A Corporate Review of The Lions Club of the City of Adelaide

A chance December, 1960 meeting of local businessman, John Minks, and visiting Sydney Lion, Henning Harders, was to lay the foundation of what was destined to become the first Lions Club in S.A., and the 201st in Australia.

Subsequent to this brief encounter, John was encouraged to pursue the possibility of forming the first Lions Club west of the Victorian border. Enlisting the assistance of Lions International Secretary Jim McLardie, and with the blessing of Premier, Sir Thomas Playford, Lord Mayor, Jack Glover, and International Director, Bill Berge-Phillips, a meeting of possible members was convened on April 26th, 1961, at Adelaide’s Richmond Hotel.

Having been enthused by Jim McLardie’s presentation of the aims and objects of the Lions movement, those in attendance unanimously agreed to meet again on May 31st, 1961 with each encouraged to bring another potentially interested member. That gathering of service-minded men readily endorsed the formation of The Lions Club of the City of Adelaide, which took place at a further meeting on June 28th, 1961. The meeting also decided that meetings would be convened as luncheons, on the first and third weeks of the month, and that Adelaide City Councillor Bevan Rutt, OBE, and John Minks be elected as Charter President and Secretary, respectively.

The Club’s Charter Presentation Dinner was held at the Myer Apollo Restaurant on September 30th, 1961, with 236 in attendance, including 130 Lions and their Ladies from 19 Eastern State’s Lions Clubs. The Charter was presented to Charter President, Bevan Rutt OBE by 201C District Governor Dr Howard Waters. Bevan was also to become the first District Governor of 201J. A table flag set was presented to the Club by our sponsor, the Lions Club of Melbourne.

A prime responsibility as the first Club in S.A. was to form new Clubs, and within the space of three days, in April, 1962, four new Clubs were formed, including Marion, Burnside, Edwardstown and Adelaide Light. The following year we became the mother Club of the City of Perth and Mount Gambier. Tea Tree Gully, Renmark and Loxton followed in 1964, plus Stirling Districts in 1966 and Kangaroo Island in 1969. Between 1976 and 2000 we formed a further four Clubs, including the City of Adelaide Lioness Club, the first Lioness Club in Australia. Sadly, each of these latter Clubs have returned their Charter, but during their existence provided various worthwhile support to their communities.

Throughout its 60-year history of continuous service to the community, and to those less fortunate, the Club has been involved in an ever-expanding variety of projects and activities. It also takes pride in its reputation for excellence in the organisation of Conventions, special events, meetings and various fund-raising opportunities.

However, facing the difficulty of attracting new and possibly younger members in order to maintain its level of community service in 2012/13, the Club took the momentous step of welcoming willing members of the female gender in March 2013 – the first being Lion Petrea Stacey, who has since been joined by other service-minded women.

From this historic decision, the Lions Club of the City of Adelaide has not only maintained, but actually increased its members enabling the continuance of the club’s proud tradition of service to the community and to Lions International projects – “We Serve”.

Our Club has a current membership numbering around 65. The Club is very fortunate to include three (3) Honorary Members: The Governor of South Australia, the Lord Mayor of Adelaide and the South Australian Police Commissioner.

Another historical occasion for the club occurred on July 1st, 2019 when The Lions Club of the City of Adelaide inducted their first female president, Lion Petrea Stacey, at the club’s annual handover.

 

Download Faith, Hope & Charity (a 50 year history)

60 Years of Lionism
Hutt Street Breakfast
Lions Hearing Dogs
lions christmas cakes
Past Club Presidents
City of Adelaide Lions Past Presidents
  • 1961-62 – Bevan Rutt (dec’d)
  • 1962-63 – Ron Hone (dec’d)
  • 1963-64 – Maurice Bednall (dec’d)
  • 1964-65 – Norman Lewis (dec’d)
  • 1965-66 – John Minks (dec’d)
  • 1966-67 – Jack Gerard (dec’d)
  • 1967-68 – Bob O’Neil (dec’d)
  • 1968-69 – Mick Connelly (dec’d)
  • 1969-70 – Tom O’Dea (dec’d)
  • 1970-71 – Roy King (dec’d)
  • 1971-72 – Harry Green (dec’d)
  • 1972-73 – Alex Tanner (dec’d)
  • 1973-74 – Gar Hone (dec’d)
  • 1974-75 – Gerald Gask (dec’d)
  • 1975-76 – Brian Carter (dec’d)
  • 1976-77 – David Noblett (dec’d)
  • 1977-78 – Graham Higgs (dec’d)
  • 1978-79 – Bill Girdler (dec’d)
  • 1979-80 – Allan Sloan (dec’d)
  • 1980-81 – Bill Bowden (dec’d)
  • 1981-82 – Dean Scott OAM
  • 1982-83 – Roger Haydon
  • 1983-84 – Noel Gully (dec’d)
  • 1984-85 – Maurice Minervini
  • 1985-86 – Bill Monks
  • 1986-87 – C Hunter/M Bailey (dec’d)
  • 1987-88 – Grant Minervini
  • 1988-89 – John White (dec’d)
  • 1989-90 – J Phelps-Richard (dec’d)
  • 1990-91 – Warren Wood
  • 1991-92 – Joe Grande
  • 1992-93 – Gary Loxton (dec’d)
  • 1993-94 – Noel Browne (dec’d)
  • 1994-95 – Noel Browne (dec’d)
  • 1995-96 – Gordon Pickhaver (dec’d)
  • 1996-97 – PDG Brian Carter (dec’d)
  • 1997-98 – Geoffry Wilson (dec’d)
  • 1998-99 – Ray Dix (dec’d)
  • 1999-00 – Ray Dix (dec’d)
  • 2000-01 – Geoff Fox
  • 2001-02 – G Fox / A Sloane (dec’d)
  • 2002-03 – Allan Sloan (dec’d)
  • 2003-04 – Robin Coleman
  • 2004-05 – Ray Dix (dec’d)
  • 2005-06 – Don Germein
  • 2006-07 – Don Germein
  • 2007-08 – Geoff Wilson (dec’d)
  • 2008-09 – Ray Dix (dec’d)
  • 2009-10 – Robin Coleman
  • 2010-11 – Dean Scott OAM
  • 2011-12 – Dean Scott OAM
  • 2012-13 – PDG Tony Pederick OAM
  • 2013-14 – PDG Tony Pederick OAM
  • 2014-15 – PDG Tony Pederick OAM
  • 2015-16 – PDG Tony Pederick OAM
  • 2016-17 – Lindsay Miller
  • 2017-18 – Andrew Stacey
  • 2018-19 – Andrew Stacey
  • 2019-20 – Petrea Stacey
  • 2020-21 – Petrea Stacey