On Christmas eve 1922, five businessmen walked into a Sydney orphanage carrying armfuls of toys and sweets.
They walked out inspired by a single goal: to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Australia.
When asked who the children could thank, one of the men, preferring to remain anonymous, said “Smith”.
“What about the others?” the matron asked. “They’re Smiths too”, replied the man. “We’re all Smiths. We’re The Smith Family.”
And so, The Smith Family was born.
The Smith Family turns 100 years old this year and has spent this time supporting disadvantaged children in their education.
To celebrate its centenary, it has asked all of the organisations who support it through the Learning for Life program to make a ‘spectacle’ of themselves by decorating and wearing 100 year spectacles and taking photos to show their support.
Ocean Grove Evening View Club is one of those organisations that supports the Learning for Life children, and it presently sponsors 16 students.
In support of this initiative, the club came up with the symbolic idea of asking Ocean Grove Primary School students to decorate the glasses for them.
In a combined effort, the prep students and their Grade 6 buddies cut out and decorated 85 pairs of glasses with the help of their foundation teachers Megan, Emily, Mel and Blake.
They were presented to the OG Evening VIEW president Margot Walter and publicity officer Fran Kealey for their members to wear and make a ‘spectacle’ of themselves as a way to celebrate the Smith Family Centenary.
“It was a very symbolic way for the local school children to understand and support the Smith Family’s initiative,” Ms Kealey said.
“Margot was thrilled with the beautifully decorated and colourful glasses and the Ocean Grove Evening VIEW members will proudly wear them for a photo shoot at the next meeting.”
Celebrations for the Smith Family Centenary will continue throughout 2022.
