THE Mirboo North Lions Club celebrated their 20th anniversary by holding a dinner for nearly 100 community members at the Grand Ridge Brewery recently.
The night was emceed by Korumburra Lions Club member Roger Powell, while founding member Liz Morris, spoke about how the club got started.
It was the Strzelecki Lions Club who initially acted as the supporting club for the Mirboo North Lions, with Peter Ryan, previous MP, also helping to get things underway.
Chris McKay, another founding member, and one of only three charter members that remain in the club today, was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, Lions Club International, on the night.
“We announced the Melvin Jones award to Chris McKay, which is the highest award you can award from the Lions – for general community work,” said Judy Jackson, secretary of Mirboo North Lions Club.
He’s one of those people who you ask him to help, and he’s already got it done. He’s just a quiet achiever.
$280,000 has been raised by the Lions over two decades, mostly from barbecues, raffles, the Mirboo North Op-shop and a few Show n’ Shines thrown in.
“It just all adds up,” said Judy.
The money raised by the club is donated to individuals, organisations and causes of their choosing.
The majority of funds go to the local community, while some goes to the Australian Lions Foundation, who distribute it for natural disasters nationwide, and some goes overseas towards international disasters.
The most memorable donation the club made, as recalled by Judy, was to a local boy who had cerebral palsy.
Equipment was purchased so the boy and his family could manage better at home.
“It really, really, gave us a buzz because we were helping someone, one single person, physically. It’s mostly groups that we were helping, but this was a real one-on-one thing that made a huge difference,” recounted Judy.
The Mirboo North Lions Club seek to continue their efforts for at least another 20 years and are always keen to welcome new members to join them.
For more information about Mirboo North Lions Club, contact Judy Jackson on 0419 370 770.
