After 17 years, Nagambie Lions Club has folded due to low membership, coronavirus restrictions and lack of community support.
In 2002, the Tatura Lions Club came to a public meeting to see if a new club could be established, then the Seymour Lions Club was handed the task of sponsoring Nagambie to form a new club.
It took two years to get one going and at a gala night at the Mechanics’ Institute in May 2004, the new Lions Club of Nagambie and District Inc was chartered with 21 members.
It joined one of the largest service club organisations in the world, which has more than one million active members.
In 2006, Jayco’s Gerry Ryan donated a new caravan to the club to use for catering in all weather and at local projects, regattas and activities such as the New Year’s Eve fireworks and monthly markets.
Sadly, the small band of women left in the club, who have worked tirelessly for the past few years, could not keep the club operational.
The club could not recruit enough new members to sustain its operation, so it was disbanded in November.
Club president Marlene Brew said lack of support was the final nail in the coffin.
“Due to lack of male members, the ladies could not tow the caravan to the local markets, regattas, or conduct barbecues,” she said.
“So we had no choice but to fold, as a Lions Club should have around 15 to operate efficiently. We only had a few ladies in the end.
“Now the Lions Club has handed over the responsibility of the Lions caravan to GoNagambie, who will ensure the community will be able to benefit from this caravan.”
Over the years, the Lions Club of Nagambie and District Inc saw many members come and go, and the group’s skills, talents and support of the community was well known.
The club started Carols by Candlelight in the mid 2000s, ran trivia nights and barbecues, assisted with the NOW Festival, catered for garage and clearing sales and New Year’s Eve fireworks nights to raise funds for its projects.
It also supported the Australia Day awards activities with catering, and collected for the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
It attended Lions district conventions and in the early years it supported the Driver Reviver projects on major holiday weekends. The club also donated awards to the local schools at the end of each year.
During its 17 years, the club donated most of the funds it raised back into its local community and Lions projects. That total would be close to $100,000.