The Lions Club of Cairns was the first club north of Brisbane to be Chartered, and has since assisted with the formation of several other clubs in the region and maintained close relationships with many of them.

The story starts back in 1956 when a group of local businessmen got together to form the club. According to the Lions International Directory of Lions Clubs in Australia the club was actually formed on the 11th October 1956, becoming the 73rd club in Australia and the second club north of Brisbane (Nangano being the first) though the Charter was not signed until 14th January 1957, and subsequently presented to the club on 23rd February 1957.

The Charter Night was held at Hides Hotel in Cairns, with around a hundred guests enjoying the five course dinner that complemented the Charter Presentation. Guests included the Mayor of Cairns - Ald. W. J. Fulton; the President of the sponsoring Brisbane club - Arthur Simpson; and members of the Cairns Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Thirty members were present as charter members of the Lions Club of Cairns, with Bill Williams taking up the reins as the club president.

Other Clubs Sponsored by Lions Club of Cairns

Atherton 24/2/57 (The morning after receiving our Charter)
Innisfail 7/12/57
Townsville 6/12/57
Cairns Barrier Reef 7/6/61
Port Moresby (Joint extension) 17/4/62
Cairns Trinity Bay (Joint extension) 19/2/63
Trinity Beach Lions Club 21/6/2003

Today the club membership still sits at thirty with members actively pursuing the job of increasing membership beyond that.

The Lions Club of Cairns holds a dinner meeting at 7:00pm on the first Monday of the month. Guests are always welcome.

Further information can be obtained from the club secretary:- E-Mail Us

OFFICE BEARERS 2010 to 2011

President: Thelma Spelta

Secretary: Ken Rowlingson

Treasurer: David Curran

Membership/Club Care: Ken Gorton

1st Vice President: Dennis Collis

2nd Vice President: Des Tong

3rd Vice President: Glyn Archer

Tail Twister: Mil Clay

Lion Tamer: Ros Lucas

Bulletin Editor: Annette Clay

Lioness Liaison Officer: Ken Rowlingson

Listed below are some of the projects and activities the Lions Club of Cairns has been involved with over recent years. The degree of involvement might include donations, community service activities, or Lions International activities. Details on selected projects and activities

Lions Projects Australian Lions Foundation. Australian Lions Drug Awarenes Foundation. Australian Lions Children's Mobility Foundation. (Walk for an Aussie Kid) Hearing Dogs and other hearing related projects. Lions Christmas Cakes. Lions Mints. Lions Cord Blood and Childhood Cancer. (The World's Biggest BBQ) Miss Popularity Quest. Youth Exchange Programme. Youth of the Year Quest.

Community Service and Donations

Queensland Muscular Dystrophy Association. Cairns Homeless Youth. Street Level Youth Care. Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. Foster Children's Christmas Party. The Magic Show. Lions Lucky Numbers - Cairns Show Stall. Various equipment donations to local hospitals. Red Cross donations. Clean Up Australia.

This is just a sample of the kind of things we get up to. Many more will be reported on this site as they eventuate. Stay tuned ...

Lions club members are men and women who strive to make a difference in their local community as well as in communities worldwide. Their volunteer efforts go beyond the support of vision care, to addressing unmet health and education needs worldwide.
 

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