The Lions Club of Winchelsea

Winchelsea Lions Club's ongoing Paper Recycling Project regularly yields significant proceeds - this fundraiser is a valuable contribution to the Club's income, pooled for use for a range of community benefits on a local, regional and national basis.

Under the guidance of Lion Hugh McCallum, old newspapers and magazines are collected in the shed next to the Winchelsea Senior Citizens building (in Harding Street) and sorted into bundles. About every other month, all this recyclable paper is loaded into a large truck and sent off to Colac for recycling. The Winchelsea Lions Club receives a payment per tonne collected, the amount of which varies according to market rates.

Community support for the Paper Recycling Project has consistently been excellent. All Winchelsea residents are encouraged to save up their newspapers and magazines (if possible tied in bundles using string) and to deposit them in the paper shed for recycling. The shed can be found at the back left corner of the Senior Citizen's Club carpark.

The Council does provide recycling bins, however by giving the paper to the Lions Club, the local community-service organisation is able to raise additional funds for local use. Accordingly, taking recycling paper to the shed is an easy way to make a local community contribution!

Another successful Youth of the Year contest was held by the Winchelsea Lions Club on Wednesday 25th February. Winchelsea's own Abbie Floyd and two students from Geelong Grammar School - Caitlin Matlock and Basil Mackinlay Campbell - made a competition of three.

The Youth of the Year Quest is a community project designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership qualities in young Australians. More than 2,000 people compete in the Quest each year, with winners making their way through zone, region, district, state and national finals.

In the afternoon of the Winchelsea Club final, prior to a meal and fellowship at the Winchelsea Senior Citizens rooms, the contestants were interviewed by three judges ; Mr Daryl Diment, Mrs Jody Fincham, and Mrs Helen Holdsworth. The Public Speaking segment proceeded from 7:30pm with Lions members, relatives & supporters and general public in attendance. Lions Club President Murray Leak welcomed everyone and introduced Region Chairman (and Past District Chairman) Lion Neville Mawson who read the Lions' Objects and then Youth of the Year Chairman Lion Russell Holloway in turn introduced the three judges and three contestants.

Basil was the overall winner to represent Winchelsea Lions Club at the Region judging held at Colac on March 3rd. Abbie Floyd was winner of the Public Speaking segment with a well-prepared and -presented 5 minute speech on the topic of bushfires and rules regarding vegetation near homes.

Caitlin was was presented with a certificate of participation and a Parker pen and pencil set. The experience and memory of the time at Winchelsea will for all three contestants be an enrichment for their future education.

Thanks were extended to parents and teachers, judges and contestants and to all who supported the Lions and made the event possible. Thanks also went to Shirley Leak and Cheryl Mawson and Lynette Henderson for attending to the kitchen and providing the supper. Lion Joe Burhman assisted Lion Neville Mawson as time-keeper and Lion Keith Henderson read the Lions Code of Ethics.