Since the first appearance of silo art in 2015, regional and rural towns across Australia have been transformed by these large-scale public artworks.
And now, thanks to the local Lions Club, the small town of Katamatite is on the map for their mural on the Silo Art Trail.
Katamatite silo art mural by artist Tim Bowtell.
The Silo Art Trail has been turning heads on dusty regional roads since 2016 with its 700km-long collection of massive street artworks celebrating the people and culture of Victoria’s northwest.
Adding to the popularity of the existing North East Silo Art Trail, the Katamatite Lions Club spearheaded a fundraising campaign for their own silo art project, creating a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy their town.
They have been fundraising for the project since 2019 with kite festivals, raffles, markets and even opening their own Op Shop.
Benalla artist Tim Bowtell is the creative talent behind the Katamatite silo art, taking 32 days to complete the mural.
Artist Tim Bowtell ready to get to work.
Julie Ballard from the Katamatite Lions Club and Chair of the Silo Art Working Group says she is extremely proud to see the completed project after 5 years of hard work and planning.
“A big congratulations to the Lions Club of Katty for many years of hard work, and to Tim for making our vision a reality,” she says.
The Silos are owned by GrainCorp, who along with Moira Shire, have provided a great deal of work and support towards the project.
Julie says they have also worked closely with the Katamatite Historical Society, local indigenous community members, the local Katamatite community and the North East Art Trail Group to form the brief for the artwork.
Katamatite silo art project in progress.
“Artist Tim has blended together several components to the design to form a cohesive composition,” she says.
“The artwork features an eagle which links to the metal eagle in the Lions Park in town. Wedge tailed eagles are native to our local area, but can be elusive to spot.
We pay homage to our traditional owners, noted in our local history book as the Kwat Kwat/ Bangerang.
The left Silo shows indigenous figures camped along the Boosey Creek. A Scar Tree runs down the centre which links the two silos together. These trees still exist in the Broken Boosey State Park surrounding the silos.
The design also features the first passenger train engine built in 1857 which serviced Katamatite in the early days of settlement.
The image that runs across the bottom of both silos is of horses pulling a scoop to form irrigation channels; irrigation opened up the region to farming.”
This project is injecting new life into rural towns and encouraging tourism to the areas, along with gifting Victoria one of the most unique road trip routes in the country.
Julie says she now hopes more people will visit the silos and take in everything the small community of Katamatite has to offer.
You can see more from the project on the Katamatite Lions Facebook Page.
Coogee Lions Club President taking on the World’s Highest Marathon for Lions
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaCoogee Lions Club President Sari-Elle Kraemer is taking on the World’s Highest Marathon for Lions.
Since joining Lions in 2019, Sari-Elle has become particularly passionate about advocating for the work of the Australian Lions Foundation.
She has taken that commitment to new heights by taking on the World’s Highest Marathon as a fundraiser for Lions.
Sari-Elle has set a goal – to not only climb 17,598 feet above sea level to Everest Base Camp but to then also attempt to run a full 42.2 kms crisscrossing the high Sherpa trails of Khumbu Valley contending with freezing temperatures, low oxygen, and mountainous terrain.
In the lead up to running the World’s Highest Marathon in May 2024, Sari-Elle is seeking to raise $120,000 for the Australian Lions Foundation’s Compassionate Fund which provides grants to Lions Clubs to help assist Persons or Families in necessitous circumstances.
This may be by the provision of medical aids, equipment or cash to provide relief from hardship.
Sari-Elle has commenced training and will be clocking up the kilometres in coming months to prepare for this audacious challenge. She is currently running 60-80 kms a week and is participating in a number of races and events where she is proudly promoting Lions.
She recently ran the Sydney Marathon, will aim to complete the Mount Kosciuszko 50 km Ultra Marathon on 7th December and is looking to enter some more events in coming months to prepare for the World’s Highest Marathon in May 2024.
She’s planning to do some weekend runs out of Sydney in coming months so keep an eye out – she may be running in a community near you!
You can follow Sari-Elle’s journey on Facebook here.
Good luck, Sari-Elle!
How Lions Clubs and members can help
Help her reach her goal and make a donation online here.
Donations can also be made by EFT to the Australian Lions Foundation, with “Sari-Elle Appeal” as the reference:
Bank: Westpac
BSB: 036-157
Account#: 535251
Account Name: ALF Compassionate Fund
Reference: Sari-Elle Appeal
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and every dollar counts.
Read more
School is in session – International Peace Poster Contest
/in NEWS, OUR STORIES, PEACE CONTEST /by JemmaSchool is in session and our Lions clubs are ready to host their local Peace Poster contest for 2023-24!
For over three decades, Lions clubs around the globe have been sponsoring this very special art contest in schools and youth groups.
The theme for the 2023-24 International Peace Poster Contest competition is “Dare to Dream,” asking young people from around the world to show how they’ll turn their dream of a peaceful world into reality.
Chloe Hua was a Merit Award Winner in the 2022-23 Lions International Peace Poster Competition.
Student Chloe Hua was named the V5 District and National winner in the 2022 final, and a Merit Award winner at the Lions International Judging event held in February 2023 in Chicago, USA.
Chloe’s work was an outstanding artistic portrayal of the theme ‘Lead with Compassion’ and her Peace Poster message was immediately clear:
“A world of peace is a world where regardless of age, gender, race or size, everyone is united as a whole, in a limitless world; lead by empathy, compassion and acceptance”.
Pictured L to R: Vermont SC Principal Tony Jacobs, South Vermont Lions Club President Syd Giller, LIPP Chair South Vermont LC Max White, LIPP Coordinator Katherine Parzis, and student Chloe Hua.
V5 District International Peace Poster Chair Katherine Parzis was honoured to attend Chloe’s school last month to present the International Peace Poster Award Certificate to her; and an International Peace Poster Appreciation Certificate to Principal Tony Jacobs.
Lion Katherine Parzis with International Peace Poster Merit Award Winner Chloe Hua and her mother.
“I congratulated Chloe with the National Multi District Peace Poster trophy engraved with her name, and I wished her very well with her studies and future endeavors with her proud mother at the Award presentation,” says Lion Katherine.
“I would not be able to continue the District Peace Poster Contest without the support of my Lions colleagues, and I look forward to this year’s Peace Poster Essay Youth program.”
For further information regarding Lions International Peace Poster Contest, click here.
To see all current Peace Poster Contest winners and their peace posters, click here.
Lions Chemo Caps for Cancer Patients
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaAfter attending a National Lions Convention, Jenny Peacock was inspired by a heartwarming project that she thought would be perfect for her club to adopt.
Lion Jenny Peacock with the handmade chemo caps. Image Source: supplied.
Started by the Battunga Country Lions Club in South Australia and known as ‘Carolyn’s Chemo Caps’, the project involves making beanies for cancer patients undertaking chemotherapy and consequentially going through the hardships of hair loss.
Jenny along with the other members of the Boroondara-Gardiners Creek Lions Club agreed they too would support the project and began making plans to help bring some comfort to those going through their cancer treatment.
As none of their members were sewers, Lion Jenny connected with local volunteering group GOLD (Growing Old Living Dangerously) where she met Denise, who was looking to get involved with a volunteer group.
Denise was happy to make the caps, sewing them when she had spare time.
To date, Denise has made over 1500 caps which are packed and wrapped by Boroondara-Gardiners Creek Lions members and taken to Eastern Epworth Day Oncology unit at Box Hill for patients.
The fine fabric used for the caps act like a lightweight sock over the head to keep them warm. They are thin enough for wear at home but can also be worn under a turban.
The Club also make a winter version using polar fleece (these can be worn under a beanie too).
Jenny says she noticed a woman at the supermarket wearing one of their chemo caps and started up a conversation.
The woman noted that the cap was one of the best things she’d received during her cancer treatment and that it was fantastic to be able to choose out the fabric in a style she likes (free of charge).
The Club raises money for the fabric through their community fundraising projects including barbecues and Christmas tree sales.
Well done to the Boroondara-Gardiners Lions Club on an amazing project – where there’s a need, there is a Lion.
ALCMF Featured on WIN NEWS
/in OUR STORIES /by Karen PriceA recent WIN NEWS video shared details about an important Lions program — Australian Lions Children’s Mobility Foundation (ALCMF) — and the great work they do!
“Three-year-old Ethan was born with a rare brain disorder, leaving him unable to walk or talk. But a foundation – established by the Lions Club – is funding a set of wheels to get him moving, providing equal opportunity to children with disabilities.”
The video shows Ethan and other disabled kids participating in an exercise event hosted by Frame Running Wollongong, where they can run and scoot through a series of activities using customised assistance devices to help them move about more easily.
In the video, District Chair Steven Sherwood highlights the importance of these events, and spruiks the work of ALCMF in helping provide the specialised (and often expensive) devices that help disabled kids like Ethan.
Founded nearly 30 years ago, the ALCMF works closely with each child’s physiotherapist to determine what kind of walker will give them the best support while also enabling them to move around freely.
The benefit to the kids is immeasurable. According to Ethan’s mum, Natalie Zukowski, almost immediately after trying out his frame runner for the first time, Ethan was smiling and enjoying seeing the world from a different point of view.
At first, he wasn’t able to take many steps on his own, but is quickly learning how to use the frame runner to get around on his own after attending several of the Frame Running events.
The ALCMF’s mission is to provide “walking devices that get kids out of their wheelchairs and on to their feet, so they are able to walk, explore, play, work and socialise.”
ALCMF was founded shortly after the Whitfield family of Allambie in Sydney travelled to the UK to have their four-year-old son Luke fitted with a new type of walking assistance device designed by David Hart, called the Hart Walker.
Seeing the dramatic improvement in Luke’s health, they were inspired to bring this opportunity to more Australian children.
In 1996, the Spastic Centre of New South Wales was granted the Australian license by David Hart, and the Children’s Mobility Program was born.
They have since branched out to different types of walkers addressing a range of disabilities.
So far, they have given away over 2,000 walkers to children across the country, funded by the generous donations they receive from Lions of Australia and corporate sponsors.
Lions International Stamp Club
/in SPECIAL INTEREST CLUBS /by Rob OerlermansThe business of kindness on Free Trade Day
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaPicture a world where families struggle without running water, lights, or a secure home.
Where an elderly couple’s kitchen sink blocked up three years ago and the hot water in their bathroom stopped working.
Image by Sue Graham for The Daily Telegraph. “Overwhelmed: Sandra Jackson breaks down in tears as teams of tradies start work on her Killarney Vale home”.
It’s heart-wrenching, but together we can make a difference.
This October, Lions volunteers are calling on compassionate tradespeople to give back to their communities for Free Trade Day – a day that will forever change lives for the better.
Free Trade Day is a Lions Club of Terrigal-Wamberal project connecting tradies who are willing to work for FREE for people doing it tough.
Tradies donate their time to repair damaged homes on Free Trade Day.
It’s an emotional day that highlights the Central Coast’s best tradies, helping their neighbours.
Free Trade Day founder and Lions member Ryan Wilson is now assembling a force of leading trades businesses, united by kindness, to dedicate a day to those in desperate need.
“Free Trade Day is a great opportunity for the trade community to come together and lend a helping hand to those who unfortunately cannot afford to have important repairs and maintenance done on their homes,” says Ryan.
A Lions volunteer chats with home-owner on Free Trade Day 2022.
“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.”
Registration is now open, click here to find out how you can get involved with Free Trade Day on the 20th of October 2023.
Lions to climb Mt. Kenya for kids in Tanzania
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaOn August 28th, an amazing group of women will begin their 5 day climb on Mt. Kenya.
The 16 Lions members who are all from different countries, will be making their way along the Chogoria route to the peak, a difficult challenge that’s worth every minute.
They are raising $100,000 for the ‘Kili for Kids’ Project, which will provide the funds for much needed renovations of the Mwereni School for the Visually Impaired in Tanzania.
The school is also a safe haven for children with Albinism, who have sadly come under attack by people believing their bones hold magic powers.
Among this team of amazing women is Australian Sheryl Keppler, President of the Australian Online and Travellers Lions Club.
Sheryl says she agreed to join the expedition at the 2023 National Convention on the Gold Coast after Past International President Barry Palmer asked an Australian Lion to sign up.
Aussie Lion, Sheryl Keppler is ready for Mt. Kenya (Image from Facebook).
“I saw no reason not to take up the challenge, so I took him up on the offer and joined the Kili for Kids Team,” she says.
“We are 16 female Lions from 16 different countries, that will join together and climb Mt. Kenya.”
The Kili for Kids project was inspired by the first female Lions President Gudrun Yngvadottir, with the first international team of female Lions climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money and build a school for children in Kenya.
Through the Kili for Kids program, Lions directly help provide education and feeding programs to orphans and needy children.
We wish the 16 Lions all the best of luck on their climb!
Katamatite Lions fund huge Silo Art Project
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaSince the first appearance of silo art in 2015, regional and rural towns across Australia have been transformed by these large-scale public artworks.
And now, thanks to the local Lions Club, the small town of Katamatite is on the map for their mural on the Silo Art Trail.
Katamatite silo art mural by artist Tim Bowtell.
The Silo Art Trail has been turning heads on dusty regional roads since 2016 with its 700km-long collection of massive street artworks celebrating the people and culture of Victoria’s northwest.
Adding to the popularity of the existing North East Silo Art Trail, the Katamatite Lions Club spearheaded a fundraising campaign for their own silo art project, creating a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy their town.
They have been fundraising for the project since 2019 with kite festivals, raffles, markets and even opening their own Op Shop.
Benalla artist Tim Bowtell is the creative talent behind the Katamatite silo art, taking 32 days to complete the mural.
Artist Tim Bowtell ready to get to work.
“A big congratulations to the Lions Club of Katty for many years of hard work, and to Tim for making our vision a reality,” she says.
The Silos are owned by GrainCorp, who along with Moira Shire, have provided a great deal of work and support towards the project.
Julie says they have also worked closely with the Katamatite Historical Society, local indigenous community members, the local Katamatite community and the North East Art Trail Group to form the brief for the artwork.
Katamatite silo art project in progress.
“Artist Tim has blended together several components to the design to form a cohesive composition,” she says.
“The artwork features an eagle which links to the metal eagle in the Lions Park in town. Wedge tailed eagles are native to our local area, but can be elusive to spot.
We pay homage to our traditional owners, noted in our local history book as the Kwat Kwat/ Bangerang.
The left Silo shows indigenous figures camped along the Boosey Creek. A Scar Tree runs down the centre which links the two silos together. These trees still exist in the Broken Boosey State Park surrounding the silos.
The design also features the first passenger train engine built in 1857 which serviced Katamatite in the early days of settlement.
The image that runs across the bottom of both silos is of horses pulling a scoop to form irrigation channels; irrigation opened up the region to farming.”
This project is injecting new life into rural towns and encouraging tourism to the areas, along with gifting Victoria one of the most unique road trip routes in the country.
Julie says she now hopes more people will visit the silos and take in everything the small community of Katamatite has to offer.
You can see more from the project on the Katamatite Lions Facebook Page.
Vision-impaired get ‘In the Driver’s Seat’
/in OUR STORIES /by JemmaFor those living with a visual impairment, rarely does the opportunity come to get behind the wheel and burn rubber around a racetrack.
But thanks to the Lions Club of Warrandyte and their annual ‘In The Driver’s Seat’ event, for many it became a reality by providing the safety and support to help achieve their dreams.
(Image captured by Alan Quarendon).
Held on July 2nd at Sandown Race Course in Springvale, Victoria, participants drove assisted by qualified instructors, speeding around the course and hitting speeds of over 100kmph. As well as assisted driving, there was also the chance to ride passenger on motorbike laps round the track.
Over 100 visually impaired people registered to attend this years’ event, with many traveling from far and wide for the chance to hit the track.
The event was completely free to attend with all costs fundraised and donated by the Warrandyte Lions Club.
(Image captured by Amanda M Gibbon).
“The Warrandyte Lions Club are proud to once again be hosting In the Drivers Seat,” says Club President, David Englefield.
“It’s a wonderful day for everyone in the community and we get such a joy from seeing the thrill driving brings to the visually impaired among us.”
(Image captured by Alan Quarendon).
Vision is one of Lions Club’s five key global focus areas as well as Diabetes, Hunger, Environment and Childhood Cancer.
You can find out more about the annual In The Driver’s Seat’ event here.
Walking towards a cure for diabetes
/in OUR STORIES /by Emily WilliamsOriginal story by Joan Tufvesson
The Lions Club of Yarrawonga and the Lions Club of Lake Mulwala joined forces to host the inaugural walk for diabetes awareness at the Yarrawonga Showgrounds on Saturday 20th May.
Support for this event from local businesses and professionals was fantastic and very much appreciated by both Clubs.
The weather behaved itself, providing cloud cover for the 70 walkers and two dogs. A total of 280 km was walked; which equates to approximately 459 laps of the oval.
There was a “Pit Stop” provided halfway around the oval where snacks, fresh fruit, and bottled water were handed out. At the final “Pit Stop”, held at the Yarrawonga Lions Wool Pavilion, a selection of diabetic-friendly food was cooked for walkers – chilli con carne and wholemeal pancakes – which was included in the $10 registration fee. All produce and snacks were generously donated by Woolworths and Midland Fresh.
The starting line. Image: supplied.
Advice was given free of charge and the Clubs’ thanks go to Credentialed Diabetes Educator Janet Lagstrom; Accredited Practising Dietitian at Yarrawonga Health Liza Black; optometrists Sandra Heaney and Andrew Banks; and Lions District Diabetes Chairperson Robyn Harrison.
Posters with QR codes were placed on the fence which linked to a website with relevant information about diabetes.
A pizza oven was donated by Bunnings with the winner being the President of Finley Lions Chris Horne.
All funds raised from the registration and sale of raffle tickets was forwarded to Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation, which will go towards prevention, awareness, and research in the fight against diabetes.
Without volunteers and sponsors, these events could not happen. So, a very big thank you to everyone involved in this event.
You can learn more about the Lions Australia Diabetes Foundation here.