Lara Lions Club 'We Serve'

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Club Profile

The need for a community service organisation was recognised by a group of young men who met informally in March 1969 and decided to form a Lions club. The Lions Club of Lara (the Club) was chartered in July 1970 being sponsored by the Lions Club of Geelong. Ever since, the Club has truly served the local community.

The Lara Community Centre was established in 1982 as a joint project of the Club in partnership with the Shire of Corio, Lara Progress Association, and other organisations. It continues to facilitate community development and provide opportunities for mutual support and sharing of skills and resources to build a better quality of life for the residents of Lara and the surrounding district.

There is a huge emphasis on youth within the Club. This includes holding the Annual ‘Youth of the Year’ quest and the Club also takes part in the ‘International Youth Exchange’ programme. 2006 saw the establishment of School Grants on an annual basis to the 3 Kindergartens, 3 Primary Schools and the Lara Secondary College on a rotational system. The Club also established a co-partnership with the Children’s Charity Network in 2007, in May 2010; the project became national at the MD201 Convention in Mildura. The Club has always been involved with the International Peace Poster competition and in 2008, decided to honour local winners of this competition with a prize on an annual basis.

Currently some 47 dedicated men and women carry out community projects in Lara which include Austin Park weekly clean up, Australia Day Breakfast, Centreway BBQ, Charity Golf Day, Audi Victoria Week, Australian International Airshows, Hearing Dogs, Eye Health programme, Hoffman Walk, Graffiti Removal, Club Twinning and Keep em Safe.

Lions established a ‘Citizen of the Year Award’ in 2004 to recognise those citizens in Lara who have made a significant contribution above and beyond reasonable expectation to the Lara & District community. The project was successful enough for it to be taken over by the Australia Day Breakfast Committee to administer.

The Club sponsored the Lions Club of Little River which was chartered of the on 11 June 2005. This new Club is now proving an invaluable asset to the Little River community. In May 2007, the LEO Club of Lara was chartered in an effort to provide the youth of Lara some form of youth group activities.

The Lions Club of Lara provides a group of willing and co-ordinated volunteers that are able to conduct community projects which are not possible for us to do alone, we seek constant improvement to make Lara a better community to live in.

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In 2004-05, the Lions Club of Lara sponsored the Lions Club of Little River which Chartered on 11 June 2005. The new Lions Club of Little River (even while operating as a Branch Club) soon became an asset to the Little River community. Here Lions Club of Lara President, Don Robison (left) and new Lions Club of Little River President, Leon Koch (pronounced Cook) exchange Club Bannerettes.

The Leo Club of Lara came into existence during February 2006 and has now been officially recognised and certified by Lions Clubs International in December 2006.

The Leo Club of Lara was Chartered on Monday 28 May 2007 at the Lara Sporting Club.

The Lions Club of Lara can provide a group of willing and co-ordinated volunteers, which are able to conduct projects which are not possible for us to do alone, we seek constant improvement to make the Lara community a better community to live in.

The Lions International motto is 'We Serve'. Membership of Lions provides individuals with the opportunity to make close friends and at the same time assist the community of Lara.

The Lions Club of Holderness, Yorkshire, England has also accepted an offer to twin with us in February 2007 and correspondence is flowing rapidly between Clubs. twinningpatch

The International Club Twinning Programme is a voluntary and mutual agreement between clubs in different countries. Lions and Leos can participate; however, twinning should occur between like clubs (i.e. Lions with Lions, Leos with Leos).
The purpose of twinning is to give clubs from various cultures an opportunity to learn about one another. Through correspondence, the twinning partners actively illustrate the First Purpose of the Association, To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.

Although some clubs hold a special ceremony to commemorate a twinning relationship, Lions Clubs International does not require a formal ceremony to be eligible for twinning recognition.

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