Rachael Hanlon is a proud president of Blacktown City Lions Club which has made a tremendous contribution to the citizens of our fair city .
tables near Blacktown Council , special access seating tables , partnering with Kidswest to purchase training devices for the paediatric units at Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals .
Then there are the novel ways the club raises money to support other worthy projects and Lions Foundations .
“ We collect used eyeglasses and dispatch them to the Lions Recycle for Sight program in Queensland . They refurbish them and then distribute to people in need in Australia and other regions around the world ,” Rachael said .
“ We send donated stamp collections to auction in collaboration with other Lions clubs and the money raised helps kids with disabilities via the Lions Children ’ s Mobility Foundation . We also send bottle-top collections to Lids4Kids based in Canberra who recycle bottle lids into sustainable products , and plastic bread ties to South Australia where they are recycled locally , raising funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people .”
Not every noble intention has had the intended outcome , although there was a happy ending !
One of Rachael ’ s favourite foundations is the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs , based in South Australia .
“ Dogs are rescued or bred then trained to identify sounds and give aid to people who are deaf or hard of hearing all around Australia . We sponsored a Labradoodle puppy that we called Bunji , contributed to its feeding , guidance and initial training , but she wasn ’ t quite suited to the task , so
“ You ’ re only as good as the people around you and collectively and as members and partners , we are able to do so much more for Blacktown City and its residents .”
was placed in a suitable caring home .’’
There are now several female members of Blacktown Lions so Lions and Rotary don ’ t have the numbers they once did . That ’ s why Blacktown is working on younger ‘ Hanlons ’ coming through .
‘’ We have Alpha Leos from 12-18 years and Omegas from 18-30 years , it ’ s a way to encourage young people to become involved in local community service .”
Rachael represents her club at Lions District level having served as Zone Chair , and currently she is Regional Chair which covers cubs from Blacktown to Strathfield to the southern suburbs .
“ I ’ m normally not the most outspoken person , but I ’ m learning ,” she said .
Are there relaxations away from such full on paid and unpaid contributions ?
“ I like crocheting , knitting and card-making , and I ’ ve discovered Diamond Dots ( 3D images ) – it ’ s addictive !” Then there are the puzzles and colouring in books in front of the TV , plus gardening .
There ’ s sport too , Rachael and her husband ( once a Swans man ) are longtime AFL supporters .
They ’ re both GWS foundation members . Rachael follows the West Tigers and her husband is a Parramatta Eels supporter .
One of her saying is , “ Don ’ t sit down , don ’ t take your shoes off . If you do that , nothing gets done .”
They don ’ t make Bex anymore , but after hearing the description of her paid and unpaid contributions and relaxations , it ’ s time to take the shoes off , have a cup of tea and have a good lie down .
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 43 // OCTOBER 2024 7