President Margaret Stevens welcomed all guests to the dinner meeting, where funny anecdotes and other tales were shared about friendships.

National Convention in Tamworth, from September 15-17, will be the highlight of the VIEW calendar this year.

Among the guest speakers will be chief executive officer of The Smith Family, doctor Lisa O’Brien, national president Gwen Wilton, and a Learning for Life student.

Learning for Life is a Smith Family program, which helps create better futures for children in need by providing financial assistance from a sponsor to help disadvantaged families afford the cost of their child’s education, support from a Learning for Life program coordinator to connect the child and their family to local learning opportunities, and access to educational programs.

 A panel of inspirational and prominent women at the convention will include medical cannabis campaigner, Lucy Haslam, Shayne Higson (Dying With Dignity) and author Meg Keneally, along with The Smith Family Chair, Anna Bligh AC, who will deliver the George Forbes Oration.

The Writers Festival will feature Dr Anne Summers AO, author Meredith Jaffe, broadcaster Julia Baird and journalist Tony Jones. There will be two themed dinners, The Second Best Exotic Hotel, and A Little Bit of Country, with the gala dinner themed The City of Lights.

Visitors can round out each day with a visit to the expo hosted by craft and artisan stallholders from local markets.

Members are urged to attend at least one of the functions. Registrations close on August 25.

The club’s next dinner meeting on Wednesday, August 2, will be a trivia night.

The competition donor will be Anne McMahon, with the lucky door prize to be donated by Colleen and Lucy Loveridge. Apologies and names of guests must be phoned to Kate Knight (6742 3926) by the Monday night prior.