The Lions Club of Yarrawonga celebrated its 58th Changeover at ClubMulwala recently. Members and partners along with guests from other Lions clubs and organisations witnessed the installation of the new board for the 2023-24 year.
President Jock McDonald, Secretary Debbie Van Corler and Treasurer Nora Reynen are the clubs executives and Phil Oliver, Gavan Foy, Joan Tufvesson, Don McPhee, Diane Richardson, John Ellis, George Plumb, Ollie Tufvesson, Andrew Tomes, Graeme Hodgins and Gus Sanders fill the board positions.
Past President Joan Tufvesson said that she is a great believer in passing on gratitude, appreciation, acknowledging and recognising what individuals do.
“A club is successful because of the efforts put in by everyone, whether it is members, partners, families and friends of Lions,” Ms Tufvesson said.
Joan then enjoyed presenting three Chris August Memorial Awards which honour a Lion whose service and community spirt has gone far beyond the call of his/her duty. Congratulations to recipients Lions John Weinert, Jock McDonald and Nora Reynen.
Lion Debbie Van Corler was presented with a “Barry J Palmer Fellow” award. This award was in recognition of Debbie’s passion and devotion to her Free Chemotherapy Turban Project which has been running since 2015 and this month dispatched it 60,000th free item, which is made up of turbans, men’s caps, PCA and Kewl Kidz bandannas.
The activities of the past 12 months were displayed on a powerpoint presentation whilst Joan thanked members for their involvement and highlighted some of the disbursements the club made to local groups and organisations.
The installation of the new board was conducted by District Governor Neil Stuart and incoming President Jock was then presented with the gong and gavel and spoke on his plans for the upcoming year.
Jock then presented Joan with a Past Presidents pin and broach.
To wrap up the evening Secretary Debbie Van Corler and President Jock McDonald then called on Past President Joan Tufvesson and made a presentation of a “Melvin Jones Fellowship”.
This fellowship award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.
A huge thank you to everyone who was involved with the club in the past and the Yarrawonga Lions look forward to working together in the coming years.