Drouin Lions - 50 years serving the community
Drouin Lions Club members recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the club’s charter on May 26, 1973.
Drouin Lions were one of 13 clubs chartered that year and the 834th club to be chartered in Australia.
The first meeting was held at Gleeson’s Family Hotel at a cost of $2.
The club was fortunate in having four members transfer from Warragul for the formation. The inaugural president was Jack Cuthbertson and second vice president was Maurie Kilmartin.
Alan Dunstan and Dick De Vries made up the four, working hard to ensure the new club of Drouin got off to a strong start.
Early club years saw activities like golf days, cup sweeps, bowls days, wood working bees and annual fun fishing trip. The club was gifted by the late Ossie Roberts, a block of land at Golden Beach on which the club grew potatoes.
In 1976 the club donated $6000 to the Lyerbird Building Project. The following year under president Alan Aitken the club decided to proceed with a house project. Time was spent looking for buildings to remove and land to move onto. The club made a determined effort to complete the house in 1980 and the property sold. Net proceeds of $10,000 were given to Bellbird Park to begin works on the sporting complex.
In 1982 Drouin Lions decided to move its meetings to the Drouin Bowling Club. The then president Graham Austin said: “Life is not a bed of roses, our members were close to the victims of Ash Wednesday and our response was to immediately collect clothing and donations which were delivered within 24 hours.”
The major project in 1983-84 was the allocation of $3000 towards the shelter in Hearn St Park. This is still a current project of Drouin Lions, with continued upgrading, re-roofing, and installing park benches in the park.
In 1985-86 members built the original rotunda at Hearn St. This year also saw $3000 donated to the aged care wing at the West Gippsland Hospital.
In 1987-88 after a bush dance, beard growing contest and other activities, $5000 was donated towards the toilet block in Hearn St Park.
In 1991 the club’s annual fishing trip went to the pristine Fraser Island in Queensland - a spectacular social trip. A few years later saw the tractor pull, followed by planning of the first Garden Expo.
Under president Garry Crowley the club donated $25,000 to Lyerbird Village for a new therapy room and later, president Ian McFarlane led by example donating $23,000 to West Gippsland Hospital for a baby incubator.
2008-09 saw the club involved in helping in the recovery and bush fire relief in Longwarry and Jindivick.
2013-14 marked the death of esteemed charter member Jack Cuthbertson whose knowledge that was passed onto members will never be forgotten. The same year saw $30,000 donated back to community in many ways, including $12,000 to schools and kindergartens for the buddy seat program, which was well supported, giving children somewhere safe to sit if they were being bullied or lonely so staff could help them.
During the COVID years of 202021, members mostly held their meetings over Zoom. This didn`t stop members from helping where they could, including donating `thankyou packs’ to front line staff at West Gippsland Hospital, the ambulance service and vaccination centres acknowledging their enduring work and dedication through multiple lockdowns.
The 50th anniversary celebration saw Charter Awards presented to Lions Maurie Kilmartin and Graham Austin, who were original club members.
A celebration cake was cut with the assistance of past district governor Terry Hayler, a member from Warragul Lions Club who was Drouin’s sponsor club.
Monarch awards were presented to: 45 years to Laurel Billington on behalf of her husband Michael Billington
40 years - Mike Thorne
30 years - Mike Dickson
25 years - Ros Ough, Ron Cottier, Rob Brown
20 years - Richard Carlson, Trevor Little, Murray Gardiner
15 years - Maureen Versteden and Helen Hateley (absent).
10 years - Don Sinclair and Wes Goodwin
Visiting club members to attend the celebration included Longwarry and District, Neerim District, Warragul, Trafalgar, Willow Grove and District and Yarragon.
The club also welcomed district governor David Culpit, 1st vice district governor Kim Ainsworth, and past district governor Terry Hayler.
Longwarry Lions member Debbie Brown was presented with flowers for her working in helping to research and plan the celebration event.