Community
14 March, 2025
Lismore Lions give generously
THE Lismore Lions Club has recently donated a total of $31,500 to a variety of community groups and schools in the Derrinallum and Lismore district.
The donations form part of the Lismore Lions Club’s main ambition, which is to donate 70 per cent of what they raise through club-run fundraisers back to the community.
The club donated $10,000 to the Lismore Bowls Club on Tuesday to go towards works to revitalise their clubrooms, which includes future projects yet to be commenced.
Lismore Bowls Club president John Trotter said he was grateful to the Lismore Lions Club for their donation.
“It’s going to enable us to continue the work we’ve done on the green, which is advancing – it’s a lot better than it was,” he said.
“We’ve got other things that need attention out there – the shade cloth, the surrounds of the bitumen, the façade of the building and signage.
“It’s all still a work in progress, but we’re getting there.”
An hour later, the Lismore Lions Club visited Derrinallum P-12 College to donate $8000 to the school.
Principal Caitlyn Fitzgerald said the school was “absolutely astounded” by the generosity of the lions club.
“We’ve always had a really good relationship with the Lions, and we’ve reciprocated with them backwards and forwards through helping them with their community projects,” she said.
“We can’t show our gratitude enough to them for being willing to share so much money it us.
“It really opens the doors and makes things accessible for our students.
“It means there’s less pressure on the hip pocket for parents to be able to get those extra learning experiences, so we’re really appreciative.”
The funding will be used to support students and their families by subsidising activities, excursions and school camps.
The lions club also donated $1000 to support two students from Derrinallum P-12 College – Jackson Lyddy and Jake Burleigh – to participate in the Kokoda Trek – Corangamite Schools program.
Ms Fitzgerald said it was “amazing” for the Lismore Lions Club to also support Jackson and Jake.
“We were going to work with the boys on some fundraising opportunities for them, but it just closes the gap on what they need to provide and makes it more accessible,” she said.
“It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those boys.”
Jackson said he was inspired to give the Kokoda Trek a go by his grandmother.
“It was more nan pushing me towards doing it – I wasn’t going to do it, but nan said everyone said that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.
“I was very excited to do it.
“Even just meeting the people pushed me into wanting to do it even more.”
Jake said he was happy to be given the opportunity.
“I’m grateful that we were given the opportunity to do it because it came out of nowhere and it has become a big opportunity for our future,” he said.
“When Ms Fitzgerald came to us with the offer, I don’t think we knew what it was.
“We went home, and our parents told us how important the Kokoda Trail was for Australian history and the wars.
“We also found out that we had relatives who had partaken in war, and it just inspired us into wanting to be a part of the walk.”
Lismore Lions Club member Geoff Henderson said he was thrilled to be able to support his local community and beyond in various ways, which include a number of donations made in the past few months.
“Lismore Primary School has lost their bus, so we’re paying for them to go on their camp – we’re covering the cost of the school bus and we’re subsidizing the kids. We’ve just given them $2000 as well,” he said.
“We also handed out $10,000 to LCIF, which is the Lions International Disaster Relief – that money has gone to bushfires or floods.
“It goes into big pool and as they need it they draw on it.”
Mr Henderson said the Lismore Lions Club was looking for new members to join and encouraged anyone who is interested to speak to a Lions member in Derrinallum or Lismore.
“We’re all desperate for new members – we’re all getting older and older,” he said.
“Our fundraising isn’t big, but we need to do more fundraising – but we need more help for that.
“Whether people want to join as a member, or join as a helper to us, we’re only too happy to talk to people.”
Read More: Derrinallum, Lismore