Biographer speaks at View club lunch

Umina Beach resident Ms Barbara Firth will be guest speaker at Endeavour View Club's luncheon at Everglades Country Club, Woy Woy, on Monday, November 5.

The club meets on the first Monday of every month to promote and discuss the Voice, Interest and Education of Women (VIEW).

There are currently 18 view clubs on the Central Coast and over 21,000 members nationally who meet to discuss women's issues.

The meeting will begin at 11am.

Ms Firth will be discussing her life-long interest in "Australia's forgotten icon" Annette Kellerman and her work as life member of the National Council of Women of NSW.

Ms Firth co-authored the biography The Original Million Dollar Mermaid after years of research into the "remarkable athlete, model and movie star" that was Annette Kellerman.

"Annette was such a remarkable woman," Ms Firth said.

"She was a woman of great knowledge.

"She changed the life of women all over the world during a time when they were restricted by social norms and class.

"Annette broke all the boundaries."

Ms Firth was also a member of the Ladies Committee of the Sydney Opera House Appeal Fund.

Ms Firth has been living on the Peninsula for over 10 years and said she finds the area very peaceful.

"I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else," Ms Firth said.

Clare Graham, 11 Oct 2007