40 years of service Kiwanis style

ESTABLISHED in the United States in 1915, Kiwanis International has spread to more than eighty countries around the world.

And in Bendigo, the service club’s local branch is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

This year also marks service milestones for four Kiwanis members, John Symons (45 years), Alan Darby (42 years), John Reid (40 years) and John Hoiles (39 years).

A past president of the Kiwanis Club of Bendigo, Mr Symons said he and Mr Darby had belonged to the Keilor Kiwanis before joining Bendigo, while Mr Reid was a charter member.

Mr Symons is now the Bendigo club’s longest-serving member, and also its second-oldest at 80.

Throughout its four decades, the club has helped schools, toy libraries, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, flood relief and individuals. Support ranges from financial contributions to physical work such as building shade cloths and sandpits for schools and kindergartens, and a ramp for wheelchair access to a private home.

But as members age, their focus has to shift.

“We’re getting a bit older, a bit past doing that kind of work, so we raise money and hand it on to Bendigo Health or organisations that need some support,” Mr Symons said.

“Since COVID, there hasn’t been a lot of things coming in (to be involved with). But obviously the need is there; we’ve just got to get out and find it a bit more.”

Sunshine Bendigo, which helps families with babies’ and children’s needs, is among current beneficiaries.

The club now raises most of its community funds through members working at Bendigo Motorcycle Club events.

Mr Symons said all service clubs were finding it hard to attract new members.

“We’re always looking for a few more members,” he said. “You don’t get younger people. If we get someone join now, they’re usually late 60s and even into their 70s;

I was 34 when I joined Kiwanis, he said.

The local Kiwanis meet at the Bendigo Club in Park Street, Strathdale, usually on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

To mark the 40th birthday milestone, the club is planning to hold a special celebratory dinner in August.