Young volunteers from Morley Leo Club are celebrating success after taking out the national title for Leo Project of the Year at the 2025 National Lions Australia Convention.

Leo Clubs are the youth arm of Lions Australia, encouraging leadership, service and personal development in young people aged 12 to 30.

The Morley Leo Club, based at Morley Senior High School in Western Australia, has received national recognition for its work spreading festive cheer to families in need last holiday season.

The project saw over 70 students and 35 teachers and community members come together to prepare and deliver Christmas gift bags for children in shelters and crisis accommodation across Western Australia.

Bags filled with toys, hygiene products, school supplies, and hand-written notes were donated to families supported by services such as Orana House and Divine You Narrogin.

The initiative not only provided much-needed practical support to those in need, but also reminded recipients they were not forgotten during the holiday season.

The Morley Leo Club’s efforts showcased the powerful impact of young Australians leading with compassion, creativity, and community spirit.

“Receiving the national title for Leo Project of the Year at the 2025 Lions National Convention is an incredible honour for our school and for the Morley Leos”, said Ms Rosalba Butterworth, Principal of Morley Senior High School.

“But more importantly, it highlights the real impact that people can have when they come together to serve their community. This project was driven by compassion, teamwork, and a shared belief that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference to someone’s life.”

Lions Australia CEO Rob Oerlemans also congratulated the Morley Leo Club on their achievement.

“The future of service in this country is in safe hands. Leo Clubs are empowering the next generation of changemakers and this project is an outstanding example of the impact young people can have in their communities,” says Rob Oerlemans.

The Morley Leo Club is supported by the Lions Club of Noranda.

Toukley Lions Club has once again demonstrated the power of community spirit, raising nearly $12,000 for the Lions Renal Unit at Lake Haven through a successful fundraising and awareness event at Bunnings Lake Haven.

The event featured a BBQ, an informative display highlighting the impact of the Big Red Kidney Bus, and a TV presentation showcasing how the mobile dialysis service enables patients to travel and enjoy holidays while managing their treatment.

Renal unit staff were also present to provide expert advice, engage with the public, and answer questions about kidney health and treatment options.

The $12,000 total includes the Club’s recent donation of 11 televisions to the Lake Haven Lions Renal Unit, designed to enhance comfort for patients during dialysis sessions.

Toukley Lions Club President Barry Farr said the Club was grateful for the strong community support on the day.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of locals who came out to support our cause. Kidney disease affects so many people in our community, and the Lions Renal Unit is an essential service we’re proud to back,” said Mr Farr.

“We extend our sincere thanks to Bunnings Lake Haven, the renal unit staff, and every person who stopped by, donated, or shared a conversation. Together, we’ve made a real difference.”

The initiative builds on a long history of Lions support.

In 2001, the Lions Renal Unit opened as part of the Lake Haven Community Health Centre, significantly improving access to dialysis services for patients in the northern Central Coast. It was named in recognition of the Lions Clubs’ instrumental role in its establishment- a legacy that continues today.

The Lions’ commitment to kidney health also extends beyond Lake Haven. In a statewide collaboration, Toronto Lions Club led efforts to fund the first Big Red Kidney Bus, with over $304,000 raised through joint Lions Club contributions demonstrating the power of Lions working together to drive real health outcomes.

For World Hunger Day on May 28, the Kyogle Lions Club was proud to spotlight the incredible community collaboration behind their local food initiative that now supports nearly 900 families across the Kyogle region.

The project is powered by local kindness – with farmers donating fresh vegetables, community members contributing funds, and local businesses like the chemist and Vinnies providing vouchers.

Together, they turn compassion into action with the Kyogle Lions Community Food Pantry.

Kyogle Lion and Pantry Project Coordinator Roz Knights OAM says the project was born when the Club was asked to take over a small 50-square-metre church-run pantry.

“Recognising the growing need in our rural region, the Lions sought out a larger space and thanks to the generosity of a philanthropic landlord,  we were able to relocate to a new 220-square-metre site to expand operations,” says Roz Knights OAM.

Since then, the project has grown exponentially. What started with a few helping hands now involves 41 local staff including 11 Lions volunteers, contributing more than 220 hours of service each week to ensure that vulnerable families can access affordable food.

Each week, the Pantry distributes around 3 tonnes of food, thanks in part to its partnership with Foodbank NSW & ACT Limited. Families purchase groceries at dramatically reduced prices – with the food pantry often giving away $300 worth of food for what would otherwise cost over $900 at a major supermarket.

Every client also leaves with free bread and approximately $25 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables, much of it donated by local farmers, home growers, and businesses.

“We’ve grown from a small act of service to a region-wide food network,” adds Roz Knights OAM. “We’re proud to provide a local solution to a growing problem and proud to prove that community spirit is alive and well in Kyogle.”

The project is also supported by the Kyogle chemist, Vinnies, local medical centres, schools, and churches, who refer families and offer voucher programs. Donations flow in from the cinema, library, op shops, schools, and individuals supporting this important Lions project.

Hunger is one of Lions Club’s key global focus areas.

Well done to all involved in this incredible and life-changing project, helping those who need it most.

Every year, thousands of Australian families face the unthinkable: a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like leukemia or a rare genetic disorder. For many, the best chance at a cure comes from a stem cell transplant. That’s where cord blood – rich in stem cells collected at birth – can be the difference between life and death.

Thanks to the Lions Cord Blood Foundation, lifesaving treatments and world-leading research are being made possible.

In 2024 alone, the Foundation helped fund the collection and storage of donated cord blood, ensuring that more families have access to transplants when they need them most.

But the impact doesn’t stop there.

The Foundation also supports the next generation of medical leaders – like Dr Abdul Razak, whose PhD scholarship was funded by the Lions Cord Blood Foundation.

Dr Razak recently completed his research at Monash University, exploring how to improve recovery after cord blood transplants in children. His findings, now published in international journals, could dramatically enhance outcomes for children facing cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

Dr Razak’s journey – from scholarship recipient to contributor of world-class research – is a powerful reminder of the ripple effect Lions can create.

For over two decades, Lions clubs across Victoria and Tasmania have raised millions for this cause. Every fundraising sausage sizzle, trivia night, and donation drive helps give seriously ill children another shot at life.

Together, we’re not just supporting research – we’re delivering futures.

You can learn more about The Lions Cord Blood Foundation here.

To view the 2024 Scholarship Impact Report in full, click here.

The Lions Club of West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook has formed an exciting new partnership with a Sydney Recycling Centre based in Thornleigh.

This collaboration will enhance the collection of used spectacles for the Lions Recycle for Sight Australia program.

The Thornleigh Recycling Centre will now act as an official collection point, making it even easier for community members to donate their used glasses.

A designated collection bin has been installed at the Centre, located at 29 Sefton Rd, Thornleigh NSW, where members of the public can drop off their old spectacles to give the gift of sight to those in need.

For many years, the Lions Club of West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook has been a strong supporter of the Lions Recycle for Sight initiative, collecting tens of thousands of used spectacles.

These donated glasses are refurbished and distributed to individuals who cannot afford proper eyewear. The impact of this program is far-reaching, with Lions Clubs across Australia responding to requests from humanitarian organisations that deliver glasses to developing countries.

Since its inception 26 years ago, Lions Recycle for Sight Australia has provided over seven million pairs of quality refurbished spectacles to men, women, and children in need across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, East Asia, China, the Pacific Rim, and Southern Asia.

In the past decade, members of the Lions Marine Branch have even used their oceangoing yachts to reach remote villages, where they test eyesight and distribute much-needed spectacles to isolated communities.

This new partnership between the Lions Club of West Pennant Hills & Cherrybrook and the Thornleigh Recycling Centre will ensure even more people can contribute to this life-changing initiative.

If you have used spectacles at home, consider donating them today – your simple act of kindness could change someone’s life.

Find out how to donate your glasses here.