MEMBERS of the Lions Club of Tea Gardens celebrated their 58th annual Changeover Dinner on a wet and windy Wednesday night at Mumm’s on the Myall.
Special guests at the 25 June event included Zone Chair and Medowie Lion Tany Roy, past District Governor Glenys Francis, past President David Bright, and Tea Gardens Public School Principal Mark Clemson.
Fifty attendees enjoyed a three-course meal from Mumm’s special menu as the new Executive and two new members, Lyla Sikora and Lois Stevens, were inducted.
Lyla breaks the record of “youngest member” by a wide margin.
“I joined Lions because it is a different side of Tea Gardens and the community that I wanted to see,” she told News Of The Area.
“The people are quite lovely, and this takes me out of my comfort zone, with more local channels to volunteer.
“I like the international aspect of the Lions organisation, too.”
Some solid and surprising statistics were also shared on the night, such as the 330 loaves of bread and 6250 sausages that were served at Bunnings BBQ fundraisers alone.
“It is quite amazing what our club of 35-37 members achieved over the past 12 months,” returning President Amanda Sykes told NOTA.
“We did a mammoth 31 BBQs, plus the Christmas Fair and Australia Day, not to mention festivals across Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Karuah – for everything from the soccer club to Halloween, NAIDOC and corporate events.
“A few thousand sausages were cooked and Rhonda* deserves a medal for all the onions she chopped.”
In addition, every week when it is not raining, Fred Sparksman and his crew tidied up Lions Lookout.
“We also collected eyewear and hearing aids, participated in Lap The Map and Clean up Australia Day, as well as wrapping and labelling gifts for Peter Sinclair Gardens and ESTIA residents.”
Tea Gardens Lions have several projects in the pipeline, including shading on the Myall Street playground, and an off-leash dog area at Providence Bay Park.
“We have enormous support from locals for this and if we are unsuccessful with the grant application, it is something for us to consider getting done ourselves through fundraising and Lions grants.
Tea Gardens Lions raised a total of $30,011 in FY2024-25, almost half of which was for local causes and projects, such as the playground, incoming Pioneer Poles, and upkeep of the Lions Lookout park.
The club also raises money for causes such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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