THE Community Bank at Toora and Foster has been a great supporter of the Lions Club of Toora for many years, along with many other community groups, including Sea Days in Port Welshpool, Toora Football Club, Manna Gum in Foster, Fishy Stories, Buckleys Park in Fish Creek, Stony Creek Football Netball Club, and so many more organisations.
This year, the Community Bank again supported the Lions Club of Toora Peace Poster/Essay contest for students aged between 11 and 13. Three Corner Inlet schools participated: Welshpool, Toora and Fish Creek. The Bank provided each school with a bank voucher of $50 credit into the student’s Bendigo Bank account, which was greatly appreciated.
The three winners were Ethan at Welshpool, with Cove the winner in the middle school, Bella at Toora and Marlow at Fish Creek, with Aiya being a close second.
For the first time in District V3, young Kelarny from Toora wanted to express peace in an essay rather than a poster, which was impressive. Unfortunately, the rules for Essay writing are for the visually impaired, which includes colour blindness. Kelarny did not fit these criteria and was ineligible to participate at the international level. Perhaps our District can create a section for those who would rather express peace in writing and not painting.
The teachers in each school are to be congratulated for giving their guidance to the students who created some magnificent artwork. A certificate and a prize was awarded to each student.
Lions Peace Poster entries are judged at district and multiple district levels before the District Governor sends the winning poster to LCI headquarters for final judging.
The next stage was the V3 District Final recently held at the Conference at Lardner Park, Warragul. Again, the finalists’ posters were impressive with a team of three judges, Lions Linda Starke, artist in Stratford, President Jan Hutton from Korumburra Lions and retired school teacher Lions Lady Anne de Bruyne from Warragul.
After a difficult decision, Ellie from Red Hill Consolidated School was the winner, Bella from Toora and Daisy from Dromana were runners up. The winner received a voucher for $100, and the two runners-up each received a $50 voucher.
The Community Banks and Drouin & District, Neerim & District and Trafalgar & District were among the major sponsors at the V3 Conference.
Welshpool students have participated for the past 15 years or so and eagerly look forward to the Peace Poster contest each year.
There are more than 600,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasise the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected in the New Year. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5000 and will be recognised at a special awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
Next year’s theme for the Peace Poster contest will be known in or about February/March 2026. If any student aged 11 to 13 as at November 15, 2026 is interested in participating, please contact Glenda on 0438 044 346 to receive a kit. You will have from March to October to complete your poster.
For additional information about Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest, visit lionsclubs.org/peaceposter.
