25th Anniversary of the Mackay North Lions Club
Charter Night
The Mackay North Lions Club held its charter night on 9 August 1980 with the chairman for the program being Graham Carey and with Russell Griffin as the charter president.
The 25 charter members were Bob Allen, Les Appelgreen, Peter Batzloff, John Borg, Mick Carroll, Rick Doran, Bill Firth, Mick Goggan, Ivan Gray, Russell Griffin, Keith Ingerman, Peter Kirkitscha, Rob Lewis, Peter Liosatos, John Logan, Alan Mackenzie, Mark Sallaway, John Seip, Noel Semler, John Senini, Dale Southwood, George Streidl, Philip Sunner and Adrian van Moolenbroek.
In Mackay the first Lions presence was when Mackay Host Lions became club number 207 on 7 October 1961. This was followed by Mackay Pioneer Valley Lions, Sarina Lions and Mackay Northern Beaches. Following on from the charter of Mackay North Lions Club was Mirani Sugar Valley Lions, a year later, and in 1997 the city welcome Mackay City Spirit, club number 1654.
The Mackay North Lions Club Inc was initially formed by Mackay Northern Beaches Club on 22 May 1980 and was chartered by Lions International on 30 June 1980 as club number 1272 in Australia.
Charter president, Russell Griffen, hands the official mallett to the incoming president, Peter Liosatos. Outgoing president, Rick Doran, looks on.
Lions Park
Members began service work with a Lions Park at Northview where two sets of swings were put into operation followed by a slippery slide and a bench seat. During the first Christmas cake drive some 70 cakes were sold door to door. Other fundraising events included a Truckin’ Rodeo, backing of an entrant in the Miss Personality Quest, a pole-sit and involvement with the Youth of the Year quest.
Youth of the Year
A cubby house became the prize for the club’s first art union in 1984/1985 and the same year the club began operating its sno-cone van as a regular fundraiser at a variety of community events. In 1988/89 club members began their Comalco Cash for Cans trailer operation which not only helped to improve the environment but helped to raise funds as well. One of the club’s community service events, glaucoma screening, began in 1991/92 and continued as a yearly event.
The cubby house which was the prize in the club's major Art Union event
Women Become Active Members
Women became active financial members of the club in 1992/93. Raija Engman, Leonie Goss and Gloria Bakewell were the first three women members, but not the last by any means. And in 1993/94 the first female president, Leonie Goss, was elected.
Over the years fundraising continued with the Christmas cakes, raffles, Lions Mints, and Christmas trees. Numerous individuals and groups were assisted including bursaries to school students, Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Mackay Residential College, the Queensland Spastic League, Mackay Base Hospital emergency accommodation, Multiple Sclerosis and the Cord Blood Bank.
Fundraising results in new accommodation at the Mackay Base Hospital
Global Walk for Breast Cancer
The creation of the club’s first district project, the Global Walk for Breast Cancer happened during 2001/02 and following on from that 2002/03 became the year of health awareness issues including the Global Walk, Breast Cancer Network Australia and involvement with the Bowel Cancer Pilot program. Other projects included the glaucoma screening, diabetes awareness, stinger awareness, Children’s Cancer Awareness and Make a Wish Foundation.
A working bee at Lions Camp Kanga at Proserpine resulted in great improvements to the demountable during 2004/05 which also saw involvement with Planet Ark.
Since the 25th anniversary celebrations the club has continued with numerous fundraising activities and involvement with the Mackay community.
Updated 05 January 2009 - Designed by CDK Group
