“My husband’s been a member for a number of years now,” Sonya said after her induction in May 2016.

“When he told me that the club was to increase its membership and was to bring female members in, I put my hand up and said, ‘Someone’s got to be first and that will be me’.” 

Sonya said she thought Lions was a great organisation that did important work for the community.

Lions Club embraces all individuals who want to use their creativity, enthusiasm and energy to make the district and beyond a better place.

 “I know through the years, many of the women who were associated with the Lions Club through their husband’s membership have done a lot to help out with various projects,” Sonya said.

“So I’m another set of hands that will be available for helping.”

Selling raffles on a Friday night at the hotel, early mornings at the markets and manning the barbecues are all things Sonya has been helping with as a Lions member.

“All the members get in and help out, and I won’t be any different,” she said.

Other clubs in the district have also been helping their communities.

The Bundarra Lions Club, with the help of The Lions District, secured a substantial grant from Lions Clubs International to assist with the establishment of The Grace Munro Aged Care Centre.

This facility has just 11 beds and is nestled on the banks of the Gwydir River in Bundarra.

“The Bundarra Lions secured an Australian Lions Foundation Grant for the purchase of a generator for The Grace Munro Centre,” Bundarra member John Schmidt said.

“We also cut and supplied the timber for the walkway over the Gwydir River at Bundarra.”

Each district has a governor; 

Meet our District Governor, with John Davis from the Lions Club of Tamworth being the governor for this district.

John has had extensive experience serving the community through various organisations.

He joined Lions in 1996 and was inducted as District Governor at the Lions Clubs International Convention held in Chicago earlier this year.

Across the country Lions members are serving their communities.

Clubs donated more than $100,000 to community projects throughout Australia through the Lions Australia’s Community 100 program.

Projects included support for people with dementia, sports programs to integrate refugees, resilience building workshops for at-risk youth.