Address by 2025-2026 President Vaughn Parker
Great night with 90 plus people: Lions members, volunteers, community representatives and our young servers. Well done to all Lions members who pitched in to help set up. Chitta Chatta's did a great job with catering for such a big crowd ably assisted by the young servers. The food was well received. Well done to those who received awards. I was honoured to receive a Melvin Jones Fellowship totally unexpected but thank you.
Our young servers, Izaac, Ash, Ella P, Ella Mc, Nakoda and Layli given recognition for their service to the community and their efforts in their personal endeavours. It would be great to ensure that we have the youth recognised at our Australia Day presentation.
End of Year Donations
Most of the donations have been now made to the various community groups and Lions Foundations. A huge thanks to outgoing Treasurer John Finnie for getting this done; for writing letters to each group, organising their bank details then transferring the funds into their accounts. A mammoth task well done.
July Dinner Meeting
Angela Wigley, GLEF sponsored student, who was featured in the July edition of the Hallidays Point News of Our World had artwork on display at the NAIDOC exhibition at the Great Lakes Art Society until 27th July. Angela and her mum were guests at our July Dinner meeting where she spoke briefly about her ongoing training and her artwork, a very talented young lady.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Ka-Boom Fireworks has sent an email wanting to know if we are going ahead again this year. Personally, I feel this is a good community event that brings the community together and also brings in other visitors to the community. Last year we received a grant to cover some of the cost so hopefully we will apply again this year and also seek sponsorship and donations if we decide to go ahead.
Alicia Franklin - Participant in the World Transplant Games in Germany August 17 – 25
Robyn Robertson, Zone Chair, sought financial support for Alicia Franklin to attend the Transplant Games in Germany. Robyn thought this could be a Zone project. Alicia almost died after organ failure following a reaction to prescribed medication. As a result, she received a liver transplant. Following many years of recovery and hospitalisation she has taken up athletics winning four silver medals in the Canberra Transplant Games and is now representing the Manning and Australia in Germany. At our July Board meeting it was agreed that we would assist Alicia with $500 towards meeting the cost of attending the World Transplant Games. It was great to hear that other clubs in our zone are also supporting her as a Zone project. We wish her well.
Biggest Morning Tea
Futures Real Estate (LJ Hooker Hallidays Point) hosted the Biggest Morning Tea for Cancer Council on Friday 25th July from 10:00am till 1:00pm.
Lions provided a BBQ selling sausage sangas; over 200 were sold. Thanks to those Lions who were able to assist on the morning. All takings of that day from the Op Shop and the BBQ were passed on to Futures Real Estate to go to Cancer research.
Tell Me A Story
Alexandra Glenross from Tell Me A Story and who has volunteered in the Op Shop, is seeking support to run a project inviting Yr 5/6 children to write a creative/imaginative story which will be judged by an experienced panel. Winning entries will be published in an anthology. Her group is seeking support as a Lions project.
Luminosity Youth Summit
Joanne Bates approached Past President Noel seeking sponsorship/funding for two students from Great Lakes College (local students) to attend the two-day youth conference at Port Macquarie. These events are always well run with guest speakers and sessions on leadership and self-awareness. The cost for both students was $590.
Lego Brick Fest
Mel Orchard approached HP Lions seeking assistance to run a BBQ at the Lego Brickfest. In the past it has been organised by Hallidays Point Public School but this year it was organised by Krambach Public School which is also one of the schools we support. Brickfest took place at Great Lakes College Tuncurry on Sunday 10th August from 9:00am till 1:00pm. Despite the weather we managed to stay mostly dry and sell bacon and egg rolls, sausage sangas and drinks. Krambach School were very appreciative of our efforts. Thanks to all Lions who helped.
Lions Eye Health Program
The Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP) aims to reduce the incidence and impact of vision loss in Australia through education and awareness activities, promoting eye examinations, distributing informational publications and conducting children’s vision screenings. In the initial stage Lions and other community members undergo training and receive qualification to be able to conduct eye health screening in local schools to identify possible problems which can then be followed up by eye health specialists. I would like to make this a major project for our club in 2025/2026.
Yours in Lionism, President Vaughn