SHE may not have been technically a member when she first started helping the Sunshine Lions Club, but Jean Priest’s hard work since 1972 deserves recognition.
The 68-year-old Keilor resident was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship at the Sunshine Lions Club’s 54th anniversary recently.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is recognition of a commitment to humanitarian work.
The fellowship is the foundation’s highest honour and represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion and concern for the less fortunate.
Mrs Priest first started helping Lions projects in 1972 with her first husband Max, taking an eight-year break after Max died.
She officially signed on as a member in 1993 after marrying her second husband and fellow Sunshine Lions Club member Brian Priest.
Mrs Priest said when she helped out the Lions Club with Max, they spent many hours helping to raise money or work on local projects, leaving their young children in the care of babysitters.
“We spent a lot of money on babysitters,” she said with a laugh.
“We usedto work really really hard in those days. The club had a lot of big projects.
“I always wanted to be a Lion … right back in the 1970s, but women weren’t allowed to be members back then,” Mrs Priest said.
She said she wanted to be at the “front of the action” when it came to being involved with projects, rather than at the back.
While it took her more than 30 years, Mrs Priest did get to the “front of the action” — right at the front in fact.
“I was the first lady president of their (the Sunshine Lions) club and it just happened to be the 50th year,” Mrs Priest said.
“My husband (Brian) died on 21 June and I became president on 28 June.”
She said when she joined as a member in 1993, there was only one other female member. These days there are three or four.
Mrs Priest has been taking a break from Lions for the past two years, following Brian’s death — after her year as president — and is now easing back into life as a Lion.
Melvin Jones Fellows receive a lapel pin and a personalised wall plaque in honour of their commitment to helping others.
