History
Collectors Club of NSW Inc was formed one cold and wet June evening in 1978, the first meeting was attended by 8 founding members. Our first President was Jenny Child (nee Young now living in the UK). Our club doll and logo are both named after Jenny.
Every decade since, we have marked the anniversary in special ways. Our club’s 20th birthday was celebrated throughout 1998 by several activities and the creation of a cloth doll as a birthday gift for members.
In 2008, members received a commemorative name badge for the club’s 30th anniversary.
In 2018, another milestone year arrived, and we celebrated the Club’s 40th Anniversary at a party on the 2nd June and every member received a sturdy tote bag, perfect for carrying doll and craft projects.
Displays and Competitions
Over the past 40 years the club has held numerous functions including the Annual Doll Fair, displays featuring tableaux created by members with their dolls, a Museum for a Day, a Doll Expo, Doll Spectacular at the Women’s Weekly Needlework, Art & Craft Expo, and various displays for the Quilt Fair & Stitches & Craft at Darling Harbour and Rosehill.
The Club sponsors several prizes in the ‘Dressed Doll’ competitions at the Royal Agricultural Society’s arts and crafts section of the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The Betty Viazim Handcraft Competition is held biannually at the club in March.
Charity
Each year members of the Club are encouraged to nominate a charity that will benefit from the club’s fundraising activities during the following year. Members attending the Annual General Meeting in September then vote for the charity that the club will support in the following year. Over the years the club has raised well over a quarter of a million dollars for charities.
The Club’s nominated charity for 2024 is the Dandelion Support Network.