By Kath Gannaway
To mark the Lions International centenary, Healesville Lions Club delivered grants of more than $40,000 to local community groups.
Presenting the grants to representatives of schools from Dixons Creek through to Woori Yallock, four CFA brigades, Healesville SES, kindergartens, men’s sheds, the tourist railway, Healesville Pony Club, Scouts, Guides and welfare groups including HICCI and Melba Support Services, Lions president Lindsay Frost said local community funding was a priority for Lions clubs around the world.
“$170 million, the bulk of money raised by clubs goes back to helping grow local communities world-wide,” he said.
The annual grants distribution dinner held at Healesville RSL on Wednesday, 26 July, was attended by more than 100 Lions and community members.
Mr Frost said in addition to the money handed out on the night, Lions had supported local community and Lions International projects with grants of an additional $20,000 during the year.
He thanked the volunteers who run the Lions Den Op Shop in Healesville, which raised majority of the funds, and all those who support the shop with donations and purchases.
Mr Frost said the 2016/’17 year had been one of the most exciting for the club in many years with the establishment of the Leo Club of Healesville High School which, he said, had some exciting projects in the pipeline.
He said the club was also looking forward to launching a project which would see a series of interpretive sculptures erected throughout Coronation Park that would each depict an element of the history of Healesville.
