BY EMILY WILLIAMS
In the first weekend of June, Wangi Lions Club held their annual Dobell Festival of Art and Craft.
Over its 45-year history, the festival has cemented itself as one of the most prestigious art and craft festivals in New South Wales.
This year’s two-day event raised in excess of $20,000 and included 320 paintings and over 1000 pieces of craft.
2022 Dobell Prize winner: “Still Life with Magnolias” – John Edge
Over the years, funds raised have supported local families experiencing hardships; domestic violence services; women’s refuges; drug and alcohol services; food relief; children’s services; mental health and special needs services; as well as local schools and sporting groups in the District.
Keith McBurney and Warren Jeffers
Jane Smith of Wangi Lions Club credits Keith McBurney, who has been the Dobell Festival Chairperson for the past 7 years, and Warren Jeffers, the primary sponsorship facilitator, as being the “nuts and bolts of the festival”.
Named after esteemed local artist Sir William Dobell, this year’s festival came to life after 8 weeks of hard work by members of Wangi Lions Club and approximately 30 volunteers.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to socialise with the community, as each year many volunteer and become a part of the festival,” said Smith.
Raffle Prize painted by Stephanie Macfarlane
Wangi Lions Dobell Festival of Art and Craft provides a great opportunity for Lake Macquarie residents to come together as a community and celebrate the promising artists of the area.
You can see the full list of winners below.
Keep up to date with Wangi Lions Club here.
2022 Awards for Art Section
The 2022 Dobell Prize
John Edge – “Still Life with Magnolias”
Section 1 – Landscape
Jill Cairns – “Here I Stand”
Section 2 – Figurative
Sue Rosalind Vesely – “Ascension”
Section 3 – Still Life
Rene Berger – “Still Life with Winter Shadows”
Section 4 – ‘After Dobell’
Christine Galvin – “Faithful Companion”
Section 5 – Youth Primary
Louis Poelaert – “Elephant in the Room”
Section 6 – Youth Secondary
Peyton Hardesty – “Peter Spider Morph”
2022 Awards for Craft Section
Dobell Craft Prize
Noelene Farrell
Needlework/Knitting
Karen Murray
Pottery
Sue Stewart
Ceramics
Rebecca Irving
Jewellery
Joanne Wiltshire
Miscellaneous
Janelle Hampton
Lions volunteers plant 75 gardens for 75 years
/in ENVIRONMENT, OUR STORIES /by JemmaThe 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
/in OUR STORIES /by Emily WilliamsBY 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!
/in OUR STORIES /by Elise MurrellCongratulations 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 75th 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
/in OUR STORIES /by Emily WilliamsBY 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 20th and 21st of August. You can find more about the event here.
Wangi Lions Club’s Festival Celebrates its 45th Year
/in OUR STORIES /by Emily WilliamsBY EMILY WILLIAMS
In the first weekend of June, Wangi Lions Club held their annual Dobell Festival of Art and Craft.
Over its 45-year history, the festival has cemented itself as one of the most prestigious art and craft festivals in New South Wales.
This year’s two-day event raised in excess of $20,000 and included 320 paintings and over 1000 pieces of craft.
2022 Dobell Prize winner: “Still Life with Magnolias” – John Edge
Over the years, funds raised have supported local families experiencing hardships; domestic violence services; women’s refuges; drug and alcohol services; food relief; children’s services; mental health and special needs services; as well as local schools and sporting groups in the District.
Keith McBurney and Warren Jeffers
Jane Smith of Wangi Lions Club credits Keith McBurney, who has been the Dobell Festival Chairperson for the past 7 years, and Warren Jeffers, the primary sponsorship facilitator, as being the “nuts and bolts of the festival”.
Named after esteemed local artist Sir William Dobell, this year’s festival came to life after 8 weeks of hard work by members of Wangi Lions Club and approximately 30 volunteers.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to socialise with the community, as each year many volunteer and become a part of the festival,” said Smith.
Raffle Prize painted by Stephanie Macfarlane
Wangi Lions Dobell Festival of Art and Craft provides a great opportunity for Lake Macquarie residents to come together as a community and celebrate the promising artists of the area.
You can see the full list of winners below.
Keep up to date with Wangi Lions Club here.
2022 Awards for Art Section
The 2022 Dobell Prize
John Edge – “Still Life with Magnolias”
Section 1 – Landscape
Jill Cairns – “Here I Stand”
Section 2 – Figurative
Sue Rosalind Vesely – “Ascension”
Section 3 – Still Life
Rene Berger – “Still Life with Winter Shadows”
Section 4 – ‘After Dobell’
Christine Galvin – “Faithful Companion”
Section 5 – Youth Primary
Louis Poelaert – “Elephant in the Room”
Section 6 – Youth Secondary
Peyton Hardesty – “Peter Spider Morph”
2022 Awards for Craft Section
Dobell Craft Prize
Noelene Farrell
Needlework/Knitting
Karen Murray
Pottery
Sue Stewart
Ceramics
Rebecca Irving
Jewellery
Joanne Wiltshire
Miscellaneous
Janelle Hampton
Lions Hero – Margaret Condon
/in Lion Hero /by Emily WilliamsDeidre is a tireless worker for the Club and community. She is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Bulletin Editor, Publicity Officer, Tail Twister, District Cabinet – Nurses Scholarship, Public Relations, and Children’s Health and Mobility Foundation. She organises 3 street stalls per year which raise, on average, $1300 per stall. Deidre has a weekly column in the local paper and a weekly radio program in which she promotes Lions and the community.
Lions Hero – David Horne
/in Lion Hero /by Emily WilliamsLion David has served with dedication as Club President, Secretary, Zone Chairperson and Vice District Governor; and has been instrumental in establishing the Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs. He was Charter President and now serves as Club Secretary.
Lions Hero – Beccy Field
/in Lion Hero /by Emily WilliamsLion Beccy has been a longstanding committed volunteer as a Lioness and Lion since 2010. Her contribution at Club, District and Multiple District has been outstanding.
Lions Hero – Terry Mullan
/in Lion Hero /by Emily WilliamsDeidre is a tireless worker for the Club and community. She is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Bulletin Editor, Publicity Officer, Tail Twister, District Cabinet – Nurses Scholarship, Public Relations, and Children’s Health and Mobility Foundation. She organises 3 street stalls per year which raise, on average, $1300 per stall. Deidre has a weekly column in the local paper and a weekly radio program in which she promotes Lions and the community.
Kai Spence awarded Leo of the Year 2021
/in Uncategorized /by Malcolm QualtroughKai Spence of the Central Queensland Leo Club in Lions District Q4 (Rockhampton) has been awarded the title of 2021 Leo of the Year.
Competing on-stage at the Lions National Convention in Canberra in May 2021, Kai impressed the judges and audience with a heartwarming presentation about his experience of becoming a father.
Kai has been actively involved in his Leo club since joining, holding a variety of roles including President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Chairperson.
The Leo of the Year program offers young people the opportunity to share and celebrate their passion and commitment to community service, and a platform to voice their opinions on topics close to their heart.
Over the next 12 months, Kai will travel around Australia visiting Lions Clubs with the goal of inspiring members to open more Leo Clubs.
Leo members compete at a local and state level before each state nominates a finalist to compete on stage at the Lions National Convention.
Participants are awarded points based on the following:
Find out more about the Leo Club program.