February - March 2016 Achieving Our Dreams Together

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1 MD 201 N2 NEWSLETTER ISSN (Print) X February - March 2016 Achieving Our Dreams Together District Governor Sally Wilton - District 201 N2 of the International Association of Lions Clubs Happy New Year from District Governor Sally I hope with the arrival of 2016, all Members of Clubs, and their families have had a good break, and are ready to again, assist with all the amazing activities I have been fortunate to see and appreciate as District Governor. Stan and I visited many Clubs during December, and January, and with a quiet family Christmas and New Year celebration have again travelled to see some of the Sydney area Clubs, in Fairfield, Cabramatta, and Sydney Baseball. The Robbie Burns evening was celebrated on the 11 th January, and Stan and I both had a wonderful visit and a lot of laughs and delicious meal, including a Haggis was enjoyed. The diversity of the Clubs and their activities still amazes me, and I really appreciate the hospitality extended to us both, during these visits, and all the effort that the Members of this District do, and when it comes to raising much needed funds, for those in need in so many of the Communities that make up the District of N2. We travelled to Sydney during January, to attend the MD Council Governors Meeting, and I am proud to say that thanks to all the Membership Chairman of N2 Clubs, we are one of 5 Districts around Australia that has achieved positive growth. Congratulations, but I am sure there is still work that we can do to improve even this milestone. Dr Yamada says Membership is not a number, but a reason to join like-minded individuals, assisting those in need in our Communities,- Lions & if we gain JUST ONE MORE Member at the end of the year, than at the start of the year, we can achieve EXCELLENCE & this will be acknowledged by LCI with an attractive Banner patch for each Club that achieves Just one More. All Clubs can achieve this, and I know all the Clubs are EXCELLENT in their own right, so let s show we can work and ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS TOGETHER for During February Stan & I have continued to visit the last few of the Clubs & by the end of the month all Club visits will be complete. Thank you to all the Clubs again, for their continued support of the shared visits by the DG Team. Please don t forget the Training in early March offered in the Leadership Skills course, on 5 th and 6 th March to be held in Goulburn, & Ulladulla, details of this has been distributed by GLT Coordinator, David & Cab Sec Allan. Remember March to May Membership Months, if all Clubs in our District could endeavour to add at least 1 more Member during this time we would have both another Member to assist in our Communities & our clubs would achieve Excellence, for their Members and their Presidents, let s remember our Members are our Lions Friends, and family take care of each other & respect each other s needs. Thank you for your continued dedication to your Clubs, Communities & Members see you all soon, DG Sally. Secretary of the NSW/ACT Save Sight & Public Healthcare Foundation PDG Ruth Small spent 2 days at the Kangaroo Valley Show selling Raffle Tickets in the Car Raffle.

2 Page 2 Lioness Report Welcome back everyone & thank you to all of you for your hard work during the first half of our Lioness year. I hope you all had nice Christmas & New Year. Well done Eden Lioness for your Open Gardens project. You certainly spent a lot of time & hard work on that project. I would also like to thank Eden Lioness for their hospitality on my visit to their club. I m looking forward to catching up with you all again starting with Oak Flats Lioness early on the 23 rd February & learning about their Duck Derby which is a very successful project for the club. Some of our Lioness are already working hard on their various projects. Oak Flats busy knitting & sewing & working in the community Shoalhaven have been helping their Lions Club with some of their activities & they also have been helping the Salvation Army. Eden have also been busy working in the community, their first meeting back will be an Alphabet Beach Party, that sounds like lots of fun, & it s always important to make dinner meetings fun. Liverpool Lioness did lots of craft work for the 2 craft stalls they held before Christmas, they also donated 15 toys to the K Mart Christmas Tree & donated 120 Christmas puddings to Meals on Wheels. Wollongong Lioness are still doing Driver Reviver, knitting, sewing & BBQ's. Camden Lioness joined with Narellan Lions to supply breakfast for 900 tired and hungry scouts & leaders from South Australia who were on their way to the National Jamboree at Cataract Scout Park, the club also inducted 3 new members at their last meeting & 2 members received the Lioness Key Awards for membership. All our Lioness clubs work very hard & we are a vital part of our district. Welcome to new members District 201 N2 covers southeast NSW and the ACT, comprising Lions, Lioness & LEOs Clubs in south - western Sydney, down the Hume Highway to Bowning, ACT, Snowy Mountains, Far South Coast, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven, and Illawarra. Welcome to the following new members of N2 Clubs who joined since the April 2014 N2 e-newsletter was distributed. Enjoy the activities, fun and fellowship of the world s largest service organisation. Don t be afraid to ask questions and suggest new projects. We look forward to meeting you. CLUB NEW MEMBER SPONSOR Lions Club of Austinmer/Thirroul Stephen Wilkinson Colin Woodley Lions Club of Bateman s Bay Kate Taylor Lions Club of Bermagui & District Claire Wright Raymond Clements Lions Club of Bomaderry Craig Hall Keith Davison Neil Hansen Robert Mortyn Anthony Matusiak Keith Davison Lions Club of Bombala Beverley McLean Peter Williamson Wayne McLean Peter Williamson Lions Club of Bowral Wendy Joan Lane William Bransom Lions Club of Bundanoon Christine Janssen Elizabeth Cranny Lions Club of Camden Sukhwinder Singh Garham Hunt Lions Club of Canberra Kambah Michael Musson Janice Deacon Carolyn Spiers Kenneth Mc Leish Lions Club of Canberra Lake Tuggeranong Jeremy Scott Michael Rogerson Lions Club of Crookwell Susan Banfield Andrew Shepherd Katherine Bennett Jennifer Hall Joanne Hillan Tracey Anderson Gregory Moon Norman Fountain Lions Club of Gerringong Tony Barlow David Patton Helen Dent James Doak Larraine Franklin Rick Chaseling Nerida Hartman Terry Lillie Timothy Hudson Rick Chaseling Sonya Judd James Doak Jan Turbill Terry Lillie Lions Club of Jervis Bay Michelle Collimore Dianne Sebo Lions Club of Kangaroo Valley Robert Sharman Lorraine Mairinger Lions Club of Kiama Joe Morizzi Gordon Bell Lions Club of Liverpool City Mitun Patel Atish Jain Lions Club of Narooma & District Barbara Mackenzie Paul Hattersley Lions Club of Pambula-Merimbula John Gibbons Philip Hall Lions Club of Shellharbour Samuel Olukanni Peter Turl Lions Club of Sydney Baseball Vicki Greensmith Chris Chapman Lions Club of Wattle Grove Krystyna Mc Intosh Caroline Franshaw Lioness Lyn. District N2 Lioness Co-ordinator Lioness Lyn Fawcett.

3 Page 3 Past members remembered The following members of the N2 Lions family passed away since the May 2015 edition of the N2 E-Newsletter was distributed. The N2 Lions family thanks them for their friendship & service to their community and Lions, & offers our condolences to their families, friends & colleagues. May their service be an example to us. Club Canberra Woden Lions Cooma Lions Goulburn City Lions Wattle Grove Lions Name Rex Ensbey John D L Field Vincent Keppler Rodger Doyle John MacMillan Lions club of Crookwell Lends a hand Photo by Lion Brent Hall Official publication of Lions District 201 N2 Editor: Jim Armstrong P O Box 74, Moss Vale 2577 Phone: districtn2newsletter@gmail.com Website: The MD201 N2 Lions Newsletter relies on the contributions of Cabinet Officers and Club members. Please keep submitting stories, they improve the content and make interesting reading for other Lions. Please articles as text or Word documents, with photos attached to the s. E-newsletter Deadlines for th Day of each month NEXT EDITION: Distributed in April 2015, the printed and Internet editions of the N2 Newsletter are being lodged with the NSW State Library, the access codes being: ISSN (Print) X ISSN (Online) All photos in this edition are copyright of Lions District 201N2, unless otherwise credited. Lion Judith Fountain and President Lion John Gray with Playgroup Secretary Jan Woods. Some of the playgroup children and mums Kelly and Lucinda. DURING June, the Crookwell Play Group had their toys vandalised. After reading the story reported in the local paper lions Member Lion Brent hall brought it to the club members if the club could purchase a new lockable shed for the play group to store their toys in, the children and parents say thank to Crookwell Lions Club Art work by lion Brent Hall On the 21 st January 2016 the lions club prepared lunch by doing a BBQ at the Crookwell Show Ground for fifty judges the where travelling around the shire to pick out the best Ewe s for the upcoming Crookwell show.

4 Page 4 A Project with a Difference - Not a Sausage in Sight! Lions doing what they do best - helping people is a common sight for those many communities in which Lions serve. But horses helping Lions - now that's a twist! In a great show of generosity and community spirit, the NSW Harness Racing Club charity pacer, Abettorrose regularly races for charities and community groups, who receive $2,500 for a win, and, if unsuccessful, the chosen charity still receives $250 just for a start! Last Friday, 29th January Lion Syd, a member of Lions Club of Ingleburn attended the NSW Harness Racing Club meeting held at Menangle Park to cheer on charity pacer a Abettorrose, this beautiful horse trotted bravely for Ingleburn Lions Club, proudly leading for most of the race, but the last couple of hundred meters proved just too much for this fearsome filly. PICTURE: Abetterrose, her trainer, Kerry-Ann Turner, Trainer, Lion Syd Hyett (Ingleburn LC). And full page add that appeared in the racebook. Syd Hyett

5 Page 5 Lions Club of Canberra Brindabella recently Presented an Electric Scooter The funding for this scooter came from a fashion show held to raise money for equipment for the aged and was to be presented to a Semi-Government Organisation for their use. After many unanswered phone calls and s the club decided to use the funds for equipment for the aged for one of their past members, Kath Bourke. Kath had been a member for about 10 years and only resigned last year when she felt she could no longer contribute what she wished too to club activities. She wrote to the club expressing her heartfelt gratitude and stating that, not only would she be more mobile, but she would enjoy riding the scooter. Kath also said that being 87 years old her health was deteriorating, especially her legs, which had vascular disease, so the electric scooter was especially welcome. The residents of her housing complex were green with envy! Past member of Canberra Brindabella Lions Club with her new electric scooter. THE LIONESS CLUB OF SHOALHAVEN WILL BE HOLDING THEIR ANNUAL QUILT SHOW AND EMBROIDERED CUSHION COMPETITION IN MARCH. WHERE WHEN TIME COST ST MICHAELS SCHOOL HALL NORTH STREET NOWRA SATURDAY 12 MARCH AND SUNDAY 13 MARCH 10 A.M. TIL 4 P.M. $5.00 PER PERSON CHILDREN UNDER 16 FREE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS, SANDWICHES TEA & COFFEE AVAILABLE AT A SMALL COST FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: NARELLE DELMA PLENTY OF TRADING STALLS WILL BE ON HAND.

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7 Page 7 Photo s from DG Sally Left: Lions Club of Sydney Baseball President Chris Chapman Presenting DG Sally with a Lion Right: DG Sally & Lion Ray Clements Exchange Bannerettes at her visit to Bermagui Club Left: DG Sally at her Visit to LC of Shellharbour Pictured with Lion Ann Edwards (Centre) at her Induction with her Sponsor Lion Faye Redgrave Right: Newest Lion for Bermagui Lions Lion Clare Wright at her Induction with DG Sally & Sponsor Club President Lion Ray Clements

8 Page 8 Lions Club of Jervis Bay Fund Raising Activities Some people like to see Christmas and the New Year period as a time to relax. Members of the Jervis Bay Lions Club, however, have been frantically busy over this period raising money for an assortment of people in need. One of the biggest fundraising efforts actually took place in November when we were partners in an effort to raise over $13000 for the Starlight Foundation in memory of Ollie Tyice, a young lad who passed away early last year. Most of the hard work was done by members of his family who organized a car show that has become a "must see" for locals and car enthusiasts alike and, as usual, the JB Club was there helping out and adding to the amount that was donated to such a worthy cause. In addition to that effort, raffles organized by Lion Bob Hanlon and Lion Lance Stewart and a number of other club volunteers, raised over $1800 for the Nowra Men4Life group and over $3000 for the local Cerebral Palsy Association. (George Melonas, owner of Joylands Amusements with three generations of his family standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the Jervis Bay Lions Club) Sunday 10 January was a really special day for the Club as we worked hand-in-hand with Joylands Amusements who run the Carnival at Huskisson during the Christmas holidays. Joylands is a family business owned and run by the Melonas family. Patriarch George was a valued member of J.B.Lions; he retired due to ill health but is still very much involved with the Club. Each year Joylands Amusements hold a Charity Day in collaboration with J.B.Lions, where Club Members man the ticket booth and the profits go to the club. This wonderful gesture by Joylands Amusements has seen money given to one form of cancer research or another for many years. This year $5500 was raised which is being donated to Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation. This joint venture is a real win/win situation - crowds of people get to enjoy the fun of the carnival at half price; the Jervis Bay Lions Club volunteers get the satisfaction of helping to raise money for people in need; Joylands Amusements get that wonderful sense of knowing that they are a caring member of our community; and finally, different bodies that are working against the scourge of cancer receive a sizable donation. Long may this joint venture continue.

9 Page 9 Lions club of Narellan & the Lioness Club of Camden Cook up a Hearty Breakfast for the Scouts Sunday 3rd January Narellan Lions Club and Camden Lioness Club cooked breakfast at the Camden Equestrian Centre for 800 hungry Scouts who were on their way from South Australia to a jamboree at Cataract Dam

10 Page 10 DG Sally Receives Award from Dr Yamada DG Sally s Silver Crane Dignity Award sent to her by Dr Yamada for the first half of the year gaining positive growth within the District for 6 months, DG Sally Stated her thanks for this must go to all the Clubs and Membership Chairman for their efforts, congratulations to all the new Members who joined also, a proud DG of a wonderful District achieving great results. Only 5 Australian District Governor s received this award. DG Sally Visit to the Lions Club of Oak Flats DG Sally & President Steve Sherwood swapping Banners and receiving her Cranes. I was able to award Bede Cummins for 45 yrs of service from International President. Dr Yamada with a letter and Chevron And presentation for 35 years service to George Richards and it was a wonderful surprise for both of them.

11 Page 11 YASS LIONS WORK AT MAYA S REST On Saturday 30 January, Yass Lions Club members laid the new footpath which will provide access from the playground to the reflection area at Maya s Rest at Marchmont near Yass. Maya's Rest is a purpose built home on a small rural property, offering non medically assisted respite for families of children who are undergoing active treatment for life threatening illnesses. A peaceful place families can escape to. Families will be invited into the home of a family who knows firsthand how hard the journey they are on can be. This service will be offered free of charge to approved families. The house has large living areas and two custom designed bedrooms for families who stay, with interconnecting doors, to provide privacy, yet room within the house to relax, play and recharge. Maya's Rest is a legacy to Mark and Tash Maguire s little girl Maya, who was born with a rare form of soft tissue cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma. Unlike Bear Cottage, Maya's Rest is a non-medically assisted respite, where the families of children undergoing active treatment are required to attend to their child's medical needs. Maya's Rest also opens its doors to families who have children in home based palliative care, offering them a place to escape and recharge. The Yass Lions Club was approached to provide support to Maya s Rest late last year. The Club decided to lay the footpath in front of the playground. The footpath allowed for people to walk from the playground to a reflection area. The cost of the project was around $5,000, provided from the Club s funds and from part of a grant received annually from the Kirk Family Trust. The pavers were sourced from Brisbane as they needed to be similar to pavers used as a remembrance stone for those young children who have passed away. The other equipment needed were purchased from local businesses. With the support of a Yass business which provided the initial landscaping at no cost, Yass Lions provided all the labour for the project. Work began around 8:00am on Saturday 30 January and was finished around 2:00pm just before a torrential downpour arrived. (L R): Lions Stan Luff, Craig Blanch and PDG Geoff Hobart, Mark Maguire (owner of Maya s Rest) and Lion Katrina Easey. (L R): PDG Lion Geoff Hobart, Mark Maguire (owner of Maya's Rest) and Lions Stan Luff, Katrina Easey and Craig Blanch.

12 Page 12 Lions Hearing Dogs in Australia History The idea for Lions Hearing Dogs in Australia was conceived in 1980 when two Lions Past District Governors, who were attending a Lions International Convention in the USA, saw the good work of a hearing dogs training centre in Colorado. The Lions Clubs of Australia agreed to support and fund a hearing dogs training centre in Australia. Lions bought a property at Verdun in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia and Gail Gould from the American program came out for two years to start the Lions Hearing Dog program. The first Lions hearing dog was delivered in 1982 to a recipient from Adelaide. The dog s name was Amber and the Lions Club of Edwardstown sponsored the dog. Amber died in Since 1982 the Lions Hearing Dog Centre has placed nearly 500 hearing dogs with recipients Australia wide. Training A Hearing Dog: Our dogs are selected from animal shelters and rescue organisations Australia wide. We look for dogs with a happy and friendly nature and of course, good hearing. They must be between 6 months and 3 years old, and training takes 6-8 months. When the dogs arrive at the centre they spend 2 weeks in quarantine during which time they are desexed, vaccinated, heartworm tested, microchipped and are x-rayed to detect joint problems. The head trainer assesses the potential trainee dog when it arrives at the centre, if it passes this initial assessment, it is allocated to a trainer for the remainder of its training. During this time the dogs learn to locate and respond to 8 specific household sounds, including: smoke alarms door knocks and door bells alarm clocks oven timers and microwaves a baby s cry telephones and TTY (telephone typewriter) whistling kettles Dogs also learn go get, which is to get help or attract attention when their owner or another family member is in trouble. Other training includes obedience and extensive socialisation in a range of environments to prepare them for accompanying their owners into public areas such as supermarkets, restaurants and public transport. A dog gets its P plates when it is placed with its new owner, this recognises that the dog and the owner need to learn to learn to work together as a team during a three-month probationary period. During this time, the owner is offered extensive support from the training centre and from the local sponsoring Lions club. Once all assessment criteria are met and the dog and owner are working well as a team, the dog is certified as a fully fledged Lions hearing dog. It is officially handed over to the owner and receives its orange collar and special identification tag. Each owner, with support from the centre, continues to be responsible for maintaining their dog s high level of training for its entire life.