As the cost of living continues to soar, more Australians are facing the heartbreaking reality of having to choose between basic needs and urgent repairs to their homes.

Free Trade Day helps to ease that burden, giving people doing it tough the gift of dignity, safety, and hope by connecting them with volunteer tradespeople who are offering their services for free.

Free Trade Day is a Lions Club of Terrigal-Wamberal project. Those who are doing it tough and in need of a trade specialty job are nominated by their community and matched with a relevant team of tradespeople who complete the job, free of charge.

On the 25th October 2024, over 200 tradespeople undertook dozens of jobs across the Central Coast region, helping the most vulnerable members of the community.

This year, recipients included a single mother of three, diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer, whose home was in desperate need of repairs.

Without Free Trade Day, this mother would have no way to fix the damage, making it even harder to care for her children as her illness progresses.

Another heart-wrenching story comes from the Wyong Family Care Cottage, which supports families of sick children.

They received critical renovations that will allow them to continue offering respite to families already overwhelmed by the weight of illness.

Free Trade Day founder, Ryan Wilson, is a Central Coast electrician and Lions Club member. He is thrilled to see Free Trade Day grow, with more supporters joining the ranks.

“In 2017, I took a job for an elderly man who had been without water for six months. After fixing the problem, I discovered that he had been suffering in silence for far too long because he was unable to afford basic repairs.”

“Sadly, he passed away shortly after the job was completed, but I couldn’t shake the thought of how many more people like him were out there, and that’s where the idea for Free Trade Day was born. It’s become a Lions project and it’s been great to see it grow each year.”

“The day is just so powerful. Not only are the recipients crying happy tears, but the tradies and Lions volunteers are also often overcome with emotion realising that they have used their skills to change someone’s life.”

CEO of Lions Australia Rob Oerlemans says Free Trade Day is just one example of Lions Australia’s commitment to helping people in need.

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues, we’re seeing more and more people really struggling in our community. Lions Australia is committed to stepping in where help is most needed. Free Trade Day is a perfect example of how our volunteers are working together and bringing the community together to help those in need.”

“A the heart of every community is a Lions Club and in times like these, our volunteers are more committed than ever to help.”

Some Lions are on a mission to cure childhood cancer and diabetes, others are committed to assisting those impacted by drought and floods and many are simply working together to help people in need in their local community.

One thing all Lions have in common is together they are making an incredible difference.

For more information on how to get involved in the next Free Trade Day, visit their official website here.

Mackay Host Lions Club recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Rock Pop Mime event for local schools.

Rock Pop Mime began in 1984 as part of the 10-day Lions Sugartime Festival, which ran from 1979 to 2002. The festival featured family carnivals, fishing competitions, a beer festival, BMX carnivals, children’s quests, beach carnivals, and a school Rock Pop Mime show.

Today, Rock Pop Mime is the sole remaining element of that festival.

Lions Rock Pop Mime is an annual youth dance and mime spectacular, cherished by local school students and eagerly anticipated by families and the wider community.

There are separate programs for primary and secondary schools, with attractive cash prizes and trophies awarded, thanks to corporate sponsorship.

In the secondary school category, students typically choreograph their own performances, and all schools dedicate months of preparation leading up to the event.

This year, students from 16 schools spent weeks perfecting their routines before competing against one another.

The competition is fierce, and the students love participating, always delivering performances of a high standard.

Each act is judged on originality and creativity, mime accuracy, movement and coordination, costume, participants’ enjoyment, and overall impression.

This year, St John’s Catholic Primary School in Walkerston won the primary school section, while Mackay North State High School triumphed in the secondary school event.

It’s almost that magical time of year again! The smell of tinsel, the sound of carols, and yes, the glorious return of Australia’s favourite Christmas treat— the Lions Christmas Cake!

These aren’t just any cakes; they’re the fruitcake with a purpose, here to make your holiday sweeter and your community stronger.

Packed with over 50% fruit and made from top-notch natural ingredients, Lions Christmas Cakes are here to raise the (cake) bar and some much-needed funds for local causes.

When you grab a Lions Christmas Cake, you’re not just indulging in a seasonal treat, you’re making a real impact. Every delicious bite helps fuel projects that keep our communities thriving. From city streets to the outback, the funds raised go straight into Lions Clubs across Australia to support initiatives that matter.

In recent years, our regional communities have been hit hard, from pandemic struggles to natural disasters. As we brace for yet another bushfire season, the proceeds from these cakes are absolutely crucial.

Lions Christmas Cakes help fund emergency relief, recovery efforts, and a host of other vital community programs. Yep, these cakes do way more than just satisfy your sweet tooth—they’re helping people get back on their feet.

And it doesn’t stop there – Lions Clubs are busy all year round, supporting projects like youth programs, medical research, disability aid, and environmental work.

This cake is a true multitasker, raising millions since 1965, with every crumb contributing to something bigger than just a holiday dessert.

As Lions Australia CEO Rob Oerlemans puts it, “For nearly six decades, our Lions Christmas Cakes have not only been proudly Australian-made, but their impact has been immeasurable.”

You’re not just buying a cake—you’re investing in disaster relief, childhood cancer research, and so many other life-changing initiatives.

The Lions Christmas Cake recipe is made in Victoria by Traditional Foods. And now, for the gluten-free crowd, Lions have got you covered with a limited number of GF options rolling out this year!

Your Lions Christmas Cake is waiting to make a difference—find out how you can get your hands on one (or more) in time for Christmas here.

Last year, the Lions Club of Canberra Valley had the pleasure of hosting a member of the Story Dogs team in Canberra. The club was deeply inspired by the incredible work they are doing to support literacy accessibility in Canberra schools.

Story Dogs offers children weekly reading sessions with a dog and a volunteer handler throughout the school year. Volunteers are trained to go at the child’s pace, using the dog’s calming presence to help with reading comprehension.

The handler often speaks on behalf of the dog, creating an engaging environment. For example, they might say, “Simba doesn’t understand this page, can you help him?” This approach boosts the child’s confidence as they ‘teach’ the dog, fostering a supportive and shared learning experience.

Now, in partnership with the Australian Lions Wellbeing Foundation (ALWF), the Lions Club of Canberra Valley is thrilled to announce the sponsorship of Story Dogs volunteer Tricia and her Maltese, Dude. The club joins 64 other Lions and Leos Clubs across the country in supporting this meaningful cause.

Tricia and Dude will be making a significant impact at Lyneham Primary School by providing weekly one-on-one reading sessions. These sessions offer a fun and safe space outside the classroom where children can read at their own pace. Learn more about Tricia and Dude’s work here.

Special thanks go to the Australian Lions Wellbeing Foundation and its Community Grants program, whose generous support has enabled the Lions Club of Canberra Valley to sponsor Tricia and Dude for the coming years.

The club is also looking forward to the possibility of inviting Tricia and Dude to share firsthand stories about the outstanding work they’re doing with Lyneham Primary School in the near future.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Lions are calling on all Australians to stand with them in backing the life-changing work of the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF).

Since 2009, the ALCCRF, with the help of Lions volunteers and their communities, has raised over $13 million to fund vital research into childhood cancer.

This includes the successful $4 million Lions project with Australia’s Garvan Institute which mapped the genome of over 400 children with cancer, to advance research and to guide personalised treatment.

The Zero Childhood Cancer Program has now expanded to enable all Australians with cancer aged 0-18 years being able to benefit from life-changing DNA sequencing.

“Childhood Cancer is a silent pandemic. Every year in Australia, almost 1,000 kids are diagnosed with cancers, many of them aggressive, hard to treat and with a high risk of mortality. Although the survival rates have improved greatly for some cancers, others still take a heavy toll on our young peoples’ lives,” says ALCCRF Chairperson Ron Skeen.

“This funding truly is changing and saving lives and we ask Australians to join us in ensuring more vital work continues in childhood cancer research.”

In recent years, the ALCCRF has also been supporting the vital work of Telethon Kids Cancer Centre (formally known as Telethon Kids Institute).

Over $1.2 million worth of funding over the past 5 years has enabled the Telethon Kids Cancer Centre to continue its leading research into childhood cancer – particularly in the area of cancer immunotherapy, which focuses on supercharging the body’s natural defenses to destroy cancer cells.

An additional $375,000 will be provided to the institute over the next three years.

Support has not only fueled groundbreaking research, but has also helped the ALCCRF secure one of Western Australia’s biggest-ever philanthropic donations.

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation will contribute a transformative $135.5 million over the next decade to advance the foundation’s mission of improving outcomes for children with cancer.

This significant funding will build on the vital work being undertaken at the Cancer Centre and Perth Children’s Hospital.

Together, we can make a profound difference in the fight against childhood cancer. Find out more about the ALCCRF and how you can support their life-saving work here.