Selling the sizzle: Lions fundraising path paved with sausages and raffle tickets

EVERY $2.50 sausage sizzled, every $2 child’s train ticket punched and every $2 raffle ticket sold by Torquay Lions in the past 12 months has enabled the club to distribute $52,000 to local, national and international communities.

Outgoing Lions president Tricia Blane said she was proud of what the Lions had done with funds raised from the Torquay community and visitors during another year of hard work by the club’s members.

“However, despite our public image of being sausage sizzlers and raffle ticket sellers, we do more than just raise money for distribution to those who need support.

“There is much we do that is unseen by the public.

“Helping people in their homes, supporting Torquay’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service, providing assistance to surf clubs, encouraging students through scholarships, and funding accommodation and training at a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, are some of what we do behind the scenes.

“Most importantly, every cent raised by Lions from the public must be distributed to the community whether it be locally, nationally or internationally.”

She said some of the club’s larger donations went to supporting organisations determined to make the world a better place.

“Our largest donation of $10,000 went to Foundation 61, our local rehabilitation centre at Mt Duneed which prepares people for a fresh start in the community.

“The Surf Coast Secondary College students received $6767 for a senior student leadership program; for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal, we collected locally $5,760; $4,000 allowed many disadvantaged local youngsters to enjoy a summer holiday at the Lions Village at Licola; and donations to cancer and other medical research totaled many thousands of dollars.

“Disasters like drought and bushfires affecting hundreds of Australians, received considerable financial support to help get people back on their feet after being devastated by such natural disasters.” She noted that if Torquay Lions did not have such a generous local community, the club could not help so many organisations and people.

“It is the willing generosity of so many in our community that, although Torquay Lions voluntarily spent many hours in fundraising, should provide locals with great satisfaction knowing their contributions, no matter how small made such a difference to so many.”