Events
Here you will find details of recent events involving Figtree Lions - service, fundraising, dinner meetings, BBQs...
Lions Learn More About KidsWish
(Dinner Meeting - 19 November '24)
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Figtree Lions welcomed Emily Wright from KidsWish as the guest speaker at our latest dinner meeting.
Emily explained the mission of KidsWish, to fulfill the lives of children with a disability or illness by providing supportive programs, special events and projects that build an inclusive community.
Many activities are delivered at KidsWish House, which opened in 2022, including a variety of hour-long, weekly programs held after school. There are also KidsWish House events and major events held off site.
The biggest challenge for KidsWish is resourcing – there is an ongoing need for disability support workers and funding. If you can help, contact them at Kidswish.org.au.
Read the full story HERE.
Want to volunteer with Lions? Contact us here and we'll put you in touch with a local Lions Club.
Lions at League Nines Youth Series
(Service - November '24)
Figtree Lions Club was invited to provide some catering at the first Illawarra League Nines Youth Series Tournament. Held on 9 November at Sid Parish Park, Figtree the event was fully subscribed by local and regional teams - with over 350 players attending. Despite the awful morning weather, the crowds grew steadily to watch the 13-15 year-olds go through their paces in the pouring rain.
Figtree Lions were on hand to provide bacon-and-egg rolls and sausage sandwiches, along with Lions Mini Fruit Cakes (and a spot out of the rain!). Thanks to everyone who helped on the day.
It was great exposure for Lions in the local community, and an opportunity to engage with local sporting and youth groups.
Interested in getting involved in serving the community? Contact us here and we'll put you in touch with a local Lions Club.
Do Lions Play Golf?
(Annual Golf Trip - November '24)
A group of nineteen Lions and guests set off on the Annual Figtree Lions Golf Trip, organised by Bill W. This year they headed south to Batemans Bay to test their skills on three different courses.
Despite having their last round cut short because of an electrical storm, a great time was had by all.
Some time was spent at the ‘Nineteenth Hole’, where golfing prowess improved with every drink. That gave new meaning to being ‘a couple over’ but didn’t seem to affect the golf.
Read the full story HERE.
Interested enjoying the social benefits of Lions? Contact us here and we'll put you in touch with a local Lions Club.
And the Winner Is...? Calcutta Evening and Trifecta
(Dinner Meeting- 4 November '24)
Considered by organiser and compere Bill W as, “One of our best Calcuttas…,” Figtree Lions and their guests enjoyed a fun evening with some competitive bidding for the (prospective) winning horse in the Melbourne Cup. Minnamurra Lions were once again in attendance, as were several guests of Figtree Lions, taking the turnout to nearly forty people.
The ultimate winning horse was selected by the ‘No Idea’ syndicate, with their head ‘trainer’ (Mark) bidding on every horse ‘just in case…’.
In other Melbourne Cup activities, the Melbourne Cup Trifecta sweep was organised by Lindsay C and the winning combination 11-4-12 drawn by John McM.
Read the full story HERE.
Want to get involved with a Lions social function? Contact us here and we'll put you in touch with a local Lions Club.
Figtree Lions serve up Halloween Treat
(Service - November '24)
Figtree Lions were asked to help out our long-term supporters at Bunnings Kembla Grange. “Can you do a sausage sizzle for Halloween?” asked Peta, their Events Organiser. Well, if there’s one thing Lions can do, it’s cook a barby! So of course we said, “Yes."
Held on Halloween at Bunnings Kembla Grange, the Family Event attracted over 500 children who registered to attend. The activities included a disco, face painting and the opportunity to dress up as a favourite Halloween character – and enjoy a sausage sizzle and a drink.
The challenge for Figtree Lions was to prepare food for a serving ‘window’ from 6 to 7:30pm, requiring organisation and quickfire service. The team of eight Lions managed both the cooking and service with their usual efficiency. Feedback from Peta at Bunnings was very positive – and it was great to support an organisation that supports Lions.
Read the full story HERE.
Interested getting involved? Contact us here and we'll put you in touch with a local Lions Club.
'Driver Reviver' becomes 'Driver SURVIVOR!'
(Service - October '24)
Figtree Lions Kevin H and Alex S were involved in an ‘interesting’ situation while helping out Dapto Lions at their Driver Reviver at Minamurra. A vehicle impacted the hut, pushing it off its concrete pad base and causing significant damage to the overhead awning.
At the time, Lions Kevin H and Alex S were inside, along with Dapto Lion John P. The impact shook them up, dislodged stock from shelving and the contents of the fridge ended up on the floor. Fortunately injuries were minimal, though the driver and passenger were quite shocked. Emergency services were called and – despite the heavy freeway traffic – were quickly on-site. The immediate problem for the Lions in the container was they couldn’t get out – the exit door was jammed shut by the impact.
Read the full story HERE.
Interested in some exciting service opportunities? Contact your local Lions Club here.
Figtree Lions Privileged Member
(Membership - October '24)
Richie Parsons has made a significant contribution to Figtree Lions - and our Zone - during his 27 years as a Lion. A past President of the Club and recipient of numerous awards for his efforts in the community, Richie embodies the Lions motto, 'We Serve'.
Unfortunately, due to ill health Richie can no longer attend regular Dinner Meetings or activities, but remains a committed member of the Lions community. Given that long-standing commitment, Figtree Lions is proud to make Richie a 'Privileged Member'. A privileged member is a Lion who has been a member 15 or more years but must relinquish active status because of illness, infirmity, or other reason. Richie continues as a supportive member of Figtree Lions, and we are privileged to have him.
Interested in joining you local Lions Club? Contact us here.
Image: Lion Richie Parsons (right) receives his Privileged Member certificate of membership from Lion Wayne James.
Figtree Lions learn more about Homelessness
(Dinner Meeting 1 October 2024)
Figtree Lions had previously assisted Need-a-Feed with donations of non-perishable foodstuffs, but this dinner meeting was an opportunity to hear more about what this organisation provides. And it turns out they deliver a lot of services to the homeless of Wollongong and the Illawarra; as explained by Shaz Harrison (CEO) and KP (Operations Manager). The hot meals they provide are also an opportunity for social interaction that reduces lonliness. They have organised anything from haircuts to funerals and provide their services to anyone in need and are promoting independence, not dependence.
You can learn more about Need-a-Feed here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how you can help in the local community? Contact us here.
Figtree Lions with Vision
(Community Support) October 2024
Figtree Lions have donated $500 to provide spectacles for children attending school in Chaing Mai, Thailand.
'Vision' is one of Lions international causes, with a goal to prevent avoidable blindness and improve the quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired. Consider this:-
â–º Worldwide, 253 million people are blind or have moderate to severe distance vision impairment. 89% of those people live in developing countries.
â–º 1.1 billion have near-vision impairment simply because they don’t have a pair of glasses.
â–º More than 75% of all blindness and vision impairment is avoidable.
With those statistics in mind, Figtree Lions were delighted to help improve eyesight for children in need. Through Lion Phil K, contact was established with a fellow Lions Club in Thailand who are running a testing and supply program for school-age children in rural and remote locations. Their biggest need is for funds to supply frames and lenses, and the Figtree Lions donation will deliver approximately 25 complete pairs of glasses.
In the words of Lion Neil from Chaing Mai...
“ Testing is going well.
I’m just back from a big day at the Warm Heart Orphanage – about 2 hours out of Chaing Mai in scenic rice growing country.
We tested 43 kids and prescribed 7 pair of spectacles.
[We] will go back on in a fortnight with the completed spectacles.
This is one your donation is funding, and it is very much needed – the orphanage does a good job with few funds.
[We] then move on to the next Lions school and we will knock it over the following week. Only a small school.
”
Another great example of how Lions have an impact both locally and globally. Why not join us and contribute to one of our Causes. Contact us here.
Generous Donation for Figtree Lions
(Community Support) October 2024
The Figtree Anglican Church and Bunnings, Kembla Grange have both been long-term supporters of Figtree Lions. Figtree Lions have been invited to provide catering at the annual Carols by Candlelight and other events for the Church, which are great fundraising events for Lions. Figtree Anglican Church also lends the Lions additional equipment when required, including an additional barbecue. Figtree Lions are also part of the Bunnings Community Barbecue roster, and generally host two fundraising BBQs each month at Bunnings Kembla Grange.
Through extensive recent use, the borrowed Church barbecue has shown signs of wear and age, so Figtree Lions committed to funding a replacement. And where do you head for a new barbecue? Bunnings is a good start; which is what we did.
After some field research by Lion Peter Brown, a suitable model was identified and ready to purchase. To our delight and surprise, Bunnings DONATED the barbecue to Figtree Lions because of the work we do in the community.
It was fantastic to be able to present the new barby to the team at Figtree Anglican Church, with gratitude for their longstanding and continuing support of Figtree Lions. A huge 'Thank You' for the support received from both these local organisations.
Images: Top - Lion Phil Kilah receives the donated barbecue from Peta and the Bunnings Team. Bottom - the new barby donated to Scott and Adele from Figtree Anglican Church.
Figtree Lions Support Injured Local Sportsman
(Community Support) September 2024
Figtree Lions have donated $1,000 to an appeal that supports
Tommy Walton’s recovery from a life-changing sports injury.
On June 22nd 2024, Tommy Walton was playing a routine game of rugby league with his team, the Figtree Crushers. During a tackle, Tommy suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury that fractured his C5 and C6 vertebrae, leading to an incomplete quadriplegic diagnosis.
The Crushers are sponsored by Figtree Hotel, where the team go to celebrate their wins and commiserate on their losses. Both the Hotel and the Crushers have been long-term supporters of the Figtree Lions regular Saturday evening Meat Raffles. In line with our motto 'We Serve', Figtree Lions have donated $1,000 to help with Tommy’s recovery.
Read the full story here and you can learn more about the 'Rise with Tommy' fund and make your own donation here. Or attend the Fundraising Dinner on 2nd November at the Fraternity Club.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how you can help in the local community? Contact us here.
Figtree Lions Community Needs Project
(Community Support) September 2024
Each month, Figtree Lions donates goods to the value of $200 to a charity or cause in the local community. This month our Community Needs recipient was the Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services (WHH&HS).
Figtree Lions were proud to donate a microwave oven, toaster and jug to WHH&HS, which will be used as part of its daily breakfast program for homeless people. Homeless Hub CEO Mandy Booker expressed appreciation to Figtree Lions Club for its assistance.
The Homeless Hub (previously Wollongong Emergency Family Housing) aims to bridge the gap from homelessness to home. A skilled team assists individuals and families who are homeless to transition into crisis, transitional and long-term accommodation. They also provide food assistance, facilitate access to community and government services, and provide a range of programs that assist clients overcome a variety of complex barriers to establish new tenancies.
You can learn more about WHH&HS and make your own donation here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how you can help in the local community? Contact us here.
Figtree Lions Support Youth Athletics
(Community Support) September 2024
Figtree Lions were delighted for the opportunity to support a young sportswoman achieve one of her dreams. A donation of $500 from Figtree Lions has assisted Chelsy Wayne to attend the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
Selection for this event followed her success at the Australian Championships held in Adelaide earlier this year. Chelsy recorded a national victory in U20 Women's Discus with a throw of 52.16 metres to win Gold; a winning throw 1.34 metres beyond the Silver medallist.
After turning 16 only in December 2023, Chelsy was among the youngest competitors in the Australian and World Athletics events.
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how We Serve? Contact us here.
Figtree Lions Welcome a New Member - and a new Challenge!
(Dinner Meeting 20 August 2024)
In our second Dinner Meeting for August, Figtree Lions were delighted to welcome new member Lion Rod Brown. Rod attended several previous meetings as a guest before deciding to ‘take the plunge’ and formally commit to the Club. He has experience in other volunteer community organisations, so knows what awaits him as part of an active service club. Welcome, Rod!
The evening also saw a visit from District Governor Ann Reed, along with Vice District Governor Don Reed – who inducted our new member Rod. Don then gave the club a detailed summary of the District Governor’s theme for the year and her main objectives. Topically, one of those is to increase membership with a worldwide goal to achieve 1.5million Lions by 2030.
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how We Serve? Contact us here.
Lions assist Need-a-Feed
(Community Support) August 2024
Our recent dinner meetings have had another purpose – helping to feed others. Figtree Lions have been collecting non-perishable pantry items that have now been donated to
Need-a-Feed at Bulli. Need-a-Feed provides a number of services to those in need of a coffee and a chat, a social meal or just the essentials of life. They offer essential food and personal care items and collaborate with other organisations to deliver emergency food assistance where it is most needed. The food drive has been so successful, it will be repeated on a more regular basis by Figtree Lions.
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear more about how We Serve?
Contact us here.
Figtree Lions - or just Dark Horses?
(Dinner Meeting 6 August 2024)
Our most recent dinner meeting saw the presentation of a Certificate of Achievement to Lion Wayne James, who has become a Guiding Lion. He now forms part of an international support group for new and established Lions Clubs.
With no guest speaker scheduled, it was an opportunity for members to anonymously admit their deepest, darkest secrets – and for the rest of us to work out to whom they belonged. So, who has taken the wickets of three Australian batsmen? Which Lion is a secret violin player? And who spent a night in jail?
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear from one of our invited speakers? Contact us here.
Figtree Lions goes Conventional?
(Dinner Meeting 16 July 2024)
Last week’s dinner meeting saw us joined by fellow Lions from Canberra Kambah and Kiama to discuss their experience in hosting District Conventions.
With District Conventions an annual event, there is always an opportunity for local Clubs to take the lead on their organisation and delivery.
Presentation on hosting of conventions was followed by a call-to-action from Bobbie English regarding increasing membership – especially in the 18-35 age group.
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear from one of our invited speakers? Contact us here.
Joining a Lions Club can prevent Alzheimer's Disease
(Dinner Meeting 2 July 2024)
In an entertaining and informative talk, Professor Lezanne Ooi presented the research being undertaken by her and her team into Alzheimer’s Disease. Based at the University of Wollongong, Professor Ooi explained the key risk factors for Alzheimer’s and what can be done to reduce them.
Turns out that maintaining social interaction contributes to reducing risk, and Lions Clubs provide plenty of social connection! There are also other lifestyle choices that can help in reducing risk. In further good news, the Professor pointed out that there are several new drugs becoming available that could slow the effects of Alzheimer’s – especially in its early stages.
Read the full story here.
Want to come along to a future Lions Dinner Meeting and hear from one of our invited speakers? Contact us here.
