GREG Gin has returned to the top of the Lions Club of Kerang, nine years after first serving as president.
Mr Gin replaced John Poole as president at the club’s changeover dinner at the Kerang Sports and Entertainment Venue last Thursday night.
More than 60 people attended the diner, including most of the club’s 28 members and visitors from neighbouring Lions clubs.
Mr Poole said the club had achieved many of its goals during the past 12 months and completed a long list of activities, including numerous barbecues, running the Junior Public Speaking and Youth of the Year competitions, Driver Reviver, wood raffles, Christmas hamper deliveries, maintaining the Ibis Rookery, Clean Up Australia and visiting residents at Northaven.
“We also started a new project – Community Angels – making chemo tie hats, pump bags and carry bags for cancer patients,” Mr Poole said.
“This is a great initiative of Beryl Tartaglia and Tony Coobs, so thankyou both very much, along with your volunteer sewers and packers, for this worthwhile cause.”
The club also provided financial support to numerous Lions projects, and to local organisations including the Kerang Music Society, four local schools, Portsea Camp and Rotary’s Cambodia Schoolies Alternative Trip.
Mr Poole said the club has taken occupancy of its new den, with plans to construct a memorial wall in the grounds to remember departed members of the club.
The club also organised two grants of $2500 from the District 201V6 Foundation for local families who lost their homes to fire.
Mr Poole presented numerous awards during the changeover dinner, including long service certificates to Jeff Jackson (10 years), Jenny Shields (15 years), John Casey (20 years) and Peter Niall (30 years).
Lions Centennial pins were presented to those who had sponsored new members during the past 12 months, including to Elaine Casey, who sponsored Alison McKenzie, and to Robert Morris, who sponsored Attila Ollari-Hazy.
Certificates of appreciation went to Jenny Shields, Elaine Casey and Greg Gin, who shared the duties of secretary, and to outgoing treasurer Jeff Jackson.
The installing officer was past district governor and Barham-Koondrook Lions Club member Alan Millar, who spoke about the centenary of Lions, which will be marked on June 7 next year.
“For an organisation to last 100 years and still be increasing in size is remarkable and something we should be proud of,” he said.
“I know Kerang has some ideas to mark the centenary and I hope those ideas come to fruition.”
Office bearers installed by Mr Millar include president Greg Gin, first vice president Jeff Jackson, second vice president and lion tamer Joe Tartaglia, third vice president Graeme Hayes, secretary Elaine Casey, treasurer Peter Jones, bulletin editor Colin Myers, membership chairman John Poole, and tail twisters Tony Coobs and Robert Morris.
Mr Gin paid tribute to his predecessor as he took to the stage to accept the gong and gavel.
“The work John does behind the scenes is what makes him such a great Lion and a great president; he gets so much done that no-one knows about and he does it without fuss,” he said.
