The Lions Club of Winchelsea

"To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation".

The Lions Club of Winchelsea (Victoria) is a volunteer non-profit organisation working for the benefit of the local community and beyond. This website provides information on the Winchelsea Lions Club's activities and programs along with contact details and media information & resources. We also acknowledge and thank publicly our many benefactors, helpers, donators, and supporters. All comments, suggestions and queries most welcome, please see the Lions Club contacts page.

The aim of this website is to provide useful information and details - if there is anything you would like to see here, please let us know.

Walk, Run, Ride or Drive to Wensleydale

For 2009, the Lions Club of Winchelsea annual fundraiser from Winchelsea to Wensleydale will include walkers, runners, horse and bicycle riders and drivers. The Club invites the community to either sponsor a walker/runner/rider or be a sponsored walker/runner/rider - all proceeds are donated to the "Make A Wish" Foundation, an organisation that grants wishes to children with life threatening conditions.

The event will be held on Sunday November 1st, with two starting points depending on how far the sponsoree wishes to go;

1. from the Winchelsea Senior Citizens at 10am for walkers, 11am for runners and riders (12 kilometres distance)
   
2. the corner of Wurdale and Wormbete Station Roads (1 kilometre distances)
   

Drivers should arrive after 12 noon, and if you wish to drive there is a $5 entry fee per car.

The finishing point is 95 Wormbete Station Road in Wensleydale, where participants will be celebreated with a community BBQ, music by "Band on the Run", pony rides and a jumping castle. The famous Winchelsea Lions chuck wagon will also be on hand, with the Club providing meat, bread, salads, desserts, condiments, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Chairs, plates, cutlery and glasses will also be provided.

(If it rains on the day, arrangements have been made to relocate to Wurdale Hall)

The sponsorship form can be found in the Winchelsea Star or phone Murray (0409 405645) or Keith (0408 560070) for further information or forms. You can also download the Walk to Wensleydale sponsorship form here (as a PDF).

• Winchelsea Lions Club over the years have contributed greatly to the park along the Barwon River in Winchelsea - further to recent plans by Surf Coast Shire to (re)name the park to Stirling Park, the Lions Club have submitted to the shire that it be named "Lions Park" instead. A suggestion has been made that the bluestone bridge be named Stirling Bridge, as it is destined to be for pedestrian only.
• A major project has been decided for the Winchelsea Lions Club, namely the construction of netball change rooms.  A subcommittee is to be formed to direct the project. Local company High Tide recently constructed change rooms at Geelong's Queens Park, and based on this the project could be for a total of around $120,000.
• 24 tonnes recycled paper has just been dispatched by truck.
• A V2 District Lions promotion trailer is being put together for use by any club in the District, for the promotion of Lions in general. Winchelsea Lions Club supported the endeavour with a donation.
• Make A Wish will again be holding their Melbourne-Portland fundraising walk, passing through Winchelsea on 25 July make a wish coming thru Winch, as last year they'll be seeking accommodation overnight.
  

Another successful Youth of the Year contest was held by the Winchelsea Lions Club on Wednesday 25th February. Winchelsea's own Abbie Floyd and two students from Geelong Grammar School - Caitlin Matlock and Basil Mackinlay Campbell - made a competition of three.

The Youth of the Year Quest is a community project designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership qualities in young Australians. More than 2,000 people compete in the Quest each year, with winners making their way through zone, region, district, state and national finals.

In the afternoon of the Winchelsea Club final, prior to a meal and fellowship at the Winchelsea Senior Citizens rooms, the contestants were interviewed by three judges ; Mr Daryl Diment, Mrs Jody Fincham, and Mrs Helen Holdsworth. The Public Speaking segment proceeded from 7:30pm with Lions members, relatives & supporters and general public in attendance. Lions Club President Murray Leak welcomed everyone and introduced Region Chairman (and Past District Chairman) Lion Neville Mawson who read the Lions' Objects and then Youth of the Year Chairman Lion Russell Holloway in turn introduced the three judges and three contestants.

Basil was the overall winner to represent Winchelsea Lions Club at the Region judging held at Colac on March 3rd. Abbie Floyd was winner of the Public Speaking segment with a well-prepared and -presented 5 minute speech on the topic of bushfires and rules regarding vegetation near homes.

Caitlin was was presented with a certificate of participation and a Parker pen and pencil set. The experience and memory of the time at Winchelsea will for all three contestants be an enrichment for their future education.

Thanks were extended to parents and teachers, judges and contestants and to all who supported the Lions and made the event possible. Thanks also went to Shirley Leak and Cheryl Mawson and Lynette Henderson for attending to the kitchen and providing the supper. Lion Joe Burhman assisted Lion Neville Mawson as time-keeper and Lion Keith Henderson read the Lions Code of Ethics.

• The Winchelsea Lions Club "Walk To Wurdale" last October raised over $3,600 - the proceeds have been split between Make A Wish and  Breast Cancer
• Christmas lights were put up outside the Hesse Hospital in Winchelsea, and reportedly much appreciated by the residents
• The Lion Club's Santa made several visits through the Christmas season eg. the Kindergarten, dishing out lollies as he went - again, much appreciated!
• Youth of the Year is now recruiting for the 2012 competition, under-19s are encouraged to apply (contact the Lions Club if interested)
• Local police officer Graham duly completed his cycle ride from Geelong to Alice Springs (along with colleague Craig), raising over $8,500 for Movember - a 16-day ride covering 2,600km, some big hills and plenty of headwind.
• The Winchelsea Lions' paper recycling project continues to raise significant funds - $9,000 for over 50 tonnes most recently. Unwanted papers can be deposited at the Winchelsea Senior Citizens paper shed (left-hand corner of the property as you go into the carpark).
  

The Lions Club of Winchelsea is close to completing a project initiated by the Lions Club of Moriac (which has now been folded into the Winchelsea Lions Club) - the Moriac Avenue of Honour has had its trees pruned, and stainless steel plaques bearing the name and regimental information of each fallen soldier will be erected.

The Walk To Wurdale fundraising event for 2011 is coming up soon (October 23), with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Australia and the Dragons Abreast cancer support organisations. This year there will be a small $5 charge for entry to the food & entertainment at the other end of the walk (Winchelsea Senior Citizens to the Holdsworth residence in Wurdale).All welcome!

Winchelsea Lions Club is making a donation toward the Neighbourhood Watch "Schools Day", and will also once again be in attendance with the Chuck Wagon.

The Lions Club of Winchelsea is also sponsoring 1 child to Camp Licola