History of Kurri Kurri
Kurri Kurri is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Cessock LGA. The town was founded in 1902 to service the local Stanford Merthyr and Pelaw Main collieries and mining communities.
The name Kurri Kurri means 'the very first' as it was the first town in Australia that was fully planned before anything was built. The local Progress Committee was responsible for clearing streets and supplying local services with State permission. The fire station and the hospital were built by locals with locally sourced money.
Until the creation of the local government area known as the City of Cessnock, Kurri Kurri was the centre of the Shire of Kearsley, which included most of the rural areas and villages around the township of Cessnock and part of the western suburbs of Maitland. (Wikiipedia)
History of Kurri Kurri Lions
The first Organisational Meeting of the Lions Club of Kurri Kurri was held in June 1957.
The second Organisational Meeting of the Lions Club of Kurri Kurri was held at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Weston on 15 July 1957. It was attended and presided by Lions Wal Paton, Extension Chairman, Cesssnock; Lion Frank Evans, President, Cessnock Lions; Lion Bill Cleaves, Zone Chairperson; and Lions George Hawkins, Secretary, Cessnock Lions. Members of the local communities and businesses from Kurri Kurri and Weston were present. There were fourteen people present and five not present of interested parties. Also present was the Deputy District Governor, Gordon Cartright.
Deputy Governor Gordon Cartright gave an address on Lionism. A formal adoption of the Constitution and Bylaws was adopted.
(Taken from the Minutes of Meeting)
The next meeting was held at the Chelmsford Hotel on 9 August 1957. The Club was now being referred to as the Lions Club of Kurri Kurri-Weston. The meeting was attended by members of the Lions Clubs of Cesssnock and Maitland. Interested members of the local communities continued to be well represented.
At the next meeting on the 17 September 1957, the Charter Roster for the Lions Club of Kurri Kurri was determined. The officers elected were: Basil Pont, President; Francis Lucas, Secretary and Gordon Corke, Treasurer. At the time of the Charter there were 22 members. The Club met at the Kurri Kurri Golf Club on the second and fourth Friday.
The Lions Club of Kurrri Kurri was chartered on 7 December 1957.
The Charter members of the Club were:
|
Will S Blair Richard Boundy George Roland Bowditch John Bradsheet Charles Brandt Robert Cairns Frederick Clery Gordon H Cork William J Crichton Joseph E Davies Eric E Fairfull Daniel B Hunter Hugh Kennedy Francis S Lucas Alex McIntosh Basil A Pont Jack G Randalf Carl Rothe Phillip J Saxton Herbert G Wallace Ian Waugh Ivor Wonders
|
Mining Stoneware Pipes Sales Railways Auto Sales General Drapery Hospital Engineer Engine Driver Mechanical Engineer Builder Coal Miner Butcher Footwear Swimming Poultry Farmer Storekeeper Railways Officer Stoneware Pipe Manufacturer Garage Mining Retail Fruit Surgeon Medical Practitioner |
Throughout the years the membership of the Club has changed with some members leaving while attracting new members. The Club has maintained a wide representation from the local communities and businesses. Female members appeared in Club records from 1974. Prior to then membership was all males.
The Lions Club of Kurri Kurri continues to provide service to the local community.
