Another honour for local Lion

A LIONS Club of Mount Gambier member was one of two people inducted into the Australian Lions Foundation Hall of Fame at the organisation’s 2025 Multiple District 201 Convention.

Club Secretary and Past President Ross Parkinson OAM received the honour alongside retiring MD Council Chairperson and Lions Assistance Dogs CEO David Horne at the gathering held at Traralgon in Victoria.

Lions Club of Mount Gambier president Martin Vercoe, who attended the presentation, said the Hall of Fame was awarded in recognition of exceptional service to the Lions organisation and community.

“This is well-deserved recognition for Ross who more than meets the criteria for this award,” Mr Vercoe said.

“He has served the club in various roles and given hundreds of hours service to projects in our community over many years.

“We are proud of his commitment and hard work.

“Ross is the embodiment of the Lions’ motto ‘We Serve’.”

“My guideline in life was the Jaycee JCI (Junior Chamber International) creed in the mid-1970s which in part stressed ‘that service to humanity was the best work in life,’” Mr Parkinson said.

“Lions Australia excels in providing this opportunity to the membership.

“It is a privilege to serve.”

Late last year Mr Parkinson was presented with a chevron for 25 years’ service.

Lions MD 201 encompasses 18 Lions Districts across Australia.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1997 and has fewer than 100 members.

Fellow Lions Club of Mount Gambier member Eric Roughana AM was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.