The Lions Club of Geelong was Chartered on 27 May 1953 with 52 members.
The Lions Club of Geelong was the 13th Lions Club formed in Australia. Sponsored by the Lions Club of Footscray, the Club held a dinner at the Geelong West City Hall. We were the 10,218th Club Internationally. Our first President was South Barwon Shire Councillor, Cr Charles Stanley Thomas (Stan) Plummer JP.
FORMING MORE LIONS CLUBS
The Club subsequently formed the following Clubs:
- Lismore
- Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads
- Geelong South Barwon
- Horsham
- Queenscliff – Point Lonsdale
- Lara, and
- Geelong Corio Bay
LONG TERM FUNDRAISING
Lions Christmas Cakes and Lions Mints have been ongoing since 1974/5 and for approximately 33 years from 1969 the Club ran a Giant Christmas Stocking Raffle with an estimated profit over that time of $200,000.
In 1982 the Club assisted in purchasing the St Johns Ambulance Hall in Myers Street, after St Johns lost the use of the tin shed they were using.
In 1986 we built five units in Corio for those in need, and Club members still sit on the board today to assist in the management of the units.
In 1990 we donated $80,000.00 to the McKellar Centre to finish the swimming pool, and also a substantial amount to finish “The Hub” at the centre.
Activities have varied widely over the years. Children’s Christmas parties, wrestling competitions, fishing competition, Car Trials, an OP Shop, wine tastings, Trade Fairs, sponsoring magic shows, establishment of a wishing well at Eastern Beach and walking tracks along the Barwon River and Kardinia Park. Many activities were designed to raise funds and others for Community support.
Community Welfare Programs were run to assist families in difficulty, such as a fire wood collection and cutting program, health screenings, food distribution and outings for Seniors.
For many years the Club has supported Licola by sending deserving Children to Lions camps. Many of these children would never have had this simple experience without Lions support. The Club has, for many years run a series of annual bursaries for primary school children who show strong community involvement.
In recent years we have hired tents and Marquees, but by far the most successful means of raising funds has been catering. The Club has been involved in the Geelong Show for many years with its extensive facilities at the “Lions Shed”. Interestingly our first Geelong Show gave us a profit of $2,667.
With donations given yearly to local, national and international causes, our Club proudly support Lions projects and foundations nationally and internationally.
Giving back to our local community is something close to the heart of all Club members. In recent years we have donated $22,500 to Gateways Support Services here in Geelong for the operation of an early learning program for 15 children living with autism. In Lions year 2018-19 we contributed $10,000 to the St John of God Geelong Hospital Auxiliary to assist with the purchase of an oncology patient transport vehicle operated by volunteers at the hospital. In total in 2018-19 we have donated $32,568.38.
An estimate of the funds raised over the 66 years is approximately $2.5 to $3 million. The club has no idea how many thousands of Lion hours have been donated to many causes.
RECOGNISING MEMBERS
In the Lions year 1998/99 Bev Taylor was our first female President.
At Pevensey Park in Malop Street, Geelong, there is the Ron Robinson Rose Garden named after the late Lions member and Councillor of the City of Greater Geelong. In 1976 the George Trickey Playground was established in Forster Street, South Geelong. A historical marker was erected in 1979 above Eastern Beach.
The club has produced three District Governors, the late Barney Barrett (1979/80), the late Colin Kennett (1994/95) and the late Derek Challis OAM (2001/02).
We have honoured nine people with Life Membership of Lions Clubs International in our Club and awarded 14 Melvin Jones Awards to our members and sponsors.
Now, almost every weekend a member of the Lions Club of Geelong can be seen tending to a hot barbeque in the catering trailer, to raise funds for their many and varied projects and programs and being of service to the community.