Kiama Lions Club has helped resurrect the Junior Surf Boat Crew of Kiama Surf Club with a generous donation ahead of Lions Awareness Week.

Their cheque for $5,000 helped the team purchase a sweep oar, oars for the crew and their summer shirts.

“It’s good because it is nurturing the young ones. And in return, over the cooler months they have vowed to do some volunteering and work alongside us,” Secretary of Kiama Lions, Bobbie English, says.

To kickstart Lions Awareness Week, Kiama Lions is holding a Shellharbour Bunnings today, and will also be at the Kiama Beach Tag Event at Kendalls Beach, running the car park on Saturday (4 March) accepting gold coin donations.

From their iconic Bunnings Barbeques to their Return and Earn Scheme, 100 per cent of the money raised goes towards helping others.

“70 per cent of our money stays in our community, 20 per cent goes to our head office in Newcastle to help with disasters and 10 per cent goes internationally, to help with big disasters in the world,” Bobbie says.

Their money has helped victims of the 2019/2020 Victorian Bushfires – with a total of $3.5 million from The Lions Club International – and more recently, money has been sent to support Türkyie after the devastating earthquake.

Locally, President of Kiama Lions Peter Scifleet says, “What we have done for Kiama over the last 50 years is pretty wide reaching. We have just about supported everything.”

Whilst continuing to run their longstanding program, the Cancer Care Trust Fund, which supports local cancer sufferers and their carers, they also to raise money for local organisations and charities.  

Coming up, they will be raising money for Homestead of Hope at a Comedy for a Cause night held at Kiama Leagues Club in May.

Kiama Lions also support the community through non-fundraising events like their Driver Reviver scheme – which they have been running for 13 years – where they provide free tea or coffee and a biscuit to drivers over long weekends 

To continue their generous service and donations, Bobbie is urging people to come help their great organisation.

“It is the sense of giving back to the community, the friendships you make and the fun you have that make it all worth it,” she says.

“Even if you have a couple hours a month to come and help. You don’t have to join, you can just be a volunteer.”

To join or volunteer, call Bobbie on 0455 043 043.