Looking Back to Move Forward
What 140 Years of Friendship Can Teach Us Today
By Alison Gilchrist, CEO, GFS Perth
As GFS Perth prepares to open Friendship Central, I often find myself reflecting on a simple question: What would our founders think if they could see us today?
In many ways, the world they lived in would be almost unrecognisable.
When GFS first began in England in 1875 and in Perth shortly afterwards, Western Australia was a very different place. Young women often faced isolation, vulnerability and limited opportunities. Many had moved away from family support networks in search of work and a better future.
Friendship, belonging and practical support were not simply nice ideas; they were essential for wellbeing and survival.
The women who established GFS recognised this need. Long before social workers, community centres and wellbeing programs became commonplace, they created spaces where people could find friendship, encouragement, guidance and practical support. It was a revolutionary idea for its time.
Today, nearly 140 years later, the circumstances may have changed, but the need remains surprisingly familiar. We live in an age of smartphones, social media and instant communication.
Yet research consistently tells us that many people feel increasingly disconnected from one another. Loneliness and social isolation affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Communities are often busier, but not necessarily more connected.
In some ways, we have come full circle.
The challenges look different, but the human need for friendship, belonging and meaningful relationships remains exactly the same. This is why I believe GFS Perth’s history is not simply something to celebrate. It is something to learn from.
Our founders understood something that modern society is only beginning to rediscover: people thrive when they are connected.
They understood that communities become stronger when people know they belong. They understood that friendship has the power to change lives.
Those same principles continue to guide us today.
When we talk about Social Fitness, we are really talking about the modern expression of an idea that has always sat at the heart of GFS. Social Fitness is about creating opportunities for people to build relationships, strengthen connections and participate in community life. It is about intentionally
creating the conditions in which friendship can flourish.
In many ways, Friendship Central represents the next chapter of that story. The setting may be different. Instead of meeting in parish halls and church rooms, people might gather in a café, volunteer in a permaculture garden, attend a workshop, browse the Makers Market or simply enjoy a conversation over coffee.
The activities may look different, but the purpose remains remarkably similar.
|We are still creating spaces where people can meet.
|We are still creating opportunities for connection.
|We are still helping people find friendship and belonging.
There is another important thread that connects our past and our future. Throughout its history, GFS has always sought to respond to the needs of the time. The women who founded the movement were innovators. They saw challenges in their communities and found practical ways to respond.
Want to follow the journey?
Visit us — Come and see Friendship Central taking shape.
Join us — Volunteer, become a member, or join our Makers community.
Partner with us — Become a Founding Partner and help build something that lasts.
