Life member … Dick Murdoch member of Lions club in Altona. 32706
By Kate Bonsack
AN ALTONA Lions Club project will help a small community burnt out on Black Saturday get back to normality.
A life member of the club, Bruce Cook, contacted Flowerdale’s community rebuilding committee to suggest the club could help.
“We decided to help rebuild a park in Flowerdale,” he said.
“This is a four-acre park in the main centre of the township.
“Over a couple of years we hope to build a barbecue, pergola and a toilet block.”
Mr Cook said he wanted to make a long-term commitment to Flowerdale, not just go in with financial assistance straight after the bushfire.
“Many clubs were going into the burnt townships to give assistance, but we wanted to stay a part of the support for a long time,” he said.
“People in Flowerdale do want to rebuild, but they have been busy getting back on their feet so we decided to rebuild the park.
“It will get everyone together to work on a project that will help the town get back to normality.”
On 19 July the Flowerdale community will host a tree-planting day and Lions club members will attend to chat to locals about their plans for a park.
“We want to get a feel of how the community will feel about it,” Mr Cook said. “If they are happy, then we will start putting the plans together, the costing…and start fundraising.”
Another Lions club member was also recently awarded a life membership for his 29 years of service to the Altona community.
Past president and district chairman Dick Murdoch was grateful to receive the life member recognition and he was pleased to also receive the Melvin Jones Award from Lions International that recognised his dedication to human services.
