Page 2277 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 August 2015
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I acknowledge the past board chairperson, Barry Howe; current chairperson and previous secretary, Harold Small; the original founder, Max Hill OAM; one of the stalwarts for 50 years, Reverend Alistair Christie; and the executive director and all board members and staff of Greenhills both now and over the past 50 years. You can find out more at greenhillscentre.com.
Lions Club Gungahlin
MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.45): I rise tonight to talk about the Lions Club of Gungahlin. Gungahlin Lions club forms part of the Lions Club International group, which aims to serve the community through supporting people with a disability, community greening and fundraising for worthwhile causes. Lions clubs are involved with many community projects, and there are over 1.3 million people involved with Lions worldwide. Lions conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, provide help during disasters and are involved with many other projects that make a difference to local communities right across the world. Gungahlin Lions meet twice a month in Nicholls, as well as being involved in many activities in the community.
Members may be aware that Lions are involved with programs relating to eye health. The Lions eye health program aims to prevent vision loss and blindness by promoting early detection and timely treatment of eye diseases. The program was launched in Australia in 2000, and it has proved very popular with Lions clubs around the country. Lions also run the recycle for sight Australia program, which is part of a worldwide eyeglass recycling program. Thousands of pairs of used spectacles, sunglasses, new frames and other equipment have been recycled through this program. The glasses are regraded and distributed to Lions clubs, Rotary clubs and other humanitarian organisations for distribution to people in need at no cost. In 15 years the Australian program has delivered 2.5 million pairs of glasses to countries all over the world.
Lions also hold an annual youth of the year program. The youth of the year quest is an opportunity for young people between 15 and 19 to experience an interview situation and practise their public speaking skills. The program aims to encourage student interest in leadership and the qualities required to take an active and constructive role in the community.
The Lions Club of Gungahlin is involved in many aspects of our community, and some of these include the scouts and the Dick Smith foundation. They have regular barbecues at Magnet Mart to raise funds, they support Greening Australia, Red Cross, Hope in a Boat, Lions Youth Haven, Karinya House, the Visual Independence Foundation, the Gungahlin College scholarship, and much, much more.
I congratulate all those involved in the Gungahlin Lions club. In particular, I acknowledge the past executive, including the president, Lion Mick Brice; the immediate past president, Lion Steve Holm; the club secretary, Lion Kerry Graf; the club treasurer, Lion Glynis Whitfield; and the membership chairman, Lion Keith Cox. I also acknowledge supporters of the club and members who were involved in the recent changeover dinner, including Gary Lymbery, Tony Steer and Beverley von Stein.
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