Lions ladies busy serving the community

Garden projects, community transport & winter warmers all on the agenda

Lions Clubs around Australia have been celebrating the formation of the first Lions Club formed in Australia in Lismore New South Wales 75 years ago.

As part of this celebration Lions were being encouraged to plant 75 gardens Australia wide during the month of September, with the theme ‘Lions Australia planting seeds of hope since 1947’.

To celebrate Planting Seeds of Hope and the theme Always Lions Australia, several members of the Lions Club of Blue Lake City Lioness recently planted blue & yellow petunias – the Lions colours -in partnership with the City of Mount Gambier in planter boxes in Mount Gambier’s CBD.

Members have also recently donated a car fridge to Mount Gambier Red Cross for use in their bus, the fridge is a donation in memory of the Lioness Club Charter President Claire Welch. Claire worked tirelessly for the Lioness Club, a member for more than 40 years.

A wonderful mentor for many past and present Lioness and Lions members.

Many meals and cakes came out of Claire’s kitchen to raise money to help people less fortunate than ourselves. She set an example with a deep understanding of her fellow man. Claire instigated the Red Cross Telecross – a daily telephone service to those in the community. After consultation with Claire’s family this donation is a fitting tribute to Claire, for staff who take community members using the Red Cross Bus on outings.

The Club also recently saw a need to contribute to those less fortunate in our community by making rugs to help keep them warm or those having to leave home in an emergency.

The community can look forward to the seeing the ladies offering to wrap your Christmas gifts at Mount Gambier Central from December 10 and four local gardens are being prepared to open to the public in November.

WINTER WARMERS: (Right) Some of the completed rugs with Lions members Wil Cousins, Gayle Green, president Janet Bellinger & Beryl Mahoney.

IN MEMORY OF CLAIRE WELCH: (Above right) Donation of Car Fridge to Red Cross with Lions members, Claires’ family & Red Cross members.

LIONS GREEN THUMBS: (Above left) Planting Seeds of Hope celebrating 75 years of Lions in Australia – Lions Beryl Mahoney, Jan Shelton, Sue Parkinson, Marg Mowbary, Rosemary Carter, Sue Jacobs & Heather Von Stanke.