What a busy year 2025/26 turned out to be. We have many aspects to be proud about. We set ourselves a number of goals to achieve this year and I thank our members here for creating them. A number of them were achieved, a few were not and a few can be rolled over to next year.
Let’s go for a deep-dive …
From a service point of view, our current service projects continued to thrive, resulting in a grand total of over 12,300 people benefitting from our projects such as the Hear Me Roar project, Xmas Spirit, Hutt St Centre breakfasts, Fred’s van BBQs, SAPOL Citizen of the Year award, Children of Courage awards, Blankets for the Homeless, Recycle for Sight and our newest project – the Kindness Project instigated in readiness for Xmas last year. This is an increase from around 5,000 people served by the end of last lion’s year. Congratulations everyone!
From a membership point of view, we started the year with 48 members, and our goal was to have 40 ‘active’ members. In 2025/26, we inducted 8 new members and regained a precious member, we only lost 4 members due to studies, work commitments or moving interstate, so we have finished this year with 53 members. The most pleasing fact of this number is that 40 of those members are active, the remaining are either our honorary members or Lions-at-large. Therefore, we met our goal.
From a leadership point of view, we wanted at least 1 member to attend the Regional Lions Leadership Institute. While a number of members were offered to go, one did attend, participate and thoroughly enjoy this course. We wanted at least 5 members to attend the Club Development Day training and 5 members did this.
From a marketing and PR point of view, we participated in Lions Awareness month by creating videos promoting why we love being Lions. The video that Scott, Lyn and Lily made, even drew attention from LCI. Love it!!! Part of marketing ourselves is to promote our club to the next generation. Even thought this wasn’t a goal of ours, Marilyn and I represented the club at the Volunteering SA/NT expo for international students, which was a wonderful opportunity to share what we do to more than a hundred younger people.
From a governance point of view, new policies for food safety and a grant application program have been created and implemented. Thank you to those members to contributed to those incredible aspects of our club.
While, we had a number of specific goals outlined and either met or not met, there are still a number of other ways that our members have contributed to our club’s success.
Our projects cannot be run without vital funds. Our fundraising team, through BBQ’s, cakes and puddings and mints, as well as receiving donations, worked really hard this year. For 2025/26, we raised over $31,000. Well done!!!!!
Through club discussions and member voting, we decided on donating funds to various organisations:
- Hutt St Centre
- Lions Assistance Dogs
- Diabetes SA
- SAHMRI scholarship
- Story dogs x 2
- SA School for Vision
- Access2Arts
- Cure Brain Cancer Foundation (Walk4Brain Cancer)
- The 201 MD Convention
- Backpacks for SA Kids
- Catherine House
- Beyond Blue
- Ronald McDonald House SA
- Treasure Boxes
Total amount in donations = over $36, 800.
A number of our members have gained exposure to Lions that goes beyond our club by attending various functions. Opportunities to attend the Regional Lions Leadership Institute, Club Development Day, the District Convention last October, hosted by our club along with Glenside and Adelaide Italian Lions Clubs led by Chair Leonie Varga, DG Ray and Treasurer John Standingford, the Multiple District convention also here in Adelaide in May and the ANZI Pacific forum in September last year on the Gold Coast provides different ways to interact with more Lions, learn about Lions and share the unique experience it is to be a Lion.
To say that our members have been engaged in our club and therefore have an impact on others is a massive understatement and I’m so proud of everyone.
The City of Adelaide Lions Club is just one club. We are one piece of our Zone, led by Zone Chair John Standingford. It’s our responsibility to actively participate in these meetings to share and learn with other clubs within our zone, so thank you John for having us and I am proud to say that we have participated strongly. Our club is just one cog in the bigger machine that is our District, led by now-Past District Governor Ray. During your year as District Governor, Ray you have shown us how we can all play our part in having an impact on others, whether that’s interacting with other clubs and other members, or delivering impactful service projects or helping a new fledgling club get off the ground. Thank you for your leadership for the last 12 months and we’re proud to say that you have represented the City of Adelaide Lions Club with distinction and honour.
So, I finish my report here by thanking you. I thank every member for your contribution to our club. I thank the partners of our members for supporting those members to do what they do. I thank those ‘friends of lions’ who help our cause without being members. I thank our guests here from other clubs supporting the projects that we do. I thank those who do all those things ‘behind-the-scenes’ that don’t get seen. I thank you all for the hours that you give and the heart and effort you show to make this club great and to make this club seen in our community. It’s truly appreciated.
One last thing to mention. It has, again, been an honour to lead this great club for a second time but it gives me greater pleasure to welcome our incoming President, Sajal, into this role. I can’t wait to see how you forge ahead and put your mark on this club and I simply wish you all the best. While there’s lots to learn, and no doubt it’ll come with all its rewards and frustrations, it’ll be a year like no other. Good luck!
Thank you everyone!
