OUR STORIES - Lions Clubs Australia

Lions Restore Indigenous Cultural Site

October 11, 2022/in ENVIRONMENT, OUR STORIES /by Jemma

It was National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Day Committee (NAIDOC) Week 2022 when the Sandstone Point Lions Club approved an innovative project to support local elements of the Traditional Owners, the Gubbi Gubbi people.

The Club falls within the boundaries of the cultural heartland of the Gubbi Gubbi whose Traditional Country extends from the north of Brisbane up into the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie region.

Within this large area are several cultural heritage sites held by the Gubbi Gubbi, that are listed on the Queensland Indigenous Cultural Heritage Register.

The group reached out to the Sandstone Point Lions for assistance to help maintain one of them, an area of land not far from the Club’s meeting place.

The one-hectare site is culturally very important, as it has been used ceremonially for possibly thousands of years.

The site needed some specialised care as it had become overgrown and needed fallen timber cleared, mowing and slashing, all to be carried out in a way that respected the cultural values of the site and met heritage protocols.

After several meetings with the Gubbi Gubbi management team, Letters of Agreement were exchanged and the Sandstone Point Lions swung into action.

Whipper snippers, lawnmowers, rakes, chainsaws and ride on mowers hit the site in a flurry under the watchful eye of the site’s Traditional custodians.

Sensitive parts of the site were hand-cleared, boundary grass whipper snipped and fallen timber sawed and collected to go to Camp Duckadang as firewood, and as much light grass as possible cleared to allow the balance to be slashed.

The Club then contracted the slashing to be carried out under supervision of the Club’s project manager, Immediate Past President David.

Phase Two of the project is now in the planning stages in which clearing around trees, raking of cut grass for removal and closer mowing will turn the site into a park-like state enabling visits by school groups and others, and cultural events to happen in comfort and safety.

The Club has undertaken a debrief on the project and were delighted with the feedback from the Traditional Owners.

“Gubbi Gubbi Dyungungoo Group Inc. work very hard to preserve our Gubbi Gubbi cultural values and history and it is great to have some assistance from Lions. They have done a great job and handled the cultural sensitivities around the site very well. I hope we can build a longer-term relationship to help us keep the place in good condition for the future.”

This project celebrates a piece of history for our Indigenous residents, one which gives life again to an important cultural icon.

‘Made with Love’ by Tamborine Mountain Lions

October 11, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Emily Williams

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

For 10 years, Tamborine Mountain Lions Club has been helping those suffering from breast cancer by supplying handmade breast cushions to major Queensland hospitals.

The cushions, made with love by a group of Lions and non-Lions, improve the comfort of both men and women recovering from surgery by providing much-needed support.

In Australia, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, with approximately 57 people diagnosed each day in Australia.

A working bee to make breast cushions. Image: Facebook

Gail Molson, Treasurer of the Club, is coordinator of the project and recognises the importance of the work the team is doing.

“Many women who help me have been touched by breast cancer, including myself who has survived it three times, so we can relate,” she said.

Last Lions year, the Club made and distributed 933 cushions to breast cancer sufferers.

The final product. Image: Facebook

Most of the fabric used to make the cushions is donated to the Club. Additional materials are purchased using funds raised from selling engraved pens and left over fabric, as well as monetary donations.

The Club delivers breast cushions monthly to Gold Coast University Hospital, Robina Public and Private Hospitals, Gold Coast Private Hospital and Greenslopes Hospital, as well as fulfilling individuals’ requests.

You can keep up to date with Tamborine Mountain Lions Club here.

WA Lions Celebrate 60 Years at Parliament House

October 11, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Jemma

Lions volunteers across Western Australia celebrated the 60th anniversary of Lions Clubs in the state with a special event held at Parliament House earlier this month.

Lions W2 District Governor Ted Watts says the event was a wonderful way to recognise the impact Lions have had and will continue to have in the community.

“Lions in Western Australia are commemorating two significant anniversaries this year. The 75 Year anniversary of Lions Australia and the 60th anniversary of Lions Clubs in Western Australia are both very exciting milestones for our organisation.”

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate at Parliament House. This was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the incredible impact our volunteers have made and will continue to make in the community.”

The City of Perth Lions Club also marked the anniversary by organising the Perth Council House to light up in Lions blue and gold colours.

City of Perth Lions Club Light up Council House

Photo from W1 Cabinet Treasurer Gregor Bressor who arranged for Council House to be illuminated in Lions colours for their 60th Anniversary.

It was quite a sight.

Congratulations to all Lions in Western Australia for 60 years of service!

Hundreds of tradies give up their time to help people in need

September 16, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Jemma

Hundreds of tradies donated a day of their time on the 26th of August 2022 to help people in need in the community who can’t afford essential repairs and maintenance for their homes.

Free Trade Day is an annual event run by Lions volunteers which brings together trades people and suppliers to deliver services to people who have fallen on hard times in the community.

Free Trade Day Founder and Lions volunteer Ryan Wilson says since launching the initiative in 2017, there is growing demand for support in the community and a strong appetite from tradies to make a difference.

“As tradespeople, we see some terrible situations. Families struggling to make ends meet, the elderly alone in their homes with limited financial resources, our neighbours struggling to complete essential maintenance repairs to their homes.”

“Free Trade Day is a great opportunity for the trade community to come together and lend a helping hand and tool to those who unfortunately cannot afford to have important repairs and maintenance done on their homes.”

“We have a website where tradies can register their services and people needing help can self register or be nominated by someone else. We then connect tradies with people who need a helping hand.”

“We launched Free Trade Day in the Central Coast in 2017. Since then our country has had some truly challenging times from fires, floods and a health pandemic. With thanks to the many tradies who have signed up, suppliers who have provided materials and also members of the public who have made donations, over 60 jobs are being done across the Central Coast on Friday.

Over $48,000 worth of labour, materials and donations have been raised for the Central Coast jobs.”

The event is coordinated by Terrigal Wamberal Lions Club who have been working hard behind the scenes organising and fundraising for the event.

Lions volunteers were out and about in the community on the day helping out with projects, keeping some of the nominees company whilst the work was being done and hosting a BBQ for the tradies and nominees.

“We are hoping to have Lions Clubs all over the country participating next year and giving tradies and more people in the community an opportunity to benefit from the Free Trade Day initiative,” adds Ryan.

For more information on Free Trade Day, click here.

Lions send Care Packs to Ukrainian Refugees with Diabetes

September 16, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Jemma

To date, the Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation has donated $5,000 to assist the delivery of donated care packages to Ukrainian refugees with diabetes.

The grassroots community project has produced and delivered 740 care packages to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and Polish Diabetes Association in Warsaw, Poland.

A community of 200+ Australians with type 1 diabetes have also been tirelessly bundling up these care packages for shipment since the war began in Ukraine.

Lions Australia’s National Diabetes Coordinator, Pat Mills provides insight into how the Diabetes Foundation has navigated through an international war to help some of our most vulnerable diabetics:

Care packages ready for sea transport to Warsaw for Ukrainian refugees with Diabetes.

“On 28th February 2022, I first connected with Dominika Antoniszczak, a Polish doctor with type 1 diabetes herself, in Warsaw.

Then we spoke with credentialed Diabetes Educator, Belinda Moore to discuss how our Australian diabetes community could assist Ukrainians with type 1 diabetes who suddenly found themselves with no diabetes supplies due to the war.

We were aware that international organisations like Insulin For Life were providing immediate relief by supplying insulin for people with diabetes directly in Ukraine.

We wanted our care packages to include not just diabetes supplies, but comforting treats like entertainment packs for kids and warm essentials like beanies for adults. We also knew that as a community group, we wouldn’t have the resources to send supplies directly into Ukraine due to the war.

Knowing that other organisations were already assisting, we didn’t want our care packages to arrive to Poland too soon after the war began as we knew that it wouldn’t be long before the media decreased their focus on the war in Ukraine and moved their attention to other global events.

We wanted our care packages to arrive to Poland at a staggered rate over months to come…we knew that Ukrainians with diabetes would be needing support for a long time to come as they learn to rebuild their lives.

CDE Belinda Moore & MD201 Diabetes Coordinator Pat Mills with workers who will deliver the packages to the docks for shipment to Warsaw

Our care packages were sent to Poland for those who would need a boost in their own diabetes services infrastructure as they found themselves having to support Ukrainian refugees with type 1 diabetes in addition to supporting their own type 1 diabetes community.

Between March and August, we have had an incredibly dedicated diabetes community receiving donations to their own homes and diabetes clinics across Australia followed by families and individuals bundling these donations into care packages. Care packages have been created for children and adults who manage their diabetes on MDI and pumps.

There have also been care packages created for new mothers who had diabetes in pregnancy.

Examples of what went into care packages included BGL meters, strips, prickers, lancets, batteries, needle tips, alcohol wipes, CGM sensors, pump consumables, non-perishable hypo food, toiletries, new baby items, children’s colouring in packs, soft toys, beanies and socks and heartwarming written notes sending courage and strength.

Although the main objective of this project was to send diabetes supplies, daily essentials and comforting treats; the outcomes for our Australian diabetes community who volunteered in this project was so healing. Australians felt so helpless as they watched the war unfold. They just needed to help.

Becoming involved in this project created an inspiring level of capacity and capability building amongst our own diabetes community in Australia resulting in the development of individual and community resilience”.

Anyone wishing to help support the project can contact the Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation.

To see the original story, click here.

Her Excellency Congratulates Lions Medical Research Foundation Scholarship Recipient

September 14, 2022/in OUR STORIES, RESEARCH & INNOVATION /by Jemma

Lions Medical Research Foundation Scholarships have been offered since year 2000, with $35,000 awarded to recipients.In 2022, the Foundation received 28 scholarship applications, with Emma Cheney the final 2022 recipient. Emma’s area of study under this scholarship will be in Myeloma Research at the University of Adelaide.Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. Emma is passionate about developing new treatment strategies that improve patient survival and quality of life.

Lions Medical Research Scholarship recipient Emma Cheney with her parents.

A reception was held at Government House to mark the special occasion at the invitation of Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC and Mr Rod Bunten.In welcoming guests, Her Excellency said, ‘South Australia has long had a tradition of world-leading medical research.“We need look no further than the garden outside Government House to see the bust honouring eminent medical scientist Howard Florey who played a vital role in the discovery of penicillin.“His bust stands amongst those of other eminent scientists such as Sir Lawrence and Sir William Bragg, after whom the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy under construction further down North Terrace as part of the Adelaide bio-medical precinct, is named.”“By supporting our best and brightest young medical scientists we are investing in healthy futures not only for our own community, but around the world where needs are pressing.”“Rod and I congratulate the Lions Medical Research Foundation for backing our “home grown” medical researchers through the scholarship program.”Indeed, the work of the Lions Medical Research Foundation, in supporting and assisting the development of ‘home grown’ medical researchers, can not be underestimated.Supporting South Australian academics by offering financial assistance to gain their PhD’s, while remaining in this state, is a large part of the foundations drive to support the health and wellbeing of our community.Emma Cheney completed a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (majoring in Medical Science) at the University of Adelaide in 2019. Emma’s research work, under the support of this scholarship, will focus on novel immunotherapies targeting a protein called Gremlin1 and tumour supportive macrophages.From Her Excellency, “I am sure I speak for everyone here in wishing you (Emma) the best for your research and your future career. We look forward to hearing of your progress.”

To find our more about the Lions Medical Research Foundation and its scholarship opportunities, click here.

Lions volunteers plant 75 gardens for 75 years

September 13, 2022/in ENVIRONMENT, OUR STORIES /by Jemma

The environment is a key focus for Lions and now there are community gardens popping up all over the country to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Lions Clubs in Australia.

We set a goal this year to plant at least 75 gardens across the country before the official anniversary on 29th September.

CEO Rob Oerlemans has confirmed the goal has already been hit with over 75 gardens now planted nationwide!

The Lions Club of Robina’s 75th Anniversary garden project.

“At Lions we pride ourselves on the work we do to make our communities better places to live, and on doing our bit to nurture our local, national and global environments. Our anniversary gardens are a wonderful way to celebrate this and we’re delighted to confirm that over 75 gardens have already been planted across the country,” says Rob.

“It’s been great to see the different ways Clubs have chosen to celebrate the occasion ranging from flowers and native gardens to vegetable gardens for schools, sensory gardens, plaques, park benches and even time capsules. Many Clubs will be hosting special events this month to celebrate the significant milestone and the incredible impact Lions have made and will continue to make in their communities.”

The Lions Club of Queanbeyan installed a plaque in their commemorative garden.

Since the first club was formed in Lismore in 1947, Lions Australia has grown to be the largest service club organisation in Australia, with over 1200 clubs and 25,000 members giving back through an array of community-based programs and initiatives.

This year Lions have been going above and beyond on the recovery efforts for those Australians affected by the floods and continue to support those recovering from the Black Summer bushfires.

Members of the Mount Gambier Lions Club ready to plant their flowers.

The 75th Anniversary campaign is based on the theme of “Always”. We have always been there for our communities, always stand ready to help, and will always be there in the future when needed.

To see all the club garden projects, visit our Facebook Page or for more information about planning your own 75th anniversary celebration, click here.

Q2’s Marathon Eye Screening Trip

September 13, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Emily Williams

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

One in every five Australian children have an undetected vision problem, and Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) is working to change that.

The team in Q2 have recently returned from a trip that saw them visit schools across their District to conduct vision tests for children.

Irene and Martin of Tully Lions Club, Susan and Warwick of Whitsunday Lions Club, and non-Lion Terena hit the road together to travel from Mount Isa to Charters Towers.

Eye Testing Extraordinaires: Irene & Martin (Tully Lions Club), Sue & Warwick (Whitsunday Lions Club) and Terena (Image: Facebook)

The group travelled over 2000 kilometres to screen 668 students from 13 schools, plus a number of teachers. From this, 151 referrals were made following the examinations; validating the need for such a service.

With extensive experience under their belts, the team from Q2 were able to offer screenings for depth perception, colour perception, visual acuity, and general eye health/abnormalities.

Whilst programs such as this regularly operate in the main cities and along the coast, often communities out West miss out on these opportunities.

“It was so rewarding to be able to screen at these schools who often get left off the list as they are so far west,” said Irene Braddick, the program lead.

One in five Aussie kids have undetected vision problems (Image: Facebook)

The campaign is expected to take place every two years, in line with the recommendations laid out by LEHP. Regular eye exams for children are important to avoid long-term vision impairment.

The Lions Eye Health Program was established in 2000 as a pilot program funded by LCIF’s SightFirst Project. Now a Category B Project, over 60% of Australian Lions Clubs have promoted LEHP.

You can learn more about the program here.

Lions Club of Gawler lighting the way for the 75th Anniversary!

August 12, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Elise Murrell

Congratulations Lions Club of Gawler Inc with SA Infrastructure and Transport for their Lions 75th Anniversary Garden project!

The Lions Club of Gawler have, for more than 20 years, cared for the Gawler Railway Station precinct, including the the station’s gardens & heritage features.

That care, attention and Lions’ own heritage has now been acknowledged and celebrated by the addition of the 75th Anniversary garden. The centrepiece being an illuminated Lions logo! Solar powered of course 🙂

In a much appreciated gesture, Rail Care have also donated 300 plants and other materials to support the project.

How does your 75th Anniversary Garden “glow”?

We are always excited to receive news of gardens being planted by clubs around Australia, and your 75^th Anniversary celebrations, and would love to share on our social media.

Email Jemma at pr@lions.org.au with your stories and pics!

If your club is planning a garden, big or small, we have some great resources available for promotion here

This is how LC Gawler’s 75th Anniversary Garden glows!

Wheelers Hill Lions Club’s Novel Idea

August 11, 2022/in OUR STORIES /by Emily Williams

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

With the exception of 2020, Wheelers Hill Lions Club have been holding second-hand book sale fundraisers for the past 14 years.

Since 2008, the Club has raised over $100,000 to support Lions projects in the local area by selling used books once or twice a year.

Bargain hunters browsing the second-hand book sale.
Image: Supplied

Money raised from the book sales has been a major contributor to many Lions projects in Monash over the years, including enabling over 50 children to attend camps.

In 2019, Wheelers Hill Lions Club put funds raised from the book sale towards purchasing a 12 seater bus for Wavecare, a counselling and community support service based in Monash. The bus collects elderly residents from their homes and takes them to the local community centre for a day of planned activities, before returning the residents home.

Lions L-R : Val Eldridge, Ian Bjorkman, Ralph Wildenberg and Shiraz Mistry Image: Supplied

Books at the sale are donated to the Club and sold for between 50¢ and $3.50. With between 9,000 and 11,000 second-hand fiction and non-fiction books on sale at each event, there is something for everyone.

Lions work together to alphabetise and sort the thousands of books into 25 categories, making it easier for bargain hunters to find what they’re looking for.

The next book sale will be taking place at Caribbean Park in Scoresby on the 20^th and 21^st of August. You can find more about the event here.