Torquay Lions make beary nice donation to SES

THE Torquay Lions Club have made a thoughtful donation to VICSES Torquay Unit, presenting a collection of teddy bears and koalas to be given to young members of families experiencing trauma and loss in an emergency.

As well as the soft toys, the Torquay Lions Club also recently provided a donation of $800 to the local VICSES unit.

Last week, VICSES Torquay Unit controller Mark Heaysman presented a certificate of appreciation to Torquay Lions Club service chair Catherine Rowe and club member Bill Ferguson.

Torquay Lions have been giving teddy bears and koalas to VICSES, Torquay Police, Ambulance Victoria’s Torquay branch, and Torquay Fire Brigade on a regular basis for several years.

The teddy bears to the police, for example, are part of the wider Lions Operation Teddy Bear initiative.

Over the past 35 years, with the support of Lions clubs throughout Victoria and now nationally, Lions Crimewatch have distributed more than 53,000 Lions teddy bears to police across Australia.

The Australian Lions-branded koalas are called “Amitie”, introduced by Lions Crimewater to coincide with Lions Australia’s 75th year of service.

Mr Ferguson said the continuing donation project was very worthwhile for the club’s members, as they had received several reports on the benefits of the gifts to traumatised young ones.

“We can all visualise how children involved in some unsuspecting event can be disturbed at not understanding what is happening around them.

“The bears and koalas are just one other way Torquay Lions is able to serve its local community through the services of others.”