The Lion’s club celebrated Christmas at the Lions Carers Cottage on Tuesday 10 December, with members from Kiama, Minnamurra, and Gerringong joining the festivities. 

The event also marked a significant milestone for the club, the signing of a new five-year lease for the property. 

The Lions Carers Cottage is a welcoming retreat in Kiama, dedicated to providing respite for carers. It was once a neglected Council-owned house that had stood vacant for 30 years. However, with the help of the Kiama, Gerringong, and Minnamurra Lions Clubs, along with local businesses, it was rebuilt five years ago into a modern and accessible holiday house.

Kiama Lions Club David Tyson and John Larkins

Lions Club President Cheryl Moses shared the club’s pride in the cottage and its success in hosting carers regularly since its opening in 2019. Cheryl, who also manages the cottage, said she enjoys seeing regular guests who stay every month and building relationships with them.

Cheryl highlights one of the main benefits of the cottage which is that it was designed to give carers a break in whichever way best suits them. This means carers can come alone, with friends, with the person they care for, or have the person they care for stay at the cottage with a different carer. 

Lions Club members cooking the barbeque

The Lions Carers Cottage is now happy to offer NDIS participants and their carers the opportunity to use the cottage's facilities through NDIS funding. 

The Lions Club credited Kiama Council for its invaluable support throughout the project, while also thanking local MP Gareth Ward for his contributions and the volunteers who made the project possible.