Lions with pride
The Lions Club in Kangaroo Valley has a very big heart.
No task too small, none too enormous or daunting and members relish the opportunity to live by their motto, ‘we serve'.
The Village has not always been so fortunate to have these dedicated men and women, for it is only since 1990 that this Club was chartered. Membership of any Lions Club is by invitation and it is pleasing to note the calibre of those who have accepted this opportunity to give of themselves and their time to the improvement of community lifestyle.
I was delighted to meet with Franz and Lorraine Mairinger, whose dedication to Lions makes them worthy recipients of the highest Service Honour in the Organization: the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
Both Franz and Lorraine have wonderful stories to relate of the Lions led community fund raising efforts to secure notable facilities for the Shoalhaven district besides the town of Kangaroo Valley.
Many will remember the days when dialysis patients needed to be transported to Wollongong Hospital three times a week for life saving treatment.
The treatment was excellent the transport arduous.
The Lions changed all that.
The contributions by Federal, State and Local Governments to the necessary funding of any public facility is always welcome but to ensure that the project actually gets off the ground and indeed becomes a reality they is the need for determined community involvement.
The Lions Clubs of the Shoalhaven, united in their passion to raise sufficient money to build the Dialysis Centre at the Shoalhaven District Hospital.
The Kangaroo Valley Club instigated the project, secured a monetary pledge from Joanna Gash and galvanised the unflagging support of Barry McCaffrey from the local radio station, 2ST, the business community, especially McDonalds and the committed public into an unstoppable movement that achieved an amazing success.
$450,000 was raised.
The Centre is a triumph to determination and belief.
Another health matter loomed in the Valley in 1999.
The demountable building donated by Leighton Contractors in 1970 when the Tallow Dam was being constructed, was condemned by the Board of Works and no replacement was planned.
The Lions Club were at this time engaged in the successful tendering for the management of the local swimming pool to provide an upgraded facility for the residents, besides the usual community projects of driver reviver stations, firewood to the elderly and pre-school funding, Lions Youth of the Year, the King of the Mountain Fun Run, Anzac Day assistance, catering at the local Show and the maintenance of footpaths in the village.
So what was one more commitment?
A new Ambulance Station was a necessity and the community, true to form, rallied to the emotional call.
Money and services were readily donated to fulfil the costing of $400,000; no mean feat for a township of 1100 residents.
There was a Gala Day with a Celebrity Auction, Open Garden fund raisers, a Classic Car and Bike Show, Charity golf day, Celebrity day at the Pool, special events at the Friendly Inn, a Country and Western Concert, the Healthy Community Survey, door knocks and private donations and the sale of personalised pavers: all helped the attaining of this massive target.
At the Post Office a very large gauge board featured the ever increasing total of monies raised and encouraged an even greater effort from the community.
Nothing was going to stop this project!
The first sod was turned by the Mayor, Greg Watson on December 8, 2001, and the Ambulance Facility was temporarily located in the adjacent Rural Fire Station when the old building was demolished.
Lions to donate services FOC were: Chairman of Fund raising, Franz Mairinger and his able associates, Derek Lucas, architect David Cox, the builders Steve Keogh Constructions, Rob Griffiths the Consulting Engineer, Bruce Preston the Project Manager, Jim and Carolyn Green organized the plumbing, Mike Gorman, the electrics, while David Selby, Ray Pepper, Ron Casey and Allan Harvey were responsible for earth works, bricklaying, concreting and carpentry.
Backed by a large team of willing helpers, including the ‘oldest Lion', Peggy Synold, whose famous scones appeared at the site every weekend no matter what the weather; the project surged forward.
The triumphant Opening Day was May 22, 2004.
Well that project went well: what's next on the work agenda? How about a Volley Ball Court and a BMX track
The pride this village has in its Lions Club is testified by the unfailing support given to any project this magnanimous group of men and women decide is worthy of their involvement and it is with grateful thanks that the community of Kangaroo Valley raises three hearty cheers.
Franz has spent most of his adult life helping in a voluntary capacity with community projects. The Bowral Fire brigade, the Valley APEX, Show Committee, Rural Fire Brigade, Pioneer Park and Pony Club have all enjoyed his support.
For his determination and leadership in both the Dialysis Centre and Ambulance/Community Centre he was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 2005.
Lorraine, ever ready to support and encourage, has been a dominant member of the Show Committee, Rural Fire Service, Swimming Pool Committee, and Campaign Sight First which is a Lions Club International fund raising project to cure preventable blindness. Another wonderful project is the Spinal Cord Injury Research, where money is urgently needed.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to get injured young people out of wheel chairs!
Thank you both for the inspiring example you set as ‘pride of the Lion' in Kangaroo Valley.