SI is a world-wide organisation proud of its links overseas and the International aspect of its work. The Cannock club this year centred the theme of its Annual International Night on Australia. President Lynne Tuckley welcomed 70 members and guests, including Regional President Carol Bailey, attending the last formal engagement of her year. The club received greetings from its friendship link club in Perth, W. Australia: one of their members, Past International President of SI Margaret Lobo visited Cannock in the summer.
After a meal at the Barns Restaurant members enjoyed a very lively and informative presentation from Dianne Mannering. She talked about the lives and adventures of some of the convicted felons – male and female- who endured a harsh and dangerous voyage resulting in the colonisation of Australia, although originally the transportation had been undertaken to relieve overcrowding of prisons in 18c and early 19c England. Dianne illustrated her talk with her own delightful paintings done over a period of 4 years.
The women endured lives of incredible hardship and sometimes brutal treatment but their stories often had happier endings when they gained their freedom in the new colony and so Dianne used for her talk title the pleading from the colony that they should “Send Us Some Women!”.
A raffle held on the evening raised £220 for the SI Emergency Fund which is used to provide instant aid to disaster hit areas all over the world.
Photo attached: l to r: speaker Dianne Mannering with Lynne Tuckley, President SI Cannock & District and Region President SI Midland Chase Carol Bailey