")