BILL Bruns loves working in his community.
He enjoys being able to help others and hates being idle.
A fair proportion of his community work has been via Lions, spanning almost 40 years in two neighbouring clubs.
Despite that period of service, Mr Bruns said that he was “absolutely stunned” when he was presented with the service organisation’s highest individual honour.
Mr Bruns is only the fifth member of the Lions Club of Cohuna in 53 years to be recognised with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, named after the founder of Lions International.
The award is the highest recognition from the Lions Clubs International Foundation being given to members who have rendered outstanding community services.
Lions Clubs International, a service membership organisation of over 1.4 million members worldwide, was founded in the United States on June 7, 1917, by Melvin Jones, a Chicago businessman. His personal code was, “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else” a creed that could equally apply to Bill Bruns.
Mr Bruns said that he felt humbled to receive the award.
“It was a total surprise; I was absolutely stunned to receive it,” he said.
He was a charter member of the neighbouring Lions Club of Leitchville in 1978 and was a member for 32 years before retiring from dairy farming to Cohuna and joining that club.
“I still have a warm spot for Leitchville,” he said.
He was third vice-president during the club’s inaugural year and president three years later followed by a decade as treasurer.
Mr Bruns recalls with pride the development of the Kow Swamp picnic ground.
“It was [located] in Campaspe and used by the Cohuna shire [people], so there was great co-operation after a lot of negotiation,” he said.
“Another that sits comfortably was the upgrading of the Leitchville Memorial Hall.”
The supper room, kitchen and toilet block were upgraded after $80,000 was raised over three years to match grant funding.
“It’s a wonderful facility for the community,” he said.
Wood collection and deliveries is another service that has involved much of Mr Bruns’ time during his decades as a Lions member.
“I’ve got the time and I hate being idle,” he said.
“I have been able to help and I’m more than delighted. And people will tell you that I love a chat!”
Mr Bruns, now 82, was a dairy farmer for 60 years and other community involvements have included the football club, the sporting and community complex committee and bowls at Leitchville.
The Cohuna club has supported the fire brigade and contributed $11,000 towards the Garden Park sound shell and is currently fund-raising to construct a barbecue and shelter in Lions Park on the opposite side of the creek.
He said that his wife, Elaine, has supported him in everything he has done.
