Christmas in July was celebrated at the Bowlo with Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club members embracing the theme dressed in festive outfits.

Program officer Kerry Keating created a unique Christmas tree and decorated the tables with hand crafted Christmas trees.

Following the traditional roast dinner, sticky date pudding and apple pie, members were delighted to welcome guest speaker Nicole Alexander, an Australian author from Moree, who has just released her latest book Limestone Road.

Nicole’s compelling and very interesting talk about her life and career as a writer of Australian fiction had members spellbound.

Even her own story growing up on a property ‘back of Boomi’ is a story in itself. Nicole has been inspired not just by her own family story of three generations on the land, selected by her great-grandfather in 1893, but also by events and ideas she has come across in everyday life.

Nicole is the author of 12 novels – her first story The Bark Cutters, was short-listed for an Australian Book Industry Award in 2011. It was followed by A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country, The Cedar Tree and The Last Station set in the era of the dying paddle steamer trade along the Darling River as the railways pushed further west.

Nicole has a Masters in creative writing and is published internationally.

Members were advised of three resolutions to be voted on at the August meeting before the overall results are addressed at National VIEW Convention in Brisbane from September 5-7.

The resolutions include addressing loneliness and social isolation; national education standards; and funding mental health programs for children.

A trip to the Reg Lindsay and Friends Memory Barn was held recently with lunch at the Spring Ridge Hotel.

The next dinner meeting will include the annual trivia night organised by Ann McMahon. Members are encouraged to ‘bring a friend’ who could possibly be their team’s secret weapon.

Glen Jones and Elisabeth Heath.

Beryl Schillert and Aldyth Hailes looking the part for the festive-themed event.

Gwen Coddington and Marlene Neader.

Raelee Bruce, Margaret Kelly and Jeanette Hinshelwood.

Sue Braby and Fran Dunn.