ROSEWOOD Lion Bernie Newell was thanked by club members at a recent meeting for his support to the club for organising and running the 65 Club project at the Royal George Hotel for the past 35 years.
Bernie is now taking leave from this project as the Royal George Hotel is closed for renovations, due to the recent sale of the property.
Lion Eirys Heit recalled that the 65 Club was originally called the 100 Club, and it involved a raffle that was drawn at the pub every Saturday at 12 noon.
“Lucky numbers ranging from 1 to 100 and costing as little as $2, were each to be put into the draw to win $100 as first prize, was drawn.” she said.
“In 1975 Charter President of the Rosewood Lions Sel Heit, who was also the publican of the Royal George Hotel, started this raffle to make the local community aware of the new Lions Club of Rosewood, while raising money for Lions’ community projects.
“People would start rolling into the hotel around 11.30am to buy their lucky numbers and wait for the draw at 12 noon.
“A large blue barrel with coloured ping pong balls, each with a number from 1 to 100 painted on them, was first used for the drawing of the raffle.
“Later as the ping pong balls deflated or cracked, the barrel and balls were replaced with small wooden balls with the numbers 1 to 100 burnt into them.
“The balls were dropped into the metal bingo barrel, the handle turned to churn them up, and then reversed for a winning ball to drop down the shoot. This barrel was used right up to 2023.
“By the time Lion Sel left the hotel in October 1981, the number of tickets sold had dropped to 75 and it was known as the 75 Club.
Club member Barry Wood then ran the project until 1986.
“Rosewood Lion Bernie joined the Rosewood Lions in December 1986 and along with Lion John Duggan took over as co-ordinator of the 65 Club in 1988. A position he fulfilled until April 2023.”
Lion Bernie said he met numerous publicans coming and going at the hotel during his time in running this raffle.
“Over the years, the number of tickets sold dropped to 65, hence the name, first prize also dropped to $65,” he said.
“I want to thank all of the fellow Lions who helped out on occasions, with a special thank you also to Bob Merritt, a customer at the hotel who drew the lucky balls at 12 noon every Saturday for a number of years and also to Dawn, a bar attendant who would also help to sell tickets and help wherever and whenever possible.
“In the last draw, I sold 80 tickets of the 65 Club in April and over $60,000 has been raised during the 35 years that I ran the project.
“All of these funds have been returned to the local community through various donations to clubs, schools and individuals by way of the Rosewood Support Centre, I also want to thank you Donna Hanlon.”
