Richmond Lions celebrate 65th anniversary
By Greg Martin
Members of Richmond Lions had much to be proud of when members and guests attended the 65th anniversary of the club ’ s founding in 1957 .
After being welcomed to the celebratory lunch at Richmond Golf Club on August 28 by new president , Scott Hinks and then , long-time secretary and 50-Year Pin man , Roger Sherrington , had much delight in recounting the continued amazing impact the club has on our community . More on that later .
Along to celebrate the auspicious occasion were the club ’ s 35 members and a host of invited guests including Lions District Governor , Vin Pang , Robyn Preston , the State Member for Hawkesbury , and yours truly who had the honour of representing Independent Group of
On hand to share in the anniversary celebrations were Michelle Said , the principal of South Creek School , Belinda Bristol ( principal ) and Carmel Hassan ( assistant principal ) of Windsor South Public school . Both schools are recipients of Richmond Lions ’ largesse . Photo : Kathryn Johnston
Magazines publisher , Julie Ryan . Two of Roger Sherrington ’ s fellow Richmond Lions Club Life Members were also along to share in the celebrations – his wife , Di , and Bray Myers .
All in attendance feasted on a superb meal and helped themselves to a hefty slice of the birthday cake .
Richmond Lions Club was formed on August 12 , 1957 , when 29 new members attended a charter dinner at the old Kurrajong Heights Hotel .
Now back to Roger ’ s recounting of the good deeds Richmond Lions has performed over the two dreadful past couple of years in which fires , floods and Covid have impacted our community .
On funds raised through hard work by all members at the regular Richmond Lions Club Markets and raffles , somehow this wonderful club has managed over the past two years to donate a whopping $ 250,000 to victims of the recent inundations .
That takes the amount of money raised over the past 65 years to in excess of $ 2 million – every one of which is plowed back into our community !
“ After the 2021 floods , $ 100,000 was donated to various bodies to allocate funds to flood victims and this year , we were able to provide $ 150,000 to Peppercorn to allocate the monies to worthwhile recipients ,” Roger said .
Roger said Peppercorn ’ s Recovery Support Services was perfectly placed to ensure those in most need of assistance were offered prompt support .
Other recent major donations by the club were $ 80,000 to purchase a 12-seater Toyota Commuter bus for South Creek School at Riverstone , and $ 35,000 to enable Richmond ’ s Women ’ s Cottage to renovate the kitchen and amenities .
The Women ’ s Cottage has been supporting women and children since 1983 .
The Women ’ s Cottage is a community-based crisis support and resource centre , run by women , for women ( and their children ) who live , work or study in the Hawkesbury region . It specialises in supporting women , with or without children , experiencing domestic violence , isolation , financial distress , parenting distress and other forms of emotional distress or trauma .
South Creek School currently has nine Multicategorical classes that specialise in nurturing the potential of students with disability including Autism , intellectual and physical disabilities .
“ This is a true Godsend for us ,” school principal , Michelle Said , told the guests .
“ The amazing generosity of Richmond Lions will enable us to enable our students to be more inclusive of a number of activities which has been denied them due to lack of suitable transport .”
Roger informed the assembled guests that one of the most satisfying community
They had their cake – and they ate it too ! Members of Richmond Lions Club weren ’ t moving too far away from the 65th anniversary cake . The dishing out of the cake rounded off a memorable lunch for members and invited guests . Photo : Kathryn Johnston
projects Richmond Lions has initiated is the end-of-term barbeque lunches at Windsor South Public School .
“ We approached Windsor South ’ s inspirational principal , Belinda Bristol , who is with us today along with her assistant principal , Carmel Hassan , about organising the lunches to help promote student attendance , and the move has been an outstanding success ,” Roger explained .
“ At the end of each of the four terms , we put on a barbeque for all students who have achieved at least a 90 per cent attendance rate over that term .
“ When we commenced the project two years ago , the average attendance rate was just 40 per cent so obviously , school staff , the students ’ families and we Lions are over the moon with the huge increase in school attendance .”
Those Richmond Lions – they just keep on roaring !
18 ISSUE 148 // SEPTEMBER 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT