Thanks to the efforts of lions worldwide and local optometrists,  the mt.Gravatt Mansafiel Lions have up to  date supplied many  thousands of eyeglasses delivered to grateful  recipients in need  of optical correction  in Nepal, India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Colombia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and wherever needed, for FREE.

Thanks to Sight First, Lions have assisted in restoring sight to 4.6 million people worldwide through cataract surgeries, and helped to prevent serious vision loss for more than 20 million people. Continued funding of this programme aims to improve eye care services for millions of people battling visual impairment worldwide.

Lions worldwide have raised more than US$500 million to date to fund the Sight First program and save to sight around the world. For more information, you can contact Lion Peter Matthews on Ph. 0414 888 392

Glasses from Mt. Gravatt Mansfield can be dropped off locally at the Optical Superstore near Woolworths and at OPSM opposite the escalator. (Please note: - Spectacle cases are not accepted as they create excessive volume and cost when shipping overseas.

Information for people interstate and overseas is also available from the
Sight First   Web Site.

This site provide complete information on the latest Lions International project, "Campaign SightFirst II".

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Cancelled stamps needed.

The Lions Club of Mt Gravatt Mansfield is collecting used stamps and looking for support from the community.   For many years the Lions International Stamp club (LISC) has been collecting used stamps from all over Australia and overseas.   These stamps are sold to raise funds for the Australian Lions Children's Mobility Foundation (Australia), Lions Schools Projects in South Africa, Australia, Canada and Netherlands, and Eye Camp Sponsorship.   The Catholic Mission at Burkina Faso has also been a beneficiary working to ease suffering of refugees with lifesaving clean water, food kits, medicine and other essentials.

The Australian Chapter of Lions International Stamp Club (LISC) issues a cachet at  each Australian (MD201) convention with stamps  usually cancelled with an official Australia Post  cancellation.   At a recent convention in Canberra a  cheque for more than $4,500 was handed over  representing the result of stamp sales over the  previous 12 months.   Since 2005 the (LISC) club has  contributed over $22,500 to these projects overseas.  Over 100 countries have issued postage stamps  with the Lions logo in recognition of Lions Club  activities in their countries.   The first Lions stamp was issued by Cuba in1940 at the 24th International convention in Havana.

The problems facing the Australian Lions stamp collection is that Australia Post are selling fewer and fewer stamps as more and more people are emailing each other.   Many companies send franked stamped envelopes and cancelled stamps are getting more difficult to get.   We therefore ask for public assistance in this endeavour.   We are collecting fewer stamps but suffering around the world is not decreasing.   We recently received a donation of a collection from a deceased estate which netted almost a $1,000 and we accept donations of 'stamp collections' that are no longer required such as deceased estates, etc.   Club Secretary Ross Payne says " We ask people sending stamps to clip around the stamp leaving no less that 3 or 4 centimetres of paper and no more than 5 to 7 centimetres".   Every stamp donated is sent to auction and all money raised directed to help suffering in third world communities.

Local Chapters of LISC have been formed in many states of the USA and Canada as well as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands and United Kingdom and Ireland.   If you would like further information you can contact Lion Peter Matthews on Ph. 0414 888 392. Stamps can be mailed to:- PO Box 7123 Holland Park East. Qld 4121