Lions Christmas Cake Program

History

The Multiple District 201 (Australia and Papua New Guinea) Christmas Cake Program had its beginnings back prior to the 1965 International Convention in Los Angeles where the late PDG Captain Philip Lusher was to be inducted as District Governor, District 201B. PDG Philip, whilst in North America prior to the Convention, visited a number of Clubs in Canada, and whilst attending a meeting of the Lions Club of Montreal, heard of the “Lions Christmas Cake” program, and returned to Australia with full organisational details for the information of his fellow Governors.

District Governor 201 E, the late Ken Fenwick and his Cabinet Secretary the late Lion Ern Smith introduced the program to their District with home baking and packaging of Lions Christmas Cakes in the Goulburn, NSW area.

The following year, Lions of the Multiple District were seeking a National fund raising project to support “SAVE SIGHT” activities and the Council Chairman, the late PDG Jamie Jamieson, called for ideas for a project to fund the campaign.

Lion Ern Smith suggested to his District Governor, that Lions should sell Christmas Cakes and the project brought back from Montreal Lions Club by PDG Captain Philip Lusher should be expanded to a National program. His Governor told him he was crazy.

The Council Chairman noted the exchange and called on District Governor Ken for comment, who said “This clown of a Cabinet Secretary of mine has suggested we should sell Christmas Cakes!” It was immediately formulated, moved, seconded and adopted that Lion, later District Governor, Ern Smith, be given one week to formulate a plan to bring his idea into being. The first “LION SAVE SIGHT CHRISTMAS CAKES” were baked by Big Sister, part of the Reckitts and Coleman group of companies, and were three pound cakes.

The project immediately proved successful, and sales have been constant over the past two decades, after reaching astronomical sales on the inception of the program.

In 1975 the cake became “metric” and converted to 1.5kg and reduced in packaging from twelve to ten per carton. This resolved many headaches for Club Chairmen with stock control records and book keeping made so much easier.

In 1986, Council adopted a recommendation from the National Cake Committee that the cake be manufactured to a lower, larger profile which has proved popular. Cakes have been baked by Australia's leading food companies, including Big Sister, Gartrell White, Arnotts, Sarah Lee, and since 1983 by the present manufacturer, "Top Taste," (the baking division of George Weston Foods Limited).

www.georgewestonfoods.com.au

1998 saw the introduction Nationally of the 1kg Lions Christmas Cake to the program. A 1kg cake program had been successfully marketed by District 201 N5 (formerly District 201 N2 and N5) for many years. In 1999 the Iced Cake was introduced, but has been discontinued.

In 2010 a Lions Traditional Pudding has been added to the product range and is 900 grams in size in a blend of more than 45% fruit and wonderful traditional spices.

All cakes and puddings are baked to the relevent indentical recipe by the manufacturer, ensuring a uniform, high quality product.

Annual sales nationally are approximately $6,500,000 and the funds raised by Clubs and Districts for save Sight, Health, Welfare and Humanitarian projects are in the order of.... $2,000,000 per year.

It is estimated that since the inception of the programme as a National Project funds raised have exceeded.... $47,000,000

This is an outstanding result and reflects the enthusiasm of the Clubs participating in the program, and is a testament to a unique, high quality product and respected brand, "Lions Christmas Cakes and Puddings ".