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Awards
Certificate of Appreciation
National/Zone Councillors, Advisors and Clubs can request Certificates of Appreciation from National Office to present to members, guest speakers, etc. as they see fit. To order printed/hardcopy certificates complete and send/email a Stock Order Form to National Office.
Alternatively, a digital copy is available on request. view@thesmithfamily.com.au.
Alternatively, a digital copy is available on request. view@thesmithfamily.com.au.
Decade Pins for Years of Service
VIEW members who have reached 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years of continuous membership are eligible to receive a service pin.
At the beginning of the year, the membership lists and a unique Service Pin order form is distributed to Clubs. This list contains the names of members who, according to National Office database, are eligible to receive their service pins.
Clubs are required to check this list from their records and return, with amendments if applicable, to National Office in order to receive Service Pins. These pins can be presented to members at a suitable function.
Service Pins for 10 and 20 year anniversaries attract a $5 fee. Service pins for 30, 40, 50 and 60 year anniversaries are distributed free of charge.
For information regarding Decade/Service Pins please refer to the Club Handbook.
At the beginning of the year, the membership lists and a unique Service Pin order form is distributed to Clubs. This list contains the names of members who, according to National Office database, are eligible to receive their service pins.
Clubs are required to check this list from their records and return, with amendments if applicable, to National Office in order to receive Service Pins. These pins can be presented to members at a suitable function.
Service Pins for 10 and 20 year anniversaries attract a $5 fee. Service pins for 30, 40, 50 and 60 year anniversaries are distributed free of charge.
For information regarding Decade/Service Pins please refer to the Club Handbook.
Making a Difference Awards
Recognising our members
We keep our culture strong by recognising the members who bring it to life. Our Making a Difference Award celebrates the women who live our values and lift up our community through her actions and her attitude. It’s our way of saying thanks to someone who helps make VIEW Clubs a great place to be.
On a quarterly basis, members nominated by their clubs or by individual members, will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the VIEW Executive, be recognised on the VIEW website and be added to our honour roll at National Convention.
On a quarterly basis, members nominated by their clubs or by individual members, will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the VIEW Executive, be recognised on the VIEW website and be added to our honour roll at National Convention.
Nominate a Member
The VIEW National President reviews nominations for the Making a Difference awards on a quarterly basis. Submissions for 2025 are currently closed. Congratulations to our wonderful, well deserving recipients!
Submissions for the first quarter of 2026 will open in January 2026.
Centenarian Award
Any member reaching her 100th birthday is welcome to receive a signed Centenarian Certificate from the VIEW National President and VIEW National Manager. Please request and provide details to National Office (view@thesmithfamily.com.au) allowing one month’s notice for preparation of the certificate.
National President's Award
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This Award is presented at the biennial VIEW National Convention and was first presented at the VIEW Convention in 2005. The Award recognises a VIEW member or VIEW Club who, in the opinion of the National President, has made a significant impact through outstanding community service, resulting in the advancement of the VIEW organisation and its members.
Criteria:
- Impact on National or Area scale
- Service that has occurred in the past 12 -24 months
- Delivered in a caring and respectful way
- Outstanding service for VIEW that has been considered above and beyond what is usual in an elected position
George Forbes Award
This Award is presented at the biennial VIEW National Convention and was first presented at the VIEW Convention in 2005. It honours the contribution to the advancement of Australian women by George Forbes. The Award recognises excellent service by a VIEW member or person who has progressed VIEW nationally.
Criteria:
- Impact on National scale
- Service that has occurred in the past 12-24 months
- Demonstration of The Smith Family values in their actions that has been considered above and beyond what is usual in an elected position.
Blue Sapphire Awards
As part of VIEW’s 65th Anniversary celebrations in 2025, we asked members, in 150 words or less, to share the most impactful contribution to VIEW and The Smith Family during 2023, 2024, and 2025
From these applications we have recognised either a Member, a Club, a Zone, or an Area that has demonstrated their brilliance in four key award categories: Voice, Interests, Education and Women.
There were almost 40 nominations which shone the light on the brilliance of so many of our VIEW women so thank you to all those who entered the competition and made our decision to choose one from each of our four key categories a difficult one.
Rules of engagement - that the Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Now for the winners…
Voice
First category - Voice: Key advocacy, raised awareness about VIEW and advocated for Australian children experiencing disadvantage.
The winner is …Linda Castle Melville City VIEW Club WA
In 2024/25 Linda has been a dedicated publicity officer, spreading the word about VIEW through the distribution of information and through local speaking engagements which has directly encouraged over 16 new members to join Melville City VIEW. Linda has also had media articles published in the ‘Have A Go’ newspaper which is distributed throughout Western Australia raising awareness and advocating for VIEW, The Smith Family and the education Australian children experiencing disadvantage.
I’m sure you will agree that Linda is well deserving of a ‘Blue Sapphire’ award.
Interests
Second category - Interests: The most innovative, clever or creative way to attract women to their Club through a local or national initiative.
The winner …is Janice Holzhauser, President Shellharbour VIEW Club, NSW.
Shellharbour VIEW Club is 53 years old this year and with her leadership skills, determination and hard work, Janice has increased her Club’s Learning for Life sponsorship from one (1) to twelve (12) students. The membership has also grown by 15% this year. Janice’s creative market days have included craft stalls at shopping centres, pie drives, fashion parades, monthly raffles and a mega Christmas raffle all organised by her. Along with Innovative promotion of VIEW on local ABC and Vox FM radio and social media. The Club has also contributed to the Digital Learning Essentials program.
I’m sure you agree Janice is well deserving of a ‘Blue Sapphire’ award.
Education
Third category - Education: An impactful way of connecting with students on the Learning for Life program or The Smith Family providing educational outcomes for Australian students experiencing disadvantage.
The winner is … Bairnsdale, VIEW Club, Victoria
Bairnsdale VIEW is a young club, 7 years old and supports 20 students on the Learning for Life Program. A team of 4 members engage in active correspondence with the students, as well as maintaining a strong support network with The Smith Family’s program ‘Girls at the Centre at their local secondary college and keenly follow their progress.
With the focus that Education is paramount in changing a child’s future, members meet monthly and make up to 700 sandwiches to provide to 8 local schools, so that children are not distracted from their learning due to feeling hungry.
They have also been enthusiastic supporters of Digital Learning Essentials program donating an additional $10,800 to support 8 student packages on top of their Learning for Life commitment.
I’m sure you agree that Bairnsdale VIEW Club is well deserving of a ‘Blue Sapphire’ award.
Women
Fourth category - Women: an impactful and or innovative volunteering or fundraising activity that supports The Smith Family providing educational outcomes for Australian students experiencing disadvantage.
The winner is …. Deb Sutton - Smith, Tonsley VIEW Club, SA …
From little things big things grow- in 2024 Deb Sutton-Smith was approached to provide volunteer Traffic Marshalls at Tour Down Under cycling race held in Adelaide and surrounds. In January 2024, 14 members from Tonsley and Blackwood Hills VIEW Clubs raised $1600. Then by raising interest with other SA VIEW clubs in January this year – 89 members from 13 VIEW Clubs were Traffic Marshalls’ at the Tour Down Under cycling race, collectively raising $11,600.
This was followed up with 30 members, from 7 SA Clubs at short notice, participating as hosts for visitors on the hop-on-hop-off buses provided in the Barossa Valley as part of the AFL Gather Around, raising $20,850!
Apart from raising significant funds, members volunteered and promoted VIEW in the community by talking about where they were from and handing out essence cards.
I’m sure you will agree that Deb is well deserving of a ‘Blue Sapphire’ award.
