“WORKING for the greater good” will be the inspiration of a newly-installed community group president.
The Lions Club of Murrabit and District installed Jess Flavel as its president for 2017/18 during its annual changeover dinner on Tuesday night.
Having been a member of the club for the past four years, Ms Flavel aims to build on work completed previously and to grow the organisation.
“It is wonderful to work with so many who give up so much of their time to work for the greater good,” she said.
“Murrabit has a population of 290 people, and we have more people in our club than my home town of Narrogin in Western Australia – a town of 4000 people – which has 17 members.”
Ms Flavel’s major projects during the coming 12 months include the erecting of shade sails and the laying of memorial pavers at Lions Park, the installation of an automated watering system at the town’s cenotaph and the revegetation of the area between the Murrabit Golf Club and Murrabit Group School.
Ms Flavel is the eighth female president in the club’s 28-year history and will work alongside long-serving secretary, Carmel Flynn and treasurer, Patti McDonald, who have 15 years and 13 years’ experience respectively in their positions.
“I encourage all to get behind me, as we are all going to have fun this year,” she said.
The evening marked the end of Greg Henry’s two-year tenure as president – a period highlighted by the distribution of $26,775 worth of donations.
“Murrabit and district is just a fantastic club to be a part of,” Mr Henry said in his final address as president.
“Each and every one of you should be proud of the work achieved by the club.
“I encourage all of you to get behind Jess. She has great back-up in Patti (treasurer, Patti McDonald) and Carmel (secretary, Carmel Flynn).”
Local groups and schools benefited from the club’s support, with $20,175 handed to 26 organisations.
Six donations valued at $1000 were handed out to Kerang District Health, the Lions Club of Kerang for a district cancer treatment chair at Kerang District Health, Murrabit Golf Club, Murrabit Group School for the purchase of musical instruments and Murrabit Men’s Shed to fund new gardening tools, with the Murrabit Hall Committee receiving $2000.
“This donation will enable us to do some amazing things at the school,” Murrabit Group School principal, Neil Hopkins said.
“After we pay the bills to run the shed, there is not much money left, but this support certainly helps,” Murrabit Men’s Shed secretary, Stephen O’Donoghue said.
The majority of funds distributed were proceeds from the Murrabit Country Market, with $43,779.55 raised from stall fees during the 14 markets held in the current financial year.
“We are privileged to have quality organisations such as Lions to support the community,” Gannawarra Shire Council Murray Ward representative, Cr Steve Tasker said.
