IT’S a Lions Club that boasts arguably the State’s best Christmas cake seller, as well as a host of other volunteers who are equally skilled in the areas of mowing lawns, cooking barbecues and cutting wood.
The Lions Club of Lake Charm Mystic Park celebrated its past year of service at its annual changeover dinner with visitors from the Lions Clubs of Kerang, Cohuna, Murrabit and Lake Boga.
Kerang member and former district governor, Peter Niall installed Brian Helsham to take the reins from outgoing president Elvie Gannon.
Mr Niall praised the club for another busy year of community service and urged all members to continue working in partnership with others in the district.
“Each club is autonomous, but no club is alone,” he said.
Mrs Gannon reflected on a tough but rewarding year as president, having moved into the top job after 15 years as club treasurer.
“It is never the executive alone that makes a club function,” she said.
“Each and every member does what they can when they can, although mention must be made of Harry Stirling for mowing around the lake, cemetery and cenotaph, and Anthony Grosvenor for maintaining his garden and grass area at the tennis courts.”
Mrs Gannon said the club had co-ordinated and helped run a series of community events, including the Australia Day breakfast at Kangaroo Lake, the ANZAC Day commemoration service at Mystic Park and the Lions Junior Public Speaking Competition, as well as catering for events and delivering wood to local seniors.
“A prime example of what can be achieved when Lions Clubs work together is the second chair for the oncology treatment department at Kerang District Health, to be paid for by equal amounts from each club in our zone,” Mrs Gannon said.
The club donated more than $7000 to 30 local, national and international causes during the past 12 months.
Speaking in jest, Mrs Gannon challenged a claim made recently by a Murrabit member.
“I would question Greg Henry’s claim that John Flynn is the State’s best Christmas cake seller; I think Ron McKerrow would definitely give him a run for his money,” she said.
Beginning his seventh term as president since 1993, Brian Helsham clearly articulated his plan for the next 12 months.
“My aim is to make the year as fun as possible while working for the community,” he said.
“I really want to push for young blood, which is something we really need or I can see us not surviving.”
