THE Lions Club of Clifton Springs\/Curlewis has successfully been feeding the Bellarine Railway\u2019s \u2018Day Out With Thomas\u2019 patrons and railway volunteers since 2013.<\/p>\n
The popular two-day event is held in January, April and October each year, at the Queenscliff Station and can attract more than 5000 patrons.<\/p>\n
At these events, the railway\u2019s volunteers are busy bringing characters like Sir Topham Hatt, Thomas, Douglas, Oliver, Salty and those Troublesome Trucks to life.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the Lions Club members arrive with a smile to prepare a menu of egg and bacon rolls, chicken skewers with coleslaw and barbecue sausages \u2013 which have always had the onion put on first!<\/p>\n
The proceeds from this barbecue help the Lions Club fund important community based projects, and they recently presented the Bellarine Railway with a donation of $2,000 to help improve the event, which has been supporting the club.<\/p>\n
Thanks to this very generous donation, families attending the next Day Out With Thomas event on April 13-14, will be able to start enjoying the rides and activities sooner with a reduced waiting time.<\/p>\n
New iPhones for scanning tickets and a mobile trolley will remove the need for volunteers to check tickets manually.<\/p>\n
In addition, two new marquees will provide much needed shade for both patrons waiting to get a barbecue lunch and the Lions Club members serving them.<\/p>\n
The Lions Club of Clifton Springs\/Curlewis was established in 2012, and is a not for profit organisation, that supports other not for profits.<\/p>\n
These include the Bellarine Food Bank, Clifton Springs Primary School, Community Meals Program in Geelong and other not for profit groups.<\/p>\n
Each member of the Clifton Springs\/Curlewis Club, have the desire to be part of an organisation that does good locally, as well as internationally.<\/p>\n
Their members come from many different walks of life and ages, with their oldest member recently turning 90 years old.<\/p>\n
The Bellarine Railway is a not for profit organisation operated by volunteers whose objective is to bring the heritage railway experience to people of all ages throughout Victoria.<\/p>\n
It is one of the largest tourist attractions on the Bellarine and relies on events such as Day Out With Thomas to provide the funding to keep the wheels turning.<\/p>\n
New volunteers are always welcome and a variety of roles are available to suit most interests \u2013 including being Thomas the Tank Engine\u2019s Driver for a day!<\/p>\n