The Do-Gooders

The Lions Club is a familiar name to almost every community the world over. But what do they actually do? Vanessa Bull pulls back the veil of mystery on this cornerstone of the community.

by Kyle Hitchmough

 

For those who might not understand, can you explain what the Lions Club actually does?

We’re a worldwide organisation. We raise money through things like sausage sizzles to put back into the community to make a difference. But it’s not all about work, we like to have fun too. We might go up to Noosa for a few days to meet with other Lions Clubs, or have social barbecues to keep us happy and enthusiastic. Our membership is predominantly aged 55 to 85, but we are finally getting some younger people joining through our Leo Club, for younger Lions members.

What kind of projects is the Lions Club involved in in this community?

Tamborine Mountain Lions Club does major projects like our inclusion group, which is for people with disabilities like autism, Down syndrome, mental disabilities, hearing disabilities. We chose to work with people from the ages of 18 to 39 because it’s a group that is often neglected. We knew a band that started working with them, on a musical play which they produced. We’ve changed lives. One of the group’s members has his own music YouTube channel.

All of the clubs run the same speaking competition, Youth of the Year, and the Lions Club gives the winner a trip overseas. We pay the airfare and we send them to Lions families overseas so they can experience what other Lions Clubs do.

We also go to the Country Markets with our caravan and do lunches. Six times a year we’re in charge of parking on the oval, which earns us a substantial amount.

Something else we do for young people is ask the schools to nominate a student from each school to go with a group into the wilderness for 8 days. They’re shown how to make a fire, put up a tent, canoe, learn survival skills. Usually it’s for young people who need a boost in their life.

One of our projects that’s a little unusual is that I’ve trained some of the Lions members and the rural fire brigade to catch snakes. When called out they charge a donation for the Lions Club and that money is helps our wildlife project – sponsoring wildlife carers on the mountain. When someone becomes a wildlife carer we buy everything they need, like incubators, cages and food.

Our other big project is making cushions for women who have breast cancer. We send them to hospitals all over Queensland. If a woman has had a breast removed, the pain is all along the side area, so the cushion fits under the arm and that helps. We get letters saying that it makes such a huge difference. We also make bags to help hide any tubes they might have so they don’t have to feel self-conscious.

How long have you been involved with the Lions Club? How did you get started?

I was the local councillor and used to attend and talk at the Lions Club meetings. I was in another organisation but I found it quite restrictive in the projects they would take on. I found that the Lions Club would do anything and everything! So I decided to join them, and we’ve done huge projects. Our first project was for a young fellow in Tamborine Village who was a paraplegic. His father went to work every day and he was at home on his own. He had a carer come in but she was not allowed to put him in her car. He was stuck at home. So we raised funds and bought him a car. The carer could drive him in his car and take him out. It was fantastic! We try and make differences in peoples’ lives.

Is the Lions Club exclusively staffed by volunteers? How might somebody interested join?

Yes, it is. If they wanted to join all they do is contact one of us. Someone will go and talk to them and give them the forms. Before they can join, they come to a board meeting, a dinner meeting, and work on a couple of our projects. I think the type of people that join the Lions Club are concerned with other peoples’ wellbeing and want to give a benefit to others.

Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain community?

I’ve been here since 1964. It’s a changing community. The community that’s here now is different from 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 50 years ago. The ones that are here now are families with children going to the local schools because we have such a good education up here. There’s a Facebook community site with people willing to help out and give advice. It’s a caring place. It was a farming community but not so much anymore but is still concerned for the environment.

What do you think is the most important thing the Lions Club provides to the area?

It’s a stability. People think “We’ve got a problem: can we get the Lions Club to help?” We try and help people in need. It’s about like-minded people wanting to help. My husband always calls us “the do-gooders.”

 

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