History of Lions Clubs
The origin of the world wide International Association of Lions Clubs began in 1917 when a young insurance agent, Melvin Jones, called a meeting in Chicago which was attended by representatives from several groups of business people. Other areas in the United States took up the idea of Lions and on July 1 1947 the first Australian club began in Lismore, New South Wales.
A hardware merchant in Lismore, William R Tresise, was the force behind the Lismore club. He brought with him wide experience as he had been a national president of the Apex organisation. During the following five years Lions clubs were formed in Murwillumbah, Melbourne and Sydney and today there are more than 1400 clubs in Australia with more than 30,000 members.
Australian Lions clubs were the starting point for the organisation to open clubs in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Pacific islands.
Spreading Across the World
Today more than 180 countries boast active Lions clubs. Lions Clubs International has more than 1.5 million members, men and women, who take part in numerous projects to help young people, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
Providing a play area for children in Mackay
Lions International Purposes
To Organize, charter and supervise service clubs to be known as Lions clubs.
To Coordinate the activities and standardize the administration of Lions clubs.
To Create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.
To Promote the principles of good government and good citizenship.
To Take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community.
To Unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.
To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.
To Encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in commerce, industry, professions, public works and private endeavors.
Updated 05 January 2009 - Designed by CDK Group
