Lions Club of Sorell - History

On September 20^th, 1973 a group of local citizens met with Apex representatives to discuss the possibility of establishing a service club in Sorell. This meeting agreed to hear representatives from other service organizations. Lions was chosen as the most suitable. Under sponsorship of the Clarence club the Lions Club of Sorell was chartered at Lewisham Tavern on 11^th December, 1973 by Issy Musat, District Governor of 201C (SA). The Charter President was Cliff Walters who later became District Governor of 201Tl (Tasmania) in 1999-2000.

Charter members were:

At one stage in early years the club had a membership of over forty (40). Many of these members had young children, so activities often included them. The arrival of Father Christmas was keenly anticipated each year by these children and the residents of the Ningana units. These elderly residents of Ningana and the Lillian Martin Home have had their quality of life improved over the years by provision of firewood, equipment and personal gifts of Lions cakes and chocolates.

Support has been given to young people through a School Speaking Competition held over many years and by physical assistance to the Sorell Rural Youth Club in maintenance of the Pawleena Hall which has often been used as a venue for functions.

Projects for the improvement of mobility have been regularly part of the Clubs activities. In the 70's a bus was provided for the A J Trebilcock home and a car for the district nurse. Later wheel chairs and walkers, a motorized wheel chair and a wheel chair van have been purchased with club funds or in conjunction with other organizations. We have 'Walked for an Aussie Kid' and participated in the “Relay for Life’.

Raffles have been regularly organized to raise funds and the chocolate wheel was spun at the Sorell Country Carnival in the late 70's and early 80's. In its van laden with prizes the wheel has been towed down the winding road to Bream Creek for the annual show for at least the last 30 plus years.

If Lion members are not good at cooking or serving at the BBQ, they soon learn.Sorell members have used their skills to cook sausages and hamburgers to raise funds at farm clearing sales, Go-cart racing, a horse farriers' workshop, opening of a skateboard park, Air Shows, Club Horse Shows and Auctions. On other occasions the cooking has been done as a community service for the local council at special events such as the opening of McGee's Bridge on the Sorell Causeway and after the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay. Sorell Club helped with the Tasman Convention by organizing the Sunday BBQ Lunch.

Not afraid of hard work in the fresh air members have picked onions, bagged sheep and chicken manure and picked up roadside rubbish. The Tasman Highway going towards the East Coast, has seen members filling their bags with rubbish since very early days. Money for administration has been well-earned on contract to keep the Re-Cycling Centre in order for the Council. Also, weekly cleaning of the Memorial Hall adds to the club’s administration funds.

Much fun and fellowship has been shared over the years. Mock weddings have provided opportunity for the cross -dressers. We have entered a beard-growing competition, celebrated the 100^th Birthday of a house, raced "frogs", dressed in bad taste, hosted Eddie Charlton, and sold daffodils at the airport.

The club had a very active and supportive Ladies Auxiliary for 25 years until lady members were welcomed into the club in 2001. The ladies helped with catering at horse shows and other events and started a Ladies Charity Golf Day at Pittwater Golf Club which continued for 15 years and was kept on by the Lions Club until recently.

The club has been involved whenever necessary for locals needing help after house fires or further a-field after floods and other disasters both nationally and internationally. A Giving Tree is organized each year at Christmas and hampers are distributed to the needy. Members are seen regularly at the Sorell Market with a stall selling a wide variety of second-hand clothes, household items and general bric-a-brac.

The Lions Club of Sorell has always been a part of the greater organization of Lions International. The club is usually represented at District Convention and when possible at Multiple District. Club visits are held regularly with neighbouring clubs. A close connection has been maintained with the Dodges Ferry/Southern Beaches club, which was chartered by Sorell. Over the years, 11 members have served a year or more as a representative on the 201T1 (Tasmania) Cabinet.

This year Charter member Ken Gatehouse, was elected District Governor (State President) of Lions in Tasmania.

The Club's Keratoconus Project ( KEHR-a-toh-kohn-nus) of providing a leaflet to inform the wider community of this eye disease (Keratoconus), was completed in September 2006 with the leaflet printed and distributed to Lions Clubs for distribution in their area as well as directly to medical and para-medical outlets. We were pleased to announce that $3100 had been donated by Lions Clubs throughout the State and that the project had been completed well before the allotted three (3) years for it to run.

List of Club Presidents