Community & Business
18 October, 2023
Millmerran Lions convention a roaring success
The Lions Club 201Q3 District Convention held at the Millmerran Showgrounds saw over 160 Lions from across Southern Queensland attend.
The Lions provided this report:
A total of 164 Lions and partners from the Darling Downs as well as Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and as far away as Charleville were in attendance.
Guests included International Director Tim Ervine and his wife Penne from Western Australia, District Governor Savvas Argyrou from District Q1 (Brisbane), DG David Horne from South Australia along with his mate Angus, a Lions assistance dog in training, and other district governors and past district governors.
Friday night saw Lions honouring members who have gone to higher service in the last 12 months.
This was a twilight service on the banks of the lake (dam) at the Caravan Park, which was well attended and included a very moving ceremony, with 29 members remembered.
This was followed with a meet and greet barbecue dinner supplied by the Lions Club of Toowoomba West.
Saturday saw the Lions Club of Clifton up extra early to get breakfast on the table at 6.30am.
This meant leaving Clifton at 4.30am, but the sausages, eggs and bacon went down very well.
The opening ceremony included a flag ceremony where twelve flags were presented to District Governor Andy by the Millmerran Scout Group and the Navel Cadets from T.S. Toowoomba.
The convention was officially opened by former mayor of both Millmerran Shire and Toowoomba Regional Councils Lion Paul Antonio.
Saturday morning tea was provided by the Lions Club of Oakey.
This also enabled their club members to see what the convention was all about when they had finished work.
Saturday afternoon saw the Lions Club of Millmerran supply afternoon Tea.
Saturday night’s dinner was a bush dance with local band Ridgee Didge providing the entertainment.
There were raffles held as well and Jason from Millmerran Rural auctioned off Lions iced Christmas cakes, helping to raise just under $1000 for Lions’ assistance Dogs.
The Lions Youth Forum was again well worth attending with four speakers from different youth projects Lions either run or assist with, including Youth of the Year, Type One Diabetes youth camp, Leos, and Youth in Search.
Over the weekend, we had static displays from many Lions projects including childhood vision testing, Children of Courage, Peace Poster, Lions Medical Research, Camp Quality, Lions’ Prostate Cancer Research, Camp Duckadang, Youth of the Year, Lions Christmas Cakes and Mints, Hearing and Medical Alert Dogs, Childhood Cancer research, Lions Childhood Mobility Foundation, Australian Lions Foundation (disaster relief and support), Environment and Recycling and Diabetes.
This opens the eyes of many who thought Lions was only “sizzle sausages”.
Also over the weekend, special awards were given out to local members.
Lion Greg Freeleagues, President of the Westbrook and District Lions club, received the award for the201Q3 District President of the Year.
Clifton Lion Maryann Bisdee and Millmerran’s Lion Pat Blinco received the International President’s Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Distinguished Achievements in fulfilling the mission of Lions international.
All items possible from the convention were recycled including all bottles cans which were given to Millmerran Scout Group.
All left over food was donated to the Toowoomba Homeless Outreach Program located in Clewley Park, Toowoomba and what could be passed on to be used again next year was done.
This honours Lions’ commitment to a better environment.
Organisers were thankful for the range of sponsors, including local Members of Parliaments, David Littleproud and James Lister, Toowoomba Regional Council, Millmerran business houses, Westbrook Tavern, Millmerran Show Society and its caretakers, Mary and Allan Hunter, and Burstows.
