LEE Walkington and Lions go hand-in-hand.
Through her role with the Lions Club of Cohuna, Mrs Walkington has made a profound impact on the district since arriving from Alice Springs in 1989, according to fellow Lions.
That was confirmed recently when Mrs Walkington received a Lions Centennial Award for outstanding service to the global service organisation, which celebrates 100 years in 2017.
Chicago business leader, Melvin Jones told members of his local business club in 1917 that they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world.
After contacting similar groups in the United States, a new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the Association of Lions Clubs.
Mrs Walkington received the one-off medal from 201V6 Past District Governor, Alan Millar.
“I was very honoured to receive one of about only a dozen medals,” she said.
She was asked to join District Cabinet (board) within the first year of joining the movement in 2008, a few years after her husband, Norm.
“Norm has been a member since about 2000, and I was always working in the background, but they were desperate for a secretary so I figured that I may as well join,” she said.
“I joined around the time of the floods. That period of time galvanised the community; it was brilliant in terms of all working together with our neighbours.”
Mrs Walkington is responsible for publishing the weekly and monthly newsletters and promoting the district – which comprises 72 clubs – through social media. She also trains club secretaries and works to recruit more women to clubs across the district, which spans from Quambatook in the west to Corryong in the east.
Mrs Walkington is now heavily involved in Leos, an affiliation of Lions that encourages young men and women to serve others in their community and around the world.
“I have always had an interest in youth and the option came to form Leos in the area with my association with the kids in town,” she said.
“We need to give them something to do in small communities because some don’t quite fit in, don’t play sport. Leos gives kids a great opportunity to understand about community service.”
Mrs Walkington is preparing for a busy year in 2017, with Norm being elected as District Governor for 2017/18 and the Lions Club of Cohuna working on a new project at Lions Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
“We are working with the shire to transform the disused netball court clubroom area into an outdoor barbecue space, with storyboards, as an iconic, lasting memorial for the work that Lions have undertaken in the town and other volunteer groups,” she said.
Mrs Walkington said her proudest accomplishment has been developing Leos in Cohuna.
“They are currently doing brilliant projects at the retirement village, which will hopefully be finished by the time I move in,” she joked.
