AMY RUSS
Established in the region in 1962 by President FT Carpenter, Nelson Host Lions Club is celebrating their 60thAnniversary this month. Prolific in the community building, fundraising and working tirelessly behind the scenes to build a better foundation for past, present and future generations to come, Nelson Host Lions Club is part of a worldwide organisation that boasts 1.4 million members, across 208 countries, who help to change lives in ways both great and small.
Volunteers serve their communities, help humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through aid in disaster relief, environmental needs, diabetes and child cancer awareness, hunger, humanitarian efforts and youth aid to name a few. Everyone has heard of them, however not many may know just how abounding they are when it comes to helping our local community.
In 1962, at the charter event linking Nelson Lions Club with the New Zealand and international organisations, FT Carpenter said in his speech, “We expect and plan to do our part at all times, to give encouragement and a helping hand wherever possible to all worthy and civic endeavours. We want more people that will work for the good of others and not just themselves.
There is a need to come back to the principle of service for the community.” This quote still rings true with members today. LIONS stands for ‘Liberty In Our Nations Security’ and their insignia is of two lions, one representing a lion facing the past with pride, and the other looking to the future with confidence, looking in all directions to render service.
Nelson Host Lions, is the oldest service organisation in the region and is based at Nelson Golf Club, sponsoring both Richmond and Motueka Clubs, as well as Nelson Lioness and their newest addition, Nelson Lions Skate Nelson Bays Branch.Vice District Governor John Bilderbeck joined the organisation in 1988 and says helping people is what he loves the most about the Club.
“Being a part of the projects is just fantastic and seeing the difference these contributions make. You meet some really wonderful people and make great friends.”
Having been a member for 34 years, John says there have been many wonderful standout moments including a visit from Sir Edmund Hilary. “There have just been so many highlights over the years. The building of the Tahunanui Playground, the 1984 Golf Tournament and providing a car for the Alzheimer's Foundation in 2005.Circus Quirkus is always wonderful, held at the Theatre Royal every year supporting less fortunate, disadvantaged and disabled children and their families allowing them to have a great day out together.”
“It is absolutely amazing what the Lions Clubs do. We collect wine aluminium bottle tops which go to Kidney Kids, collect old money and glasses and send those the islands to be reused. We go to the galas with candy floss, run youth programs and youth exchanges, and hold camps every year. We run a liver transport service and hearing preservation service and promote young speechmakers. A lot happens in the background and people don’t really know about it. We are really quite an active organisation. We just get on with it.”
All funds raised through Nelson Host Lions Club go directly to the Nelson community, and all their members are volunteers. Lions are ordinary people from all walks of life who enjoy getting together and doing good things. “We have 43 volunteers in Nelson and are always looking for new members. It is perfect for people who have young families and are wanting to get involved with their community. We welcome new faces and new perspectives.
The Lions Club also offer a lot of excellent training which transfers over very well to everyday life, like public speaking or conflict resolution. It’s first-class training and really is a lot of fun.”
Peter Vining joined the Nelson Club in 1964, just three years after it was chartered. “It was founded by local service-minded people who wanted to put something back into the community, and all members still have that in mind today. One reason I joined is I felt that on my own I couldn’t do much, but with a group we could achieve a lot of good.
We have completed some mighty projects over the years. Of course, back in the early days things were a little easier. One project we had was a demolition project, where you would just turn up with a sledgehammer and a chainsaw, no hard hats and no health and safety. Things are a little different now, but the club has really been a wonderful thing to be a part of.”
Celebrating their Anniversary on Monday, November 21 in a private affair, Nelson Host Lions Club would like to invite the public to a free entry family day to help celebrate at Tahunanui Playing fields on November 27. To be held in conjunction with 'Lap the Map’, Nelson Host Lions Club encourage the public to join them, along with the nationwide clubs, in walking a combined distance of 15,000km surpassing the perimeter of the New Zealand coastline to raise awareness for diabetes prevention.
Organisers say it doesn’t matter how far you walk or run, it’s about being involved, getting active and moving together. There will be plenty of family fun on offer at the event, with face painting, creative balloons, candy floss, a chocolate wheel, kids' games, a bouncy castle, a sausage sizzle and of course, a raffle with over $500 worth of goodies to be won.
