The Host who’s given the most
The Tokoroa Host Lions Club have taken out an award for being an extremely generous club.
During the recent National Lions Convention in Rotorua the club was the first ever to receive the PDG Jim Towersey 2015-16 Lions Club International Foundation Support Trophy.
The new award was given to the club which had donated the most money per head of club members for the whole of the Central North Island.
Member John Stevens said the club was wrapped to be the first club to receive the award which is set to be awarded to a club each year.
‘‘It was out of 70 or 80 clubs from the Tongariro National Park right up to Ngaruawahia and the Coromandel and Tokoroa got it so we were quite chuffed,’’ he said.
‘‘We are not a big club, we’ve got around 24 members, but it sort of acknowledges that hey we are out there making a difference.’’
He said each year the club makes the majority of its money through calf collection days where local farmers donate calves which are then on-sold to raise money for charities and community projects.
The latest collection generated around $39,000 which was divided between three charities- Stroke Support, Hospice, and Saint John for its new hospital shuttle.
The club also generates money through weekly Hypo (sodium hypochlorite) sales.
‘‘We are out there making money but the idea of making money is that we want to give it away again and the thing about the Lions, which is what I enjoy and why I joined, is all the money collected goes back to communities, everything,’’ he said.
‘‘We also do local projects such as the mountain bike park entry building, new stables for Riding For Disabled, seating between the pharmacy and doctor’s surgery, a concrete strip at the cricket pitch and we are also looking at doing something with the Leith Pl redevelopment.’’
‘‘We’re always looking for things that are community orientated. It’s not about giving out handouts but it is a helping hand,’’ he said.
The club meets at the Tokoroa Cosmopolitan Club every second and fourth Monday of the month at 6.30pm. Stolen firearms Four firearms have been stolen from a rural address between Tuesday and Friday which is a huge concern.
A small amount of ammunition was also taken.
We don’t want to see any more incidents involving firearms taking place so if anyone has any information about this contact the station on 885 0100 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Family harm We had 12 reports of family harm resulting in two arrests. Drink driving We processed two drink drivers this week and their offending resulted in instant fines and 50 demerit points which is halfway to losing their licences. Suspicious behaviour It is great people have been telling us about suspicious behaviour but ring us at the time as that’s when we have the best chance of catching criminals.
*Senior Sergeant Jason Henderson