Flinders District Lions Club
Flinders Lions President – Monica Holland
Secretary – Elaine Franklin
Treasurer – Neville Kent
Useful Contacts and Links:
Facebook link – https://www.facebook.com/Flindersdistrictlions/
Email address –secretary@flindersdistrictlions.com.au
Flinders Motoring Heritage link – https://www.fmh.flindersdistrictlions.com.au/home
FLINDERS LIONS HAS BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
FOR THE YEAR AHEAD 2023-2024
It is with great pride we announce our Leadership Team for 2023-2024 and share some of the highlights and funding support we have been able to provide with the wonderful support of the Flinders and wider community.
President: Monica Holland
Secretary: Elaine Franklin
Treasurer: Neville Kent
Immediate Past President: Mark Holland
Club Co-Chairs: Peter Israel and John McGrath
Communications: Merrin Munroe
Advisory Legal: Sue Spicer
Advisory Finance: Duncan Fischer
Key Project Chair-Charity Golf Day: John Rex
Key Project Chair-Flinders Motoring Heritage: Mark Holland
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
Lions Clubs celebrated the 75th year of Lions in Australia in October. The first Lions Club in Australia was established in Lismore NSW.
Flinders Lions conducted our celebratory Annual Community Dinner at the Flinders Golf Club in October with Guest Speaker Professor Frank Oberklaid, AM. Frank’s conviction has led to incredible advances in Children’s Mental Health and development.
National Breast Cancer Foundation Pink Ribbon Cocktail Party Event
It was the 9th year Flinders Lions have supported this event. Leading Community NBCF Ambassador Diane Micallef was Guest Speaker and over $14,000 was raised from the event.
Parking Portfolio
Flinders Lions continues to support Red Hill Lions with the Red Hill Market parking and Red Hill Show. Together with ‘contract parking’ at various events such as Pier to Pinot, Montalto & Tucks’ Winery events, this area of operations provides a very important part of our annual fund raising and support so many organizations in need.
The SPLaSh Project
The Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower Project (SPLaSh) was conceived by Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS) organization.
Flinders Lions responded to SPCS’s identified need to provide rough sleepers with a stronger sense of dignity, growing trust, and connection through something as simple as a hot shower, clean clothes, and food to eat.
The Club facilitated the funding for a mobile laundry and shower van to assist SPCS augment their existing programs. The van was built by JAYCO and with the generous support of donors, the Australian Lions Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Lions Clubs of McCrae, Dromana, and Rye more than $60,000 was raised to complete this Project. Mazda Mornington also loaned the use of a vehicle to tow the van to the areas of most need on the Southern Peninsula.
A further need was identified for a replacement vehicle to tow the van. With the generous support of MAZDA Mornington and sponsorships and donations for the vehicle via our Flinders Motoring Heritage event, 2024, funding of a new vehicle is well progressed.
ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF DAY
The Club conducted its 35th Annual Charity Golf Day in March at the Flinders Golf Course with a full field of players followed by a wonderful luncheon where ‘winning golf teams and individuals’ smiled on receipt of their prizes!
This is a very popular and most enjoyable event and a record of over $25,000 was raised.
As part of our Annual Distribution of fundraising these funds were provided to registered organizations on the Peninsula who support the most vulnerable people, and in particular the homeless and those in need of food and educational assistance.
FLINDERS MOTORING HERITAGE
On Easter Sunday we conducted our 8th Flinders Motoring Event.
Over 1100 people attended in the village of Flinders and with the combined funds from the 2022 and 2023 events of $71,000 was raised to refurbish the gardens and an interactive ‘village’ garden spaces at the Flinders Ward of the Mornington Centre. The facility benefits patients with dementia and related cognitive issues recovering from surgery.
This garden design project was the first of its type in Victoria’s Public Health System.
ANZAC Day
This was the third year Flinders Lions have coordinated the ANZAC March and Service at the War Memorial Park on behalf of the newly merged Crib Point-Flinders RSL sub-branch.
The guest speaker was the now retiring Lt Commander of West Head Gunnery range, Peter Arnold, OAM. Dr Neil Hallam, one of our Lions members, was the MC.
A crowd of over 500 attended.
A New AED for the Community
The Flinders Lions were able to secure a new AED following a sponsorship application to Bendigo Bank – Community Bank Balnarring & District to fund this important equipment for the community.
It has been mounted in a box outside the Flinders General Store for 24/7 access by the Community.
Annual Funds Distributions
You may wonder where the funds you so generously help us raise are disbursed. We are pleased to advise we have concentrated on the most vulnerable in our community and the homeless on the Peninsula. We also aided with education programs for the most vulnerable in Hastings and surrounds.
In the past twelve months just over 85% of our funds raised went to Mornington Peninsula needs.
The Club also gave important support to Lions Disaster Relief Appeals and Lions Foundations for Medical Research.
We extend our sincere thank you and appreciation to everyone who helped make the year rewarding and assisted us in being able to improve other people’s lives.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS 2023 – 24
The following events are planned for the year ahead.
LIONS COMMUNITY DINNER
To be held on Friday 13 October at The Flinders Golf Club.
The guest speaker will be Professor Srikanth, Director of Peninsula Health Research and National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) at the Ngarnga Centre.
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
A cocktail event will be held on Monday 27 November with Guest Speaker Associate Professor Heather Thorne, OAM.
LIONS 36TH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF DAY
This annual event will be conducted on Monday 4 March 2024.
FLINDERS MOTORING HERITAGE 2024
On Easter Sunday 31st March 2024 we will host our 9th annual Motoring Heritage event with a display of unique veteran, vintage, classic and modern motor cars.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT FLINDERS LIONS
For all enquiries about our events, or to learn more about Flinders Lions, contact :