50 Years of City of Devonport Lions

The 50th Anniversary of our City of Devonport Lions Club Charter was celebrated on the 13th of February at the RSL Club in Devonport. It was very well attended and everything went like clockwork. Many speeches were held, but Lion Ian Wild's Speech of the night says it all. Below is an excerpt:

On the 13th February 1960 the Devonport Lions Club, sponsored by the Lions Club of Launceston, came into being. Since that day 50 years ago, our club has been fully committed to serving the Devonport community. Here are just some of the highlights over the last half century.

Our Club’s influences have touched many facets of the Devonport community, including:

• Fund-raising and sponsorship,
• contributing to the city’s assets,
• assisting with the provision of services for our youth and aging population, and
• organizing community events

Our first major project was the creation of the park reserve located on the corner of North Fenton Street, Gloucester Avenue and Bluff Road, known then as Devonport Lions Park. Since then, the Club has been actively involved in developing and enhancing many other reserves around the city, including the Hiller Flora Reserve.

The Lions Club City of Devonport was also responsible for the construction of the walking track along Victoria Parade – extending from the Elimatta Hotel to the Bluff. Originally, members worked by hand to dig out the track, however the decision by a couple of Lions to undertake a ‘midnight mission’ utilizing a tractor, made a substantial difference to the man hours required for the project!

In the early 70’s, the Club set about raising funds to cover the installation of a swimming pool at Devonfield. After numerous working bees and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the pool was officially opened in November 1971, much to the delight of the Devonfield residents. Over the years the Club has undertaken numerous other smaller projects to benefit the residents.

You can’t do a lot with 20 cents in this day and age, but, as we all know, in 1977 it was a different story. The Club initiated the Elderly Citizens Housing Operations Project, otherwise known as the ECHO Project. Through a wage deduction scheme of only 20 cents per employee per week, the Club was able to raise sufficient funds to help assist with the expansion of Meercroft, Karingal and Melaleuca Homes for the Aged. Funds raised through this scheme, together with Government subsidies, would have benefited the homes to the tune of $250,000.

To mark Australia’s bi-centenary, the Club built the Sound Shell at the Mersey Bluff. This iconic site has been the stage for numerous concerts over the years and it now serves as the most fitting location for Devonport’s Carols by Candlelight event.

One of the most significant events organized by our club over the years was the Dahlia Festival. Initiated in 1961, the festival was held over a two week period and included the Dahlia Festival Ball which was attended by the Premier of Tasmania. The festival also included the crowning of the Dahlia Queen, a Junior Ball, golf, tennis and bowls tournaments, a fishing competition in the Mersey River, a major art competition, a family night at the Drive-in, a mannequin parade, a theatrical play, a combined service clubs dinner, a grand parade and a Mardi Gras. Over the 16 years that the festival was held, the Lions Club was able to raise thousands of dollars for the community.

Following on from the success of the Dahlia Festival, the Club began the Food & Wine Fiesta, which was originally held in the Rooke Street Mall. The success and overwhelming popularity of this event saw it out-grow the Mall and as such the Club decided to relocate it to the Mersey River Foreshore and rename the event Taste the Harvest. Now in its eleventh year as Taste the Harvest, the event continues to draw visitors and stall holders from all around the State and is one of our major fundraising activities.

The Club has also held other significant community events to raise funds, including the Home Show, which ran for a period of five years. We also continue to run our annual Magic Show, which for the last fifteen plus years has been popular with children and adults of all ages.

Over the years, the Lions Club City of Devonport has made efforts to contribute to the development of the youth in our community. Our annual Youth of the Year event is aimed at recognizing, encouraging and rewarding those youth who are contributing to our community. Every year we also provide a bursary for two high school students at each of our senior schools.

We have sponsored a child to attend the ‘Giant Steps’ project in Deloraine, as well as hosting children from Chernobyl’s nuclear disaster. More recently, the Club contributed significantly to the development and installation of a new Skate Park at the Mersey Bluff, providing a state of the art facility for our city’s youth.

Speaking of new installations, it would me remiss of me to not mention the Spirit of the Sea. Members of our Club, together with members of other service clubs, fought long and hard for the Spirit, and their perseverance has been rewarded with the statue now in place at the mouth of the Mersey River.

It would also be remiss of me not to make mention of all the smaller, individual projects that have been carried out by the Club over the years. While there are far too many to mention here tonight, we should not forget about the small ways we have made a difference.

For the last fifty years we have been ever present at the Spreyton Race Course, manning the race gates.

We have also helped fund trips interstate and overseas for those in need of medical assistance. On one such occasion in 1979, the Club funded a trip for a young blind man to visit the Eye & Ear Hospital in Melbourne. Much to the delight of him, his family and the Club, the visit resulted in his vision being restored and he was able to live a happy, normal life.

Whether it be providing a wheelchair or dialysis machine for someone, building new footpaths, assisting in relief efforts or sponsoring students or athletes for various events, these things have all made a difference to someone’s life, and they are achievements that all of us should take pride in.

For over forty years, the Club has also recognized and paid tribute to the unsung heroes of our community. The Citizen of the Year Award was first introduced in 1969, and to this day it continues to honour those people that have made significant contributions to the betterment of the Devonport community.

The Lions Club City of Devonport has not just benefited those that live within the Devonport community. We have also played a major role in the establishment of other Lions Clubs along the North West Coast. We formed Clubs in Penguin, Ulverstone, Kentish, Mersey-Devonport and Deloraine .

There is another aspect of our Lions Club that shouldn’t be ignored and that is the fellowship and long-lasting friendships of our members. Over the past 50 years there have been a variety of social functions where we have been able to enjoy each others company and share many happy times. The generosity of those club members who have hosted these functions has been greatly appreciated by all those attended.

We’ve also had golf days with Rotary, mystery bus tours, as well as progressive dinners. Not to be forgotten is the talent exhibited by our Club members during various skits at changeover night, some showing great talent and some best forgotten.

And I’m sure anybody who has attended these events would have plenty of stories to tell.

Membership of our Club has varied over the years peaking at around 60, to our current 31 members. It is a challenge for all members to introduce new members and keep this great Club moving forward.

A lot has happened in 50 years and many other achievements of the Club were discussed over dinner between past and present members who took a gentle stroll down memory lane.