Kiama Lions Club is disappointed that its Return and Earn Bins at The Pavilion have been vandalised and the bottles stolen for the second time.

Around $10,000 a year is made from the bins - which are filled up with empties from functions - with Lions donating the funds raised to charities, schools, and any groups that need help.

Secretary of the Kiama Lions Club, Bobbie English, says the money can help fund research into diabetes, eyesight and spinal cure, as well as local projects such as helping children with degenerative muscular problems and people who cannot afford cancer treatment. 

“The money we get from this spreads far and wide in this community,” Bobbie says.

This time the specially marked bins have had the lids blow torched off to steal the contents. Workers at The Pavilion spotted the culprits leaving in a Hilux, which added salt to the wound for Bobbie.

“It is a shame that members and volunteers put in a lot of effort in and then someone in a decent car comes along and steals from us,” she says.

“These people need to wake up to themselves. There are people far worse off than they are.”

One of the blowtorched bins

The Kiama Lions Club are currently in search of new members and Bobbie is worried people may think twice about joining if someone less deserving will be benefiting from their hard work.

“It is just disappointing that so many people give up their time and then have someone do this,” Bobbie says.

Bobbie and Ron Micallef, a Board Member of the Kiama Lions Club, will be taking the issue to Council in the hope of getting hidden cameras installed.