About Lions in WA

For the History Buff’s

The HISTORY of LIONS in Western AUSTRALIA

With the formation of the City of Perth Lions Club on 22nd September 1962 it was the beginning of Service to the Community of many Lions Clubs in Western Australia. The Celebration of Charter was held on 10th November 1962 and, after an inspiring address, the Charter Certificate bearing the signature of the World President of Lions International, was presented by District Governor Bill Tresise to the first Lions Club in Western Australia. It was during this same month of November 1962, when the Empire Games were held in Perth, that the Lions Club of the City of Perth was added to the many Chartered Clubs in the District 201C – the largest geographical district in the world of Lionism.

With the formation of the Victoria Park Lions Club on 17th April 1963 followed by Morley Lions Club on 14th November 1963, Bunbury Lions Club on 11th February 1964, Fremantle Lions Club on 21st February 1964, Melville Lions Club on 13th June 1964 it can be visualised the early days were very hectic. Originally, as mentioned above, the District was 201C but, by having been chartered by the Lions Club of Adelaide Light, it changed to 201F. By the time Clubs came into existence during 1964-65, the District was 201J. It was not until 1968 that the City of Perth were granted, by Lions International, the title of Host Club.

This early Extension program into Western Australia was instigated by Lions International Australian Secretary Jim McLardie ably supported by Lion Joe Mason who, in 1966 was appointed International Representative. Because of Joe Mason’s personal effort in having a finger in the pie in almost every one of the first 30 Clubs, Lions International presented him with the Supreme Extension Award.

The Lions Clubs of Morley and Fremantle were involved in the banning of Fireworks 1964-65, holding instead a Lions Cracker Carnival at the Claremont Showgrounds which was very well supported in that and the following years. The Lions Club of Perth set up a Glaucoma testing Caravan and in a period of four weeks (to approx. 30th June 1967), during which the Clinic visited Perth, Floreat, Cottesloe, and Fremantle, of the 4076 persons tested, 43 cases of Glaucoma were detected.

As South Australia had become District 201J, in their own entity, the Western Australia Clubs became Region 3 of that District with, initially, Bevan Rutt as their District Governor. A one and only Regional Convention, hosted by Victoria Park Lions Club and managed by then District Governor John Le Cornu, was held in 1966 and, at that Convention, City of Perth member Malcolm Levinson was elected District Governor 1966-67, attending the 49th International Convention in New York to be Officially installed. Also elected at the Regional Convention was the City of Perth Lions Club as Hosts for the first District Convention 201L in 1967. WA had become a District, namely 201L. At that time there were over 30 Clubs in the 201L District, increasing when Ken Scampton was District Governor 1967-68, increasing once again to over 45 Clubs when Tom Cameron was District Governor 1968-69, then to over 50 Clubs when Dr Jack Hoffman was District Governor 1969-70.

In 1964 Dr Robert Linton AM had established the State division of Australian Foundation for Prevention of Blindness. Then in 1970 at the 201L Albany District Convention the Delegates successfully debated to set up a Lions Save Sight Foundation and in January 1971 this Foundation came into existence. In 1975 the Lions Chair in Ophthalmology at UWA followed with Professor Ian Constable AO at the helm. It was not until the year 1983 that the Lions Eye Institute came into existence, followed by the Lions Eye Bank in 1986, then other Lions eye projects and in 2013 the Lions Outback Vision Van with the Lions Outback Vision Kimberly Hub starting in 2021.

In 1966 the Lions Christmas Cake Project had its beginnings, the first Lions Save Sight Christmas Cakes (as called then) were baked by Big Sister and were 3lb Cakes. In 1975 the cakes became ‘metric’ and converted to the 1.5 kg cake. Available now are a 1.5kg, 1kg cake, 900g, 400g Christmas Puddings, 80g Lions Mini Cakes slices which gives all Clubs the chance to have a fund-raising project, big or small as they are extremely popular with the public.

By the year 1970-71 when Mac Mitchell was District Governor the number of Clubs had increased to over 50 and 1971-72 saw District Governor Terry Price having to travel to over 65 Clubs from Esperance in the

South, Kalgoorlie in the East and Wyndham in the North. A decision was made to split Western Australia into two Districts, 201L and 201R, so in 1972 Brian King was District Governor 201L with 34 Clubs and Dr John Meehan as District Governor 201R with approx. 36 Clubs. In the 1977/78-year 201L became 201W1 District with Alex Moore as District Governor and 201R became 201W2 District with Joe Thompson as District Governor.

In 1972 the Scarborough Lions Club took out a Lease agreement for the Dryandra Woodland Village and with the help of other Clubs set about restoring the Cottages for use, initially, by disadvantaged children. As the upkeep became too difficult, the Lease eventually was handed over to become the District’s projects and to this day there is a volunteer Lions Board together with the Caretakers who handle the bookings.

In 1974 the Miss Personality Quest commenced, ceasing 1996/97 but raising millions of dollars which were donated to Foundations such as Lions Save Sight Foundation, Australian Kidney Foundation and so on but also giving many young ladies the opportunity to be involved in development, confidence and awareness.

In 1977 the Lions Help to Hear Foundation commenced, changing its name later to the Lions Hearing Foundation. It was spearheaded by Arthur and Lorna Dodd who traveled the State in a Mobile Hearing Bus. Today the legacy continues through the Ear Science Institute Australia which operates the Lions Hearing Clinics. There is still a Lions Hearing Bus which travels the State, their volunteers committed to testing for hearing problems, especially amongst the people of country towns, who cannot access such very easily.

In 1978 the magazine West Lion came into existence, originally black and white, eventually colour. The original editor was Murray Fletcher a position he held for 17 years, another Editor of note was Graham Madigan. Unfortunately The West Lion magazine does not exist anymore.

In 1983 PDG Joe Mason introduced the Children of Courage Award, especially designed to recognize and honour the courage and bravery of children with Special Needs, a special day being held every year. Other Districts have now acknowledged this project by holding such a day or a special camp. In 1984 Lion Noel Smith introduced Camp Quality to this State, the Lions underwriting each camp which provided an unforgettable childhood experience in their fight against Cancer.

In 1989 the Lions Cancer Institute was formed, being Incorporated the following year. The Lions Cancer Institute (Inc.) is involved in two major projects: a) a Mobile Screening Unit which travels the country with Volunteers screening the public for skin cancers / Melanoma’s. b) supporting PhD & Honors students studying Cancer with a Grant through the Karen & Joshua Chinnery Memorial Scholarship.

In 1991-92 District Governor Rick Sullivan introduced the Lions Exemplary Awards, which recognized the dedicated and outstanding service given by non-Lion volunteers in our Communities. Over many years there has been Foundations and Projects set up, one being the Western Australia Lions Drug Education Foundation (WALDEF) which now has become the Western Australian Lions Wellbeing Foundation Inc. Others to mention are Lions Alzheimer’s Foundation, Lions Children Mobility Foundation, Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP), ALCCRF, Lions Assistance Dogs, Lions Beacon of Light.

The Leo (an acronym of Leadership, Experience & Opportunity) program which is a project of Lions caters for young people of ages up to 30, being divided into two groups Alpha (12 to 18) and Omega (18-30). They are a very active group of young members, having their own elected Officers, projects and comps. Over the years other youth projects of Lions have been set up, they being Youth of the Year, Junior Public Speaking, Peace Poster and the Lions Festival for Disadvantaged Children.

In 2009-10 the leadership of Lions was changed from a District Governor, Vice District Governor to a District Governor, 1st Vice District Governor, 2nd Vice District Governor but it was not until 2015-16 that these Officers shared visitations to Clubs with the District Governor.

In 2011/12 the Myalup Pines Cottages were leased from Dept of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions by District 201W2, District Representative being PDG Arthur Bushe-Jones,. Since then the cottages have been upgraded, there is also a Lions Board of Management and Caretakers on-site.

July 2012 Lion Ray Zinner wrote to every Club in both Districts that, as a Celebration of 50 years of Lionism in Western Australia, we are establishing the WA Lions Hall of Fame. This led to in 2020 PDG Clive Reid suggesting the Western Australia Lions Club Archival, Historical Committee (WALCHAC) being set up so as to retain the history of Clubs, long-serving member’s stories etc which in turn has led to the setting up of Website ‘My Collecting Bug’ by Committee member Lion John Clare. The District has so much history to retain and, in doing so, acknowledge Tim Irvine who was International Director 2022-24, Ambrose Depiazzi OAM Council Chair 1980-81, Ian Kelly OAM Council Chair 1993-94, PCC Tony Zajer 1995-96 and Tom Carlson APM Council Chair 2001-02.

In 2022, due to the closing over the years of Clubs and declining Membership a Notice of Motion was put to the 2022 Conventions of both the 201W1 & 201W2 Districts that the Amalgamation of District 201W1 & 201W2 into a single District commencing on 25th June 2024 on rising of Lions International Convention be voted on. It was approved and the new District became 201WA, the first 201WA District Governor being Mary-Anne WOLF and with 1st VDG Tom Oversby and 2nd VDG Roslyn Barnes shared in the visitation of Clubs, ranging from southeast Esperance, east Kalgoorlie & Hannan’s and north Broome and all Clubs in between.