THE Lions Club of Warwick has re-elected Con Lo Giudice as President at its annual changeover lunch at the Hawker Road Function Centre, Warwick Golf Club.
Fifty-five people gathered over a lunch to help celebrate the annual changeover, re-electing President Con Lo Giudice and putting in place the 2016-17 board.
The induction office was District 201Q1 Regional 6 chairman Lion Mark McCosker.
The new board for the 2016-17 are President (Con) Concetto Lo Giudice; 1st Vice President Jenny Rainbird; 2nd Vice President Clare Jeffries; Secretary John Griffith; Treasurer Jeff Ferguson; Membership Chairperson Heather Shillings; Directors Neville Mathews, Gary Clark, Halina Griffith, Cec Watts; Tail Twister Bob Lester; Lion Tamer Halina Griffith.
Other members include Bob Lindenberg, Bill Ritchie, Trevor Sheeran, Ros Keim, John Binney, Christine Costello and Deb Loxley.
Guests included Southern Downs MP Lawrence Springborg and SDRC Mayor Tracy Dobie and husband Colin.
Among other guest Lions were members from Warwick, Killarney, Stanthorpe, Tenterfield and Thornlands-Point Halloran as well as representatives from Warwick Rotary Club, Warwick Rotary Sunrise, SES, Zonta, Angel Flight and the CWA.
After lunch the President outlined in his annual club report the work, fundraisers and donations that were accomplished during the past year.
“On behalf of the Lions Club of Warwick I would like to thank the community for the support they gave us during the past year and, no doubt, they will support us again in years to come,” he said.
“Being re-elected President of this wonderful club, I’m pleased to say that I am so proud of my club members that we worked hard as a team, with our notable barbecue trailer we served the community with many functions.
“We co-operated at the monthly barbecue at Uber Market and Bunnings sausages sizzle. At each fund raiser we nominated a cause beneficiary and donated to the likes of cancers awareness, leukaemia, Angel Flight, RACQ Careflight, Blue Care, Akooramack, Australian Lions Children Cancer Research Foundation, and assisted giving donations to Warwick Rotary Sunrisers for a special chair for a disabled child.
“We supported Dungaree March, Friends of Jumpers and Jazz, Warwick and Killarney Chaplaincy, Rainbow FM Radio, CO-ID Fred Hyde, just to name a few.
“With our co-operation in working manning the gates at the Warwick Show, rodeos, and rodeo new year fireworks, Historic Leyburn Sprint and The Gladfield Driver Reviver we were determinate to fulfil our duty helping the community in need.
“Our work and duty also extended to working with Lions programs like the YOTY and Lions Youth Exchange operated at Lions level, locally, district, Australian Lions and Lions Clubs International,” he said.
The President officiated at a line of presentations to Lions members with their annual 100 per cent pin attendance and certificates.
A special award, the Club Lion of the Year, went to Lion Bob Lindenberg, the Treasurer award to Lion Jeff Ferguson, Secretary Award and also the James D Richardson Humanitarian award to John Griffith.
Two special award went to guests, Graham Buchner the Club Lion Citizen Award for work in the community, and the Lions Appreciation award to Charlie and Di Sullivan for their continues support to the Warwick Lions Club.
Installation Officer Mark McCosker presented the President with the Centennial President award.
The President said for the coming year two majors project that the Lions Club of Warwick intends to take on are to revive trees planting and name tags on the Remembrance Lane along the north side of Queens Park and a Memorial Sandstone monumental at Mile End Park in memory of past local Lions members. Both projects are under discussion with SDRC park management.
He said that during the past year the Lions Club Warwick had carried out more than 120 activities and services, worked nearly 3000 Lions hours, fundraised just over $16,000 and donated a well praised $17,795.
It has also collected and recycled 2300 pairs of spectacles and sunglasses for the Lions Sight First program.
