Building base and taking on new projects
1970s
The 1970swas a period of formation, consolidation and expansion for Katikati Lions as the club established an identity and the community responded positively to thenew energetic service club in its midst.
Clubmembers played the Rugby Club and the YoungFarmers at a numberof sports.
Manynewresidents were invited to join but declined, opting to join Rotary because they feltmore comfortable with the older membership.
Toremedythis, the club set about actively seeking oldermembersto provide a good age range and were successful.
Projects and activitiesbecame moreambitious. The Club created the park on the corner of Park and Beach Roads (currently receiving a makeover), provided and constructed the first adventure playground for theKatikati Primary School and equipment for the playground in town, demolished a couple of houses and almost lost Taylor's drottdownanold septic tank hole in doing so, and got involved with thenowannual Christmas Parade.
Scrap metalwas collected in great quantities from throughout the district and all mannerof scrapwas brought to theKatikati railway yard and loaded onto wagons for Pacific Steel, or, if itwassome interesting old machinery, it was donated to the HistoricMuseumin Tauranga.
Ona Zone basis (the Tauranga Clubs and Katikati), thePGAGolf Tournamentwaswell supported by clubmembers each January and funds from this enabled Katikati Lions to purchase the first rescue vehicle for Katikati. Equipment for thiswasalso provided.
Young folk were not forgotten with beach art, sand castle competitions and eel fishing events being held.
1980s
The ‘80s were dynamic years. The community expanded rapidly with the introduction of kiwifruit, and with an influx of keen and highly motivated people, the Lions Club also grew, rapidly reaching a peak of 57 members.
The Lions becamethe driving force behind the Aongatete Lodge development and in 1981 ran a successful Princess Carnival and other activities to raisemoneyfor the
Lodge as well as building the first bunkhouse.
The Lone Diners dinnerwasnow firmly established and in 1982-83 the Clubbecame involved with the beautification of the approaches to Katikati and areas within the township.
The Katikati Pakeke Clubwas sponsored in 1983 and at the District Convention at Whakatane in 1985 the Clubwas proud to see one of its Charter Members, David Eddy, elected as District Governor for 1985-86. At David's convention in Rotorua the club bid for the right to hold the 1988 District Convention.
Avery successful convention in 1988wasduly provided for the district and although president Dave Murray missed it after suffering a collapsed lung while diving, it wasa great club project with Sonny Bell as chairman.
The dinner and dance on Saturday nightwas held at KatiPak and many, manyhours were spent creating and painting nurseryrhymecharacters for decorating the interior of the packhouse.
The first of their famous cat pins madean appearance as the convention pin andwaswidely sought after.
1988 alsosaw the Lindemann Road Lookout project underway and despitesomeprecarious “drilling moments”, the projectwascompleted without incident.
After a great deal of red tape the “clip on” bridge wascompleted. This project provided a pedestrian bridge alongside the vehicle bridge over the Uretara river and proved to be a real safety feature for people walking into town from the Waterford area. The pedestrian bridgewas replaced a few years ago at a cost of some$350,000.
Citrus projects initiated in the 70s continued and the club becamemore involved with the CitrusQueen
Festival. The Lions sent large quantities of citrus tosome Wellington Clubs which distributed it to those in need.
Youth activities in terms of sponsorship for adventure camps, overseas exchange and hosting becamemore popular. Katikati Lions hostedmanyoverseas students and helpedmanyyoung local people to take part in an overseas exchange.
They were also involved with the provision of transport for the IHC including the purchase (in
conjunction with Bethlehem andTe Puna Lions) of a van for their use.