ON SATURDAY, March 2, members of the Rosewood Lions Club ran a free sausage sizzle in the town’s main street.
It was an enjoyable occasion for all those people who enjoyed the sizzling sausages and for the Club members who enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow Lions and the chance to talk about the Club to all comers.
It was also a symbolic occasion.
On that day, throughout Australia, thousands of the nation’s most dedicated and hard-working volunteers were all promoting what Lions Australia does.
After more than 75 years of helping others in Australia, Lions members knew their role as a service club was only growing increasingly important.
Over the decades, Club members across the nation have been involved in giving emergency relief during natural disasters; supporting farming communities during drought; supporting critical medical research into childhood cancers and diabetes and working on local environmental programs – the work of all of our members is valued, and critical.
There are more than 25,000 Lions members in Australia, which makes it the largest service organisation in this country.
While the Rosewood Lions enjoyed running the free sausage sizzle on Lions Awareness Day, the message was that there is ‘so much more to us than fundraising barbeques’.
“We really enjoyed the sausage sizzle,” said Rosewood Club President Bernie Newall.
“It was wonderful that we were so busy – in fact, we gave out so many free sausage sizzles that we had to rush over to Drakes supermarket on more than one occasion to purchase more sausages and bread!”
Members had also set up two display boards showing some examples of all the different projects the Club is involved in.
Bernie has been a Lions member for 37 years and is proud of what the Club has achieved.
“It’s absolutely amazing how we have helped our community with our fundraising over the decades,” he said.
“We run the annual Australia Day Citizen of the Year to shine a light on the contributions made by members of the community and we run the annual Youth of the Year to give opportunities in public speaking and interviewing to our young people.”
One of the big fundraising events run by the Club is the annual Rosewood Golf Club Day and the Club members also manage the Tourist Park at the Rosewood Showgrounds for Council and the Op Shop in John Street.
“We’ve used the funds we have raised to purchase a new bus for Cabanda, to annually give sun-safe swim suits to the local state school students and to support other community organisations through donations – these include the CWA, the Bowls Club, the RSL and the Community Centre and many more.
“And we raised $4,000 for the National Fire Relief Fund.”
Bernie said new members are always welcome.
“We are all about community and now we are putting the call out for new members – come join us and learn how you can help your community and have some fun as well.”
