Local musician Hayden Davey then accompanying himself on the guitar, sang a couple of Bob Marley songs which he felt reflected the importance of the day. Judy Sills (Gunnedah Evening) provided everyone with a brief overview of the history of VIEW from its foundation in 1960 by George Forbes, manager of The Smith Family at the time, to the present day when VIEW Australia-wide donates more than $1million per year to The Smith Family. Local Learning for Life worker, Cindy Pearce then outlined some of the programs used to help improve the educational outcomes of some of the students.

Following lunch Lucy Haslam – Spokesperson, Director and Co-Founder of United in Compassion gave the members and guests an overview of how her life changed in 2010 as a result of her son Dan’s diagnosis of bowel cancer in his early twenties. She began campaigning for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis once she saw the benefits that Dan and others with various conditions received as a result of using it.

Lucy has many people supporting her including researchers, doctors, politicians etc., and she has worked tirelessly over the intervening years since Dan’s diagnosis, organising symposiums and workshops with the medical profession, media, politicians, bureaucrats, people with cancer and other debilitating conditions to have personalised trials on the use of cannabis conducted, get it legalised for medicinal use as well as access for the many people who can benefit from its use.

She is aware that the number of people using cannabis medicinally across Australia is more than 100,000, however they are currently using it illegally so Lucy and her team are working towards ensuring that this situation is changed.

Lucy will be one of the inspirational speakers to address the VIEW Clubs of Australia’s National Convention which will be held in Tamworth in September.

Submitted by Kathy Challinor OAM, Publicity Officer/Assistant Sec. Tamworth Evening View Club