Lions club’s push for members in 2024

THE Lions Club of Portarlington Drysdale is searching for its next wave of Lions for 2024 and beyond as it aims to continue its valuable community work into the future.

Club membership co-ordinator Matt Hall said the organisation has 35 members but this figure was at risk due to the club’s average membership age increasing.

“Out of those 35 members, a number of them are at the higher end of the age bracket and they’ve done a tremendous job for us as a club and Lions in general for more than 50 years, I’d say.

“But while we continue to remain an active group here on the Northern Bellarine, contributing to initiatives like the Drysdale and Portarlington Food Banks and others, we need to look towards the future and acquire new members to ensure we continue our work for the next 50 years too.”

Mr Hall joined the Lions Club of Portarlington Drysdale 20 months ago and has loved being a regular volunteer at community events across all Northern Bellarine towns from Curlewis to Portarlington and St Leonards.

The club also maintains positive relationships with Portarlington and Drysdale’s football, netball, and cricket clubs distributing money to Junior sport initiatives.

Mr Hall described the Lions community as “great folk” and assured any new members of a welcoming atmosphere upon joining the club.

“The camaraderie was a major highlight for me as well as putting back into the community and for the club in 2023,” he said.

“Assisting with events like the Portarlington Mussel Festival, the Portarlington Lions markets and barbecues, the weekly Friday night raffle at the Portarlington Grand Hotel, and the annual Christmas Appeal fundraiser for the Portarlington Business Development Association.

“These are all things that will continue in 2024 in addition to our free Lions Skin Checks and Lions eye health checks in schools.”

The club runs two meetings each month for members to attend in addition to assisting and running community events.

One meeting is held for business to determine fundraising allocations, the other is a social catch-up dinner for lions to stay connected with fellow members.

Anyone interested in joining the Lions Club of Portarlington Drysdale for 2024 can do so by emailing [email protected]