The Manning-Great Lakes area is fortunate to have six Lions clubs - Taree, Manning River, Forster-Tuncurry, Harrington, Old Bar and Hallidays Point.

These clubs will be holding a joint dinner on June 7, 2017 at Club Taree to celebrate the centenary of Lions.

All Lions, past Lions, members of other service organisations as well as community members are most welcome to attend. Tickets are $40 per head and available from Club Taree reception. Individual Lions Clubs are also engaged in specific service activities in recognition of this important milestone.

Lions clubs consist of civic-minded men and women who work to make a difference in their community.  Lions believe in the power of ordinary Australians to create strong, caring and compassionate communities, by working together. Lions help those with a disability, back up our emergency services, and are 100 per cent committed to making their communities better places to live.

Volunteering in Lions Clubs provides diverse opportunities in club leadership, training, membership development, youth projects, or in a range of practical projects as diverse as emergency relief, tree planting, catering, fundraising and running community events. Every club is different and offers members not only the chance to help out, but to become involved in shaping and guiding their club in the longer term. It’s not all work though. Lions Clubs are fun and social. Lions build lifelong friendships through their membership and participation.

All the local clubs embrace the Lions’ motto - “We Serve”.

Taree Lions Club was the first Lions club formed in this area and has been an important part of the Taree community for 63 years. As a way of thanking the community for its support and, as a celebration of the Lions Centenary, Taree Lions Club will be holding a free community barbecue lunch in Queen Elizabeth Park, Taree on Saturday, May 27. Everyone is welcome to attend and join the celebration with the women and men of Lions.

Taree Lions Club undertake a number of fundraising activities throughout the year including running their Charity Trivia Night ($10,000 went to Bushland Health Group last year), the very popular Cubby House fund raiser, barbecues at community events, manning Taree Racecourse gates, and conducting various raffles. The club also organises a senior’s Christmas concert. In January, the Taree Lions Club held the highly successful inaugural TasteFest on the Manning.

The club has raised in excess of $110,000 in the last two years with the majority going to local charities and organisations.

“Our club gives members an opportunity to advance worthy causes, serve with friends, and become leaders in the community. This club means a lot to our Lions, but it means so much more to the people we serve,” said Phil Grisold, president of Taree Lions Club

For its centennial project Manning River Lions Club (based in Taree) will be undertaking some further work at Apex Lookout to improve the amenity of the park.

The club has a number of ongoing service projects including the monthly Hub Markets, manning football gates for Taree City Bulls and Group Three, maintenance of Apex Lookout, operation of a trackless train at community events and school fetes.

The club also organises and conducts Camp Memories.

Camp Memories is an annual weekend camp for children with special needs and their families. The camp caters for more than 30 families with around 120 people participating in two full days of fun and activities. “It is a pretty full weekend for all Lions and volunteers but the rewards are huge when you see the smiles on everyone’s face throughout the weekend” said Peter Baker, director of Camp Memories.

In the past five years, Manning River Lions Club has donated over $100,000 to various Lions Foundations, charities, local groups and schools.

Forster-Tuncurry Lions Club are well advanced in putting exercise equipment along the breakwall as its centennial project.

This project is being fully funded by the club and will prove very popular for both locals and visitors.

Forster-Tuncurry Lions Club operate the mini putt golf and trampolines during school holidays and for birthday parties, run a regular barebcue at Bunnings as well as conducting a Christmas trailer raffle each year. The club, with the assistance of Cape Hawke Surf Life Saving Club, put up the Christmas Santas as a further fundraising project.

The club is a major sponsor of the Great Lakes Education Fund and assist the Great Lakes Women’s Refuge through its 200 Club raffle. Recently the club made a donation of $5000 to the local oncology unit for a scalp cooler to assist patients undergoing chemotherapy. The club makes annual donations of around $40,000 to $50,000 every year supporting many worthwhile local organisations and charities plus Lions International Research.

Harrington Lions Club has plans underway for building a playground in Harrington Waters, in conjunction with MidCoast Council, for its centennial project. Funding is now available and work is expected to commence in the near future.

The Harrington Lions Club is a very “hands on” outdoor club. They maintain the scenic Pilot Hill and cemetery and have recently completed many projects including a new stage on the riverbank, a fitness trail, park benches and picnic tables.

The club raises funds through a range of activities including running barbecues at many community events. They actively support many Lions Foundations and local organisations donating $15,000 every year. They also work with other local groups to enhance their community.

The Hallidays Point Lions Club has been working for and with the local community for the past 27 years and has a growing base of 44 enthusiastic members.

On-going club projects include ‘News of Our World’ bringing monthly news and events to the community, pop up op shop, car boot sale at the monthly markets, comfort quilts and rugs with the support of the local knitters and quilters donating their time to provide comfort blankets for children, Men’s Shed, and preparation of an annual community calendar showcasing the club’s activities and the local area.

In addition, the club undertakes many other projects through the year. Recently their Ride Against Kids Cancer raised more than $20,000 for Children’s Cancer Research. On May 30, 2017 the club will be holding a ‘Share A Cuppa’ morning tea to raise further funds for this important cause.

All funds raised by the club are directed to local and national causes from cancer research to fire and flood appeals through to supporting local organisations, assisting those in need and conducting Australia Day and Anzac services.

The members of Hallidays Point Lions Club pride themselves in supporting their community and on lending a hand wherever and whenever it is needed.

Old Bar Lions Club is a very active club. The club’s fundraising activities include the sale of eggs each Saturday, a monthly barbecue at the Old Bar Markets and running a barbecue at the Old Bar Beach Festival each October.

The club also organises the Old Bar Christmas Carols and Australia Day activities. In the past the Old Bar Lions Club has funded shade sails to be erected over playground equipment as well as constructing various picnic and bus shelters around the Old Bar area.

Old Bar Lions Club is very focused on serving its community, by donating around $15,000 each year to many local organisations including the local preschool, public school, little athletics, pony club as well as the Voluntary Rescue Association.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organisation in the world. Its 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs are serving communities in 207 countries and geographical areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects.

If you are community minded, interested in making a positive contribution to help others, then contact your local Lions Club. You will be warmly welcomed!