Drouin Lions making a difference
Drouin Lions Club have again met the needs of the community and are making a difference, having recently donated $13,000 to schools and kindergartens in the Drouin area.
Lions Clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs.
The Lions Club of Drouin have donated $13,000 to schools and kindergartens in the Drouin area at a presentation dinner recently.
Funds raised came from their Garden and Home Expo held at Lardner Park in October this year.
The Schools and Kindergartens received $1000 each to help with a large variety of needs and wishes.
Ripplebrook Primary School Principal Liz Alderson said the school is very thankful to the Lions Club of Drouin for the generous donation.
“We are going to use the $1000 to purchase more seating and tables for the passive recreation area in our school,” she said.
“Our recreation area is an inviting space for the children of Ripplebrook Primary School to eat their food at recess and lunchtime.”
Drouin West Primary School principal Kerry Ware said the school invests in programs that develop personal and social skills.
“Staff at our school work in partnership with families to, nurture, enrich, and inspire each child to reach their academic potential and achieve their very best,” she said.
“This year we updated and built up our reading resources for students to use.
“The wish list for further books was requested by teachers.
“These funds will go to purchasing these additional titles and will make a difference to our reading program in 2017.
“Thank you, Drouin Lions, for supporting the reading program in our school community.”
Drouin Primary School principal Brad Wheller said the school is beginning science as a specialist class across the entire school next year.
“Mr Rob Comber, who will be our science teacher, is planning to construct a chicken coup alongside our vegetable garden,” he said.
“The donation will assist us to purchase building materials.”
Oak Street Kindergarten are a Sun Smart centre and the funds will be used to purchase coloured bucket hats for each child again this year.
Drouin South Primary School principal Michael Smith said the donation would be used to support and subsidise children who are unable to pay for camp.
A part of Drouin Kindergarten philosophy is to provide opportunities for play based learning.
Children who engage in quality play experiences are more likely to have well-developed memory skills, language development and are able to regulate their behaviour, leading to enhanced school adjustment and academic learning.
The donation will create an environment to allow children at the kindergarten that opportunity. Your generous donation will go towards a shade sail.
Outdoor play in an important part of the kindergarten program, with the donation from the Lions Club to be put towards a shade sail.
Being a new kindergarten, the Drouin Primary Early Learning Centre will put their donation towards the development of an outdoor area.
Rod Christensen teacher of Buln Buln Primary school said their funds have been put towards some Hummingbird Robotics kits to use in programming sessions at the school.
Lardner and District Primary School principal Corey Fleming is looking forward to putting the donation towards soccer nets.
“A massive thankyou to Drouin Lions Club who tonight donated $13,000 to local kindergartens and primary schools,” he said.
“We are so pleased to be able to now install a soccer goal on our oval for our super lucky Lardner students.”
St Ita's Primary School are putting the donation towards special chairs for Integration students.
Jindivick Primary School principal Wendy Arnott said the donation would go towards readers for grade two, three and four.
Drouin Lions president Nick Drodge said it is very rewarding working with the community for the community, while having fun along the way.
“We have been donating to the schools and kindergartens for a number of years now to help fulfil those little wishes,” he said.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in about 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
Since 1917, Lions clubs have made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.
The Drouin Lions Club meets on the first and third Wednesday each month at Royal Hotel in Drouin at 6.30pm for 7pm start.
For more information, or if you would like to get involved and join the Drouin Lions Club, phone membership chairman Theo Versteden 0407 343 410, or visit the Lions Club of Drouin website www.drouinlions.org.au.