This year’s golf day we chose the Andrew Love Centre to be the recipient of the funds raised, and in memory of past Lions Lady Jenny Walker.

The weather was most unkind for those participating in the golf and the 4 Lions members Alan Smedley, John Frame, Tom Elevato and Neil Donlen who stood out in the weather for 4 hours, but in spite of the weather the day turned out to be our most successful to date.

This year we have had our best financial result, and will be able to hand over a cheque of $5,000 to the Andrew Love Centre Appeal, we also had the largest number of players entered to play golf in the Ambrose or Callaway competitions, and more golfers, families and Lions members were in the club house for the fund raising activities.

The efforts of the Lions Ladies who worked on Saturday and Sunday selling goods from the trading stall, and also on Sunday serving food and hot drinks to all in attendance was very much appreciated. Thanks Ladies. (I forgot to thank them on Sunday)

The committee again did a great job with Lion Peter Foster doing all the admin work and collating the donations, Lion Dennis Grant worked hard and won over a number of new sponsors for this year, and put up the advertising signs around the course, Lion Lawrie Plowman collected the entries and after the game had the huge job of sorting out the winners, Lion Jon King looked after the course ‘set up’ and assisted Lawrie. Thanks Lions.

The golf club again was most supportive of the golf day, in particular Lion Herb Picker who worked the bar. The golf club is in the middle of a major upgrade which will result in a much better facility in the future. Thanks Elcho Park Golf Club.

To all of our sponsors who this year gave their generous support to the day, in particular we must thank Lion Graham Lane for his arranging of the dish washer from Kleen Maid. To Graham and Kleen Maid our many thanks, also Lino Bisinella for his continued support of the clubs activities, this day’s result is due to the generous support we get from our sponsors large and small. Thanks Sponsors.

Thanks to Lions Neville Gillett, Alan Smedley, Doug Willey and Lawrie Plowman who assisted in collecting donations from sponsors, and thanks to the Lions for cooking up a storm at the BBQ. Lions Paul Wilson and Doug Willey did a great job in organizing the food. And quite a number of Lions helped selling tickets, bringing goods for the trading table and helping with the set up and, then cleaning up. Lions Tom Elevato and Mick Mathieson put in a big effort selling electronic draw numbers on Saturday, and we can’t forget our treasurer Lion Bill Berkeley who had the work of counting the proceeds. Well done and thanks Lions.

As a club we are most appreciative of the efforts of Jerry Lorkin again this year.

I recommend that the Lions Club of Lara hand over a cheque for $5,000 to the Andrew Love Centre Appeal at our next Dinner Meeting, and the beneficiary of the 2007 McManus Annual Charity Golf Day, be the Beyond Blue organisation.

Lion Don Robinson
Golf Day Chairman
8 May 2006

Webbies Note: Don Robinson should get a huge round of thanks from Lions and the community for not only chairing the sub committee, but also running the event during the day by raising his voice for the auction and generally running the show.... Thanks Don, a fantastic effort.

2005 McManus Charity Golf Day

The 2005 Golf Day had some 90 golfers hit off at 08:30 in a shot gun start, and was followed by a BBQ lunch and then into the activities which were held in the club house, including the spinning wheel, lucky numbers, auctions and the trading table.

As a result of the day we were able hand over to Diabetes Australia Geelong support group a cheque for $4,000.00. This golf day was our most successful to date, and we thank all of the businesses, sponsors, Lions and golfers who were involved.

2004 McManus Charity Golf Day

The 2004 Golf Day raised a record $3,600.00 which was presented to the Bone Marrow Donor Institute.

Heartfelt hanks go to Golf Day chairman, Lawrie Plowman, who, along with his committee members has revamped the event which made it the fabulous success it was.

2003 Annual Charity Golf Day

JAYNE D'ARCY (Geelong Advertiser, 27 May 2003)

 This year the Lara Lions Club annual golf day pro­vided a financial boost for a local supported employ­ment initiative, Dial-a­-Lunch.

The $4,000 donation will be used to purchase ad­ditional kitchen equip­ment for the Pakington Street cafe and help fund its employment and training programmes.

 Lara Lions Club held the successful golf day on 4 May 2003 and invited Dial-A-­Lunch to help out by doing what they do best - ­cooking up a feast.

“Lara Lions Club have a nice partnership with the organisations that they support, they get them involved in the day,” Dial­-a-Lunch executive officer Marie Kuchenmeister said.
 
This year that meant serving more than 100 hungry golfers during the golf day, which is nothing compared to the average 500 meals they serve and deliver each day in Geelong.

The Dial-a-Lunch con­cept is now into its second decade and Dial-A-Lunch has been successful both as a business and as a training facility. Since the opening of the original Fenwick Street cafe it has grown and recently opened a new store in Pakington Street.

“We have grown from humble beginnings with two supervisors and four young people with special needs, into a position where we now have 36 young adults and 16 super­visors,” Ms Kuchen­meister said
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“The success and growth has been extraord­inary. Many people did not believe it would work, but we knew it would, given the right environment.

“We are extremely grateful and delighted that such a community spirited organisation wish to share our dream.”

Each year the Lara Lions donates its golf day proceeds to local charities. “Many organisations have benefited from their hard work and generosity,” she said.