Originating as an Apple Users Computer Club in 1984, the Apple-MAQ Lions Club from Brisbane’s East has evolved into a dynamic community service organisation over the span of 20 years.
In April 2024, they not only celebrated their anniversary but also a very special milestone for one of their biggest projects.
The Club’s transformation can be largely credited to the innovative thinking of the late founder, David Phillips OAM, who envisioned a platform for aiding the disabled and disadvantaged.
The Club’s journey led to the creation of Computer Aid for Disabled and Disadvantaged (CADD) in 1992, which provided refurbished used computers to those in need.
The concept expanded to include sending these resources, along with school equipment, overseas as well.
In time, the Club formally became the Apple-MAQ Lions Club and grew to a membership of 20.
The Club evolved further with their Lions Aid & Relief Centre (LARC), a non-profit that supplies quality education and health equipment to local and overseas communities in need.
Remarkable efforts include distributing $5.5 million worth of new clothing and bedding during the 2011 QLD Floods and assisting recovery efforts in Tonga following a volcano eruption and tsunami.
They’ve provided crucial support during North QLD cyclones and floods too.
The Club proudly hosts the Work for the Dole program, offering participants a chance to discover their interests and gain experience in areas like computer skills, woodworking, painting, and repairing medical aids.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Club shared their achievement of sending over 220 containers of aid locally and overseas.
The event was attended by a diverse group, including current and past members, Lions and non-Lions volunteers, equipment donors, and long-time supporters.
The Club’s members continue to make extraordinary contributions, with Margaret and Nicole, (Nicole is the daughter of founder David), receiving an OAM in 2023 for their dedicated service.
Congratulations on this brilliant milestone to all members of the Apple-MAQ Lions Club!
Lions Sponsor Story Dogs to Boost Kids’ Reading
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaTricia and her dog, Dude are part of the Story Dogs team.
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.
Story Dogs like Dude help kids with reading comprehension.
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.
Turban Angels brighten the lives of cancer patients
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaFor years, dedicated Lions volunteers in Yarrawonga have quietly united with a powerful mission: to sew, pack, and deliver turbans to cancer patients in need. Now, after years of tireless efforts, they’ve reached an extraordinary milestone worth celebrating.
Yarrawonga’s Turban Angels sew turbans for cancer patients.
Since the project was launched by Yarrawonga Lions Club in 2015, over 70,000 turbans have been distributed to oncology units all over Australia, and some overseas.
The project was founded by Yarrawonga Lions Club member, Debbie Van Corler, a cancer survivor herself.
The club affectionately refers to Debbie as the ‘Turban Mum’.
Don and “Turban Mum” Deb ready to dispatch their 70,000th turban.
“The Lions Turban Angels are a group of dedicated volunteers who come together to sew headwear for cancer patients who are going through dark stages of their lives. The beautifully crafted turbans have now brightened the lives of 70,000 people going through chemotherapy,” says Debbie.
“We receive such wonderful messages from hospitals and recipients acknowledging what a difference this small gesture makes. We also love coming together to sew and pack the turbans. There’s always so much laughter in the room as we come together to do this important work.”
The Turban Angels not only make turbans for cancer patients but also bandanas for men and children.
Meeting every Tuesday, the group produces around 100 turbans, each taking about 20 minutes to complete.
They’re always in need of materials or donations, so reach out via the Yarrawonga Lions Club’s Facebook page if you’d like to help this incredible group here.
Lions are on a mission to cure childhood cancer
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaSeptember 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.”
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
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.
Lions Winter Sleepout for Mental Health Awareness
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaThe Richmond Lions Club have braved the cold to help people struggling with mental health in their community.
On July 27, they held a sleepout to raise funds for suicide prevention in the Hawkesbury, with every dollar donated to local charity, the Jarron Project.
Those in attendance had the opportunity to listen to people with lived experience of mental health issues and suicide as they shared their stories around the campfire.
Members of the Richmond Lions Club expressed their heartfelt gratitude to those who shared their personal experiences at the sleepout, including Hope4U Founder, Diane Russell who spoke about the importance of removing the stigma associated with suicide and mental health.
The Richmond Lions Club exceeded expectations by raising over $8,500, a testament to their dedication.
The donations amassed will offer counseling and assistance to those grappling with mental health issues and suicide.
Well done to all involved in organising and supporting this worthwhile event.
A seat to support mental health
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaThe Fraser Lions Club has introduced two yellow benches along a Hervey Bay esplanade as part of an initiative to combat mental health stigma.
These benches aim to facilitate meaningful conversations about mental health challenges and vulnerabilities.
Bruce Taylor, a long-standing Fraser Lions Club member, emphasized the importance of these conversations in understanding mental health.
Image captured for the Hervey Bay Advertiser
The benches are located in Otto Merchel Park and near Witt Street, offering a tranquil setting for discussion.
This initiative, known as ‘The Friendship Bench’, has seen similar benches appear worldwide, with Hervey Bay leading the way in Queensland.
Denis Love, a Fraser Lions member who lost a son to mental health issues, understands the lifesaving potential of open conversation.
Fraser Lions Club, established in 1986, has contributed over $25,000 to various causes this year and continues to support mental health initiatives in the region.
Original story in the Hervey Bay Advertiser.
Past International President Brian Sheehan Visits the Sunshine Coast
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaIn one of his last official acts as Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Chairperson, Brian Sheehan made a trip to Queensland, where he and his wife Lori spent several days enjoying the hospitality of the Sunshine Coast Lions Clubs.
IPIP Brian Sheehan and wife, Lori in Queensland.
The trip was organised with the goal of displaying the strong bonds among clubs in the region, and the ways they have worked with LCIF to improve their communities.
This special visit (from June 13 to 17) was an excellent opportunity for Lions Immediate Past International President (IPIP) Sheehan to meet Queensland Lions and for clubs to showcase their community projects.
Lions in Queensland showing IPIP Brian Sheehan a great time.
The highlight of his trip was a special dinner at the Twin Waters Golf Club, where more than 90 guests from 17 Lions Clubs came together to honour their members for service and celebrate the long reach of LCIF grants around the world, and across Queensland.
Koala hug with IPIP Brian Sheehan and his wife, Lori.
From here, IPIP Sheehan travelled to Melbourne for the Lions Clubs International Convention, where he passed the LCIF baton to outgoing International President Dr. Patti Hill.
Lions Club celebrates 20 Year Milestone
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaOriginating as an Apple Users Computer Club in 1984, the Apple-MAQ Lions Club from Brisbane’s East has evolved into a dynamic community service organisation over the span of 20 years.
In April 2024, they not only celebrated their anniversary but also a very special milestone for one of their biggest projects.
The Club’s transformation can be largely credited to the innovative thinking of the late founder, David Phillips OAM, who envisioned a platform for aiding the disabled and disadvantaged.
The Club’s journey led to the creation of Computer Aid for Disabled and Disadvantaged (CADD) in 1992, which provided refurbished used computers to those in need.
The concept expanded to include sending these resources, along with school equipment, overseas as well.
In time, the Club formally became the Apple-MAQ Lions Club and grew to a membership of 20.
The Club evolved further with their Lions Aid & Relief Centre (LARC), a non-profit that supplies quality education and health equipment to local and overseas communities in need.
Remarkable efforts include distributing $5.5 million worth of new clothing and bedding during the 2011 QLD Floods and assisting recovery efforts in Tonga following a volcano eruption and tsunami.
They’ve provided crucial support during North QLD cyclones and floods too.
The Club proudly hosts the Work for the Dole program, offering participants a chance to discover their interests and gain experience in areas like computer skills, woodworking, painting, and repairing medical aids.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Club shared their achievement of sending over 220 containers of aid locally and overseas.
The event was attended by a diverse group, including current and past members, Lions and non-Lions volunteers, equipment donors, and long-time supporters.
The Club’s members continue to make extraordinary contributions, with Margaret and Nicole, (Nicole is the daughter of founder David), receiving an OAM in 2023 for their dedicated service.
Congratulations on this brilliant milestone to all members of the Apple-MAQ Lions Club!
Sydney Welcomes International Runners for Lions Charity Run
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaEight runners from Australia, Canada, Poland, Germany & Ukraine and support crew are participating in the Lions Charity Run from Sydney to Melbourne this weekend.
The Lions Charity Run will culminate with the opening ceremony of the 2024 Lions International Convention at the Melbourne Convention Centre, 21 June 2024.
The Lions Club of Hornsby is coordinating this special 946KM event that is uniting seven towns – Sydney, Goulburn, Canberra, Gundagai, Holbrook, Shepparton and Melbourne to raise funds for Marri Mittigar – a co-educational special assistance school for children and young people of refugee experience.
“We are excited to start running this Sunday,” said John Lockyer, Past President Hornsby Lions Club and Lions Charity Run Coordinator.
“There are over 100,000,000 forcibly displaced people in the world today. Over 42% of them are children. Our goal is to make a significant difference in our local and international community, and we invite everyone to join us in this important mission.”
Runners include:
Mariusz Szeib, Grzegorz Brodziak, Jacek Tre Becki and Kasia Barudin from Poland. Susanne Hindahl-Reede from Germany, Victoiriya Yashkchuk from Canada, Roman Monastyrskyy from Ukraine and Australia’s own Sari-Elle Kraemer who has just finished the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, placing as 3rd foreign female and 7th overall in the international category.
The run will start at 100 Cumberland Street, The Rocks at 8.00am sharp on Sunday June 16.
For more information on where to meet the runners or donate, please click here.
The Lions Club of Hornsby is committed to serving the local community and addressing global challenges through various charitable activities.
For 65 years, the Club has been a pillar of support, contributing to numerous causes and fostering a spirit of cooperation and compassion.
In 2023, the Lions Club of Hornsby led the establishment of the four modern modular Warsaw Information Centres and Medical Clinics located in 4 cities and 330,000 Ukraine refugees have been processed through them.
Warrandyte Lions Club Wins Top Club Service Project Award
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaThe Lions Club of Warrandyte’s “In the Drivers Seat” project, awarded the Top Club Service Project during the National Convention in Darwin, breaks down barriers for blind and visually impaired people.
While many of us don’t think twice about hopping in the car and driving off, this freedom isn’t typically accessible to visually impaired individuals.
However, this project turns the tables, allowing them to experience the thrill of driving.
(Image captured by Rosalie O’Neil).
The annual event at Sandown Raceway is a true highlight for participants.
Accompanied by a qualified driving instructor, they get to navigate the track in a “learn to drive” car.
The man behind this exceptional initiative, Peter Watts, a long-serving Lion of over 50 years, knew firsthand the thrill it would bring to the visually impaired community, being blind himself.
Ever since its inception in 1997, the event has become a staple in the club’s calendar.
Each year is marked by an eagerness from past participants as they await the registration opening.
(Image captured by Amanda M Gibbon).
The joy and fulfilment it brings to everyone involved, from participants to Lions members and volunteers, is undeniable.
The Warrandyte Lions Club continues to impact their community through the “In the Drivers Seat” project, truly embodying the saying, “where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”
Learn more about this transformative project by clicking here.
Lions another step closer to eliminating Childhood Cancer
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaThe Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF) is proud to be taking another step closer to its mission of eliminating childhood cancer by contributing significant funding in the latest round of Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS).
15 grants, supported by $3.61 million from the Australian Government through Cancer Australia and $2.17 million from Cancer Australia’s Funding Partners, including ALCCRF, were made to various cancer researchers.
The University of Newcastle’s Professor Matt Dun is one of these researchers, conducting vital research on paediatric cancers.
Matt’s research is focused on targeting cell-damaging free radicals that can cause cancers in children.
In recent years, ALCCRF has provided Matt $635,000 to further his research into paediatric brain tumours.
Pictured: Matt Dun – Professor of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Research the University of Newcastle.
“We are delighted to receive further support from the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation as part of our Cancer Australia PDCCRS application,” says Professor Matt Dun.
“The funding will enable us to further develop new treatment strategies aimed at increasing response to standard of care treatments for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG), cancer types responsible for about 1/3rd of all childhood cancer deaths annually.”
Over the years, the ALCCRF has raised over $12 million for childhood cancer research.
The Foundation has also funded countless Australian programs, including the recent $4 million Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project at Garvin Institute.
The program is world-leading in treating paediatric cancers. By the end of 2024, every Australian child who has cancer and is aged below 18 will have access to the program.
Fundamentally, the Foundation’s role in distributing funds will enable ground-breaking researchers to continue their invaluable work that may one day lead to ending paediatric cancers.
“We are immensely proud to be funding researchers wanting to tackle paediatric cancers,” said ALCCRF Chairperson, Ron Skeen OAM.
“Our funds will fuel innovative research projects that have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of children and families impacted by cancer.
Every child deserves a chance at a healthy life, and the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation is on a mission to make this happen.”
For more information on the ALCCRF and its research initiatives, click here.