Dumaresq Lions Club celebrated another successful year at the annual Changeover Dinner, with Lions Club members notching up 920 hours to the local community. At the final Board Meeting for the year, Dumaresq Lions were able to disburse $6700.00 to a variety of charities, including $1000.00 each to the Australian Lions Foundation and Lions Club International Foundation, and they were able to set aside a significant amount for donations to local schools and to their new project, the Railway Museum. This was in addition to $7372.00 which had already been donated throughout the year.
While Dumaresq Lions’ main source of income is the many catering services they offer, the raffles at the White Bull have provided them with significant income on a regular basis.
There were some major highlights during the past year. Perhaps the most impressive activities were the two Youth of the Year functions. As well as their own, Dumaresq Lions were asked to conduct the Regional Judging of this event and the organisation of this project, led by Lion Sue Semple, was outstanding.
During the year a most impressive dedication ceremony was conducted at the Lions Park, on the New England Highway Bypass, where Dumaresq Lions paid tribute to those members who have passed away.
At the Changeover Dinner, President Colin Gadd thanked all those responsible for carrying out special roles within the club, with the most important of these being Secretary Lion Carolyn Gadd and Treasurer Lion Julie Wilcox.
“These two officers were responsible for keeping the club operating efficiently on a regular basis and the expertise and dedication of these two Lions made my job very easy,” said Colin.
Dumaresq Lions have decided to adopt the Railway Museum as a special project. It is a community asset which relies on volunteers for support and Dumaresq Lions believe that they can be those volunteers and make it an institution of which our town can be proud.
President Colin Gadd thanked all Dumaresq Lions Club members for their support during the past year and said that he was looking forward to another successful and enjoyable year of Lionism in the coming twelve months. Lion Gerry Wissink was presented with the club’s prestigious Lion of the Year Award for his service to Dumaresq Lions Club and the community.
