Sizzling contest demands a snag

VOTERS in Barwon Heads will get the chance to support a national foundation by enjoying a good old-fashioned snag while posting their ballots.

More than 1,000 Lions Clubs across the country will settle in at polling locations on May 21, including at Barwon Heads Primary School, to raise money for the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF).

President of Barwon Heads Ocean Grove Lions Club Grant Hull said this will be the second year that the club will fundraise for the Lions’ ‘Biggest BBQ’.

The Lions ‘Biggest BBQ’ is an annual fundraising event which clubs can host at any time of year.

Money raised will be used to help achieve ALCCRF’s mission to prevent children dying from cancer. The funds nationally accumulated goes to clinical scientific cancer research.

“On a day where pretty much the entire Barwon Heads community will be out in one location, why wouldn’t we use the opportunity to raise funds for cancer research?” Mr Hull said.

“We made a few dollars last year, but this year we should obtain a decent amount of funds given voters will be out in force.

“Voting might not be the most exciting thing, so why not have a snag while doing it and raise some crucial funds in the process?”

Lions Australia has been supporting childhood cancer research as far back as 1976.

Since then, childhood cancer survival rates have improved to 80 per cent.

Since 1996, Lions Australia has contributed over $12 million resulting in, among other things, safer and more effective blood cell transplantation for leukaemia patients.

“This particular fundraiser forms a portion of our donations to Lions Australia and other International Donations,” Mr Hull said.

“We’ve already committed $500 to the foundation, but we’ll aim to beat that on Saturday, so to everyone heading to the school on Election Day… enjoy your sausage and have another!”

Mr Hull said on the day soft drinks will be $2, sausages will be $2.50 (onions optional) and 10 Lions Club members will be selling all morning and into the afternoon.

For the full list of election sites, head to www.aec.gov.au/election/.