Lions Clubs around the region are celebrating their roots as this month marks the inauguration of the first ever Lions club which was formed in Lismore by William R. Tresise 75 years ago.
The oldest club in the region is the Lions Club of Mount Gambier whose members will be celebrating 60 years next February including the city’s longest serving Lion charter member PDG Eric Roughana AM.
There will be a celebration for all the clubs in the region at a Zone gathering on tonight at the Mount Gambier RSL arriving at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.
During September the theme has been” Planting Seeds of Hope”, clubs across Australia including locally are being encouraged to plant 75 gardens around the nation to mark the momentous occasion.
In honour of 75 years of Lions in Australia, each of the five clubs within Zone 11 have shared some of their many contributions to the local community, an overriding theme has been all clubs serving their communities with compassion and service, with many friendships formed over the years.
Gambier City Lions Club
One of the biggest projects this club has achieved is being involved in the Miss Personality Quest raising money for Ophthalmology Eye Research at Flinders Medical Centre.
Two outstanding entrants Lea Walker 1989-1990 and Linda Agnew 1998-1999 saw two houses built and sold, with a donation of $140,000 given for research.
Many hours by members, sponsors, and local business, much of it donated, helped achieve this.
The club were also involved in the Para Olympic games and completely cleaned out the Olympic Park Blowhole from 1982-1986 of weeds, trees etc.
The club has previously taken the elderly and underprivileged children to Nelson for a day trip, complete with a barbecue at Donovan’s.
Some enjoyed a trip on the Nelson Endeavour.
They, along with, other Lions & Lioness Club’s in the area held the Multiple District Convention in Mount Gambier in 1981, the first time this was held in a regional area and initiated home hospitality, providing a meal to people in their homes.
More recently the Gambier City Lions Club held a successful Grocery Grab Raffle to raise money for Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research.
Lions Club of Kalangadoo and Districts
Even though they are a small club, the Kalangadoo and Districts Lions Club contribute a great deal to the communities of Kalangadoo, Nangwarry, and Glencoe.
They are currently holding meat raffles at the Kalangadoo Hotel which over the last year has raised $2000 for the Kalangadoo Primary School split between sports and book vouchers.
They take care of the Kalangadoo Cemetery and are currently in the process of obtaining a trailer to be used in bushfires to provide much-needed refreshments.
Lions Club of Blue Lake City Lioness
The Lions Club of Blue Lake City Lioness started as a Lioness club sponsored by the Lions Club of Mount Gambier.
Last year, after over 40 years Lions International stopped recognising Lionesses so they had to choose between ceasing as a club or becoming a Lions Club, to which they chose the latter.
They are still the same club just operating under a new name.
The ladies have been delivering library books to the homebound for over 40 years, helped develop Telecross in the area and donated to Boandik.
They have recently donated a fridge for the Red Cross Car in Mount Gambier, built memorial seating along the Railway Lands and regularly donate hospital packs full of hygiene essentials to the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Many years ago, The Lioness Club, with the help of Lions, initiated the purchase of the first Breast Screening Bus that visits country areas in South Australia.
Over the years, the members have catered for numerous events including funerals, birthdays, and weddings.
Lions Club of Mount Gambier
The Lions Club of Mount Gambier was started by the mayor at the time and the President was the Town Clerk.
They launched their first, and only, public appeal for Pioneer Park, earning over 4000 pounds to clean up and redevelopment the site.
Since then, they have built children’s playgrounds, notably at Vansittart Park, the Stan Elliott lookout, and numerous other lookouts over the Blue Lake.
They constructed a cricket pitch at Werena Park and a basketball court on Margaret Street.
One of the biggest projects the Lions Club has undertaken is clearing up the Englebrecht Caves in the 1980s, which had become an unofficial dumping ground, and transforming it into what it is today.
The club is known for their public health testing on Glaucoma, Colour Blindness, Diabetes, Blood Pressure and Skin Cancer.
A mobile Skin Cancer Screening Unit funded by Lions in the District, now visits country areas.
In recent times, they have worked on heritage fencing at the Rook Walk up around the Valley Lakes and do fencing and maintenance at Riding for the Disabled.
Lions Club of Penola
The Lions Club of Penola are the only service club in Penola, earning most of their income from the 400 Merino wethers they run.
Every year they donate over $10,000 to various organisations, mostly from their sheep, which could add up to almost half a million dollars over their 40 years.
The club donate a sizeable portion of money raised to the Penola War Memorial Hospital.
They have a weekly community bus service that runs to Mount Gambier and facilitated the establishment of The Men’s Shed.
The club have contributed to the new town square, playgrounds, and the rotunda at the Pinchunga aged care centre.
Members planted a row of trees along the road aptly named ‘Lions Avenue.’
