The Lions PrideThe Lions PrideMARCH 2015

Newsletter of the Lions Club of Moorabbin Inc. PO Box 1144 Moorabbin Phone (03) 9583 6281

Website - http://moorabbin.vic.lions.org.au Email – Website - http://moorabbin.vic.lions.org.au Email – moorabbin.lions@hotmail.com moorabbin.lions@hotmail.com Bill Tomkinson – President , Gillian Lelah – Secretary , John Lissenburg – Treasurer

Editor Sam Dalley, sjdalley@bigpond.com

'Youth Of The Year' Entrants ImpressFour students representing Cheltenham Secondary College and Kilvington Grammar School gave a very impressive performances when they competed in Moorabbin Lions 'Youth Of The Year' quest at the 'Sandbelt Hotel' on February 18th. The overall 'YOTY' winner was Kilvington Grammar School student Grace Boschetti , whilst the Public Speaking Award went to Cheltenham Secondary College student Micheal Su. Grace Boschetti, a Year 11 student at Kilvington, is the School debating captain, and was a member of Student Representative Council in 2013. Grace has a wide range of interests including creative writing, reading, skiing, calisthenics, music and sport. She attends the Chadstone Calisthenics Club, and also finds time for hockey and softball. Grace's community involvement includes Crossway Baptist Church, and volunteering through the school program at Blue Cross Autumdale Age Care facility over a six month period.In her prepared speech, Grace challenged the widely held stereotype of the angry man-hating feminist constantly playing the victim. Feminism's aims had always been about achieving equality in all areas of life for all people – including political, social, cultural economic, and personal rights. She pointed out that half a million women in Australia are effected by domestic violence, and feminism had a part to play in changing community attitudes. Long term strategies needed to be put in place to overcome the problem.

Prior to presenting their prepared speeches, each of the four students had to give two minute speeches on two subjects set by judging panelists, former Kingston City Councillor Greg Alabaster (Chairperson,) Golden Days Radio 95.7FM Presenter Fay Thorne, and Scott Lennard Scott who has been involved in educational programs for UN Youth Australia.Year 12 Cheltenham Secondary College student Micheal Su won the Public Speaking Award with a call for stricter disciplining of children. Micheal is currently Year 12 Blue House Captain, and Vice Captain of Indoor Soccer, and also participated in the Debating team. In addition to a wide rang of sporting activities, Micheal is a passionate film maker having won second place in both the International Silent Film Festival and 'Best Special Effects' in the Monash Youth Film Festival.In his prepared speech Micheal asserted that the failure of parents to properly discipline their young children has lead to the unruly behavior of teenagers in our streets, and increasing numbers of young people 'doing drugs.' He rather contentiously suggested that the increase in this antisocial behavior coincided with the decrease in the number of parents disciplining their young children with a slap. However he stressed that a child should never be slapped in anger. Judging Panel Chairperson Greg Alabaster, before announcing the winners, thanked his fellow judges for their very sincere and dedication to the judging process. “We were particularly impressed with the levels of achievement and high standard of all the students during the course of the competition. Public speaking isn't easy – as a former councilor I can tell you that a lot of people wouldn't even attempt to do what our students have done tonight.”“On behalf of the judges, a big thank you to the Moorabbin Lions Club, particularly Gillian Lelah for not just staging the competition, but ensuring that everything ran smoothly.”

Moorabbin Lions Club YOTY winner for 2015, Grace Boschetti

Back Row: YOTY Judging Panel Greg Alabaster (Chairperson,) Fay Thorne, and Scott Lennard James Wilkinson (Cheltenham Secondary College,) Public Speaking Award Winner Micheal Su, Moorabbin Lions Youth Of The Year Grace Boschetti, and Eleanor Cook (Kilvington Grammar.)

FIND YOUR MARBLES!Lyn Mather (a 'Friend Of Moorabbin Lions Club,) makes packs of marbles as gifts for young boys. She is looking for marbles and is hoping that some of our members or their friends may have some that they do not need anymore. If anybody has any marbles lying around, would they please pass them on to Lion Jessie Brent.

The Lions PrideThe Lions Pride

Moorabbin and Sandringham Lions, and the Australian Lions Foundation provided funding to enable the purchase of a specially made wheelchair and walker for young Jude when he was five-years-old. He is now six; some time ago he received the walker but the wheelchair needed quite a few adjustments due to his disability. He is unable to walk, speak, feed himself and much more and he requires support 24 hours a day. Lions visited the family at Christmas with a card and Lions cake from the two Clubs. It was a good opportunity to take a few snaps, the shot on left shows mum Georgie, young Jude, dad John and brother Cam. It is difficult for Jude to move even with help, and his communication skills are minimal. Jude’s family is very appreciative of Lions support. We will also provide a report and photos to the ALF. Jude will need a bigger wheelchair and walker in about three to four years as he grows, it is hoped that the Clubs will be able to assist further when necessary. This young man and his family deserve all the help we can give . . .

– Bev McLennan, Sandringham Lions Secretary

Moorabbin and Sandringham Lions, and the ALF provide wheelchair and walker for Jude

DIARY DATESDIARY DATES MARCH

Wed 4th Business MeetingThurs 5th Book Sale at The Den Sat 14th River Cruise to Williamstown Meet at Berth 1, Southgate 10amSun 15th YOTY Zone Final – Sandringham LCWed 18th Dinner Meeting – Guest Speaker Steve Haylock, Melbourne City Mission Sat 28th Book Sale at The Den 9am – 3pm Youth of the Year District Final 'Quest Knox' Mountain Hwy Wantirna 6pm for a 6:30pm start

YOUTH, OUR FUTUREParticipants in our recent club final of 'Youth Of The Year' were perhaps a little more at ease than usual in the presence on our Master of Ceremonies, Lion Louise Maplestone who, at the ripe old age of 22yrs., is Moorabbin's youngest member – a trend Lions International is trying to encourage. With this in mind, it was interesting to read Lion Glynn Jones article on Lions Aust. CEO Rob Oerlemans blog about the launching of the new The Adelaide University Lions Club.If you'd asked Glynn twelve months what he knew about the Lions Club, the first thing that would have come to mind is the 6 year old pestering his mum to buy some Lions Club mints from the Penrith branch of the State Bank, or a sausage sizzle at Bunnings – “that is where my knowledge would have ended.” “So what has got me so excited? What has made me change the way I see my studies? The Adelaide University Lions Club is the reason why I’m so excited. This brand new club has the potential to be a driving force in connecting the University of Adelaide to its community. It has the potential to take University students away from the laptops and into the community.”

MOORABBIN LIONS PARTNER WITH URBAN FOREST GROUP

Moorabbin Lions Pres. Billy Tomkinson, Cerise de Gelder, Craig Walker, Marilyn and John Lissenburg, Di Fensham, Mandy Fraser-Jones, Gillian Lelah and friends were glad to take a break on 'Clean Up Australia Day,' after collecting some sixteen bags of rubbish, as well as a TV, office chair and one bong!

Nineteen energetic community members spent Sunday March 1st – Clean Up Australia Day – in the Moorabbin Reserve and assisting with the BBQ which followed.Activities stretched from Linton Street, Moorabbin, through to Doonga Avenue, and also included the area around the Football Oval.The activity was organised by the Moorabbin Lions Club, thirteen of whom participated on the day.

A big thank you to Moorabbin Lions taking part on the day: President Billy Tomkinson Susie Tomkinson; Craig Walker; John & Marilyn Lissenburg; Geoff Thomas; Cerise de Gelder; Di Fensham; Gillian Lelah; Stuart Moyns; Marlene & Lex Richardson and Charlie Smith.

The Lions PrideThe Lions Pride

Ferry to Williamstown – Club OutingSaturday 14th of March.

Those attending please meet at 10am at Berth 1 Southgate - next to Elizabeth St Walkbridge. This is where you purchase your ticket. $28 return each.The Ferry DEPARTS at 10.30am. Please allow plenty of time for Parking which is available at Southgate Complex, Eureka Towers (Langham Hotel) Crown Casino.

Laugh Out Loud!What a wonderful thing, a packed cinema of Lions and friends gathered together to support a great cause, and unafraid to laugh out loud – something of a rare experience modern cinemas these days!

Six Moorabbin Lions were among the 100, or so people for the screening of 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' at fundraiser at the Dendy Cinema Brighton organized by Sandringham Lions Club to raise much needed money for 'Kids Like Us Australia (KLUA)' – a community services organization run on a social enterprise established in February 2013 offering a comprehensive support structure for twice-exceptional students (gifted students with learning differences) and students living with the challenges of dyslexia, through the provision of learning and emotional support, advocacy, peer-to-peer support, and a sense of belonging.

KLUA was inspired by three children with a strong social conscience who identified that there was a need to provide support to other twice exceptional students, and to reduce the isolation and distress that they saw in other twice exceptional children in Australia. They then asked some professionals in the field to do something about it.

Since February 2013 'KLUA,' (a registered charity,) has developed programs, trained staff, and currently provides counselling, learning support and advocacy services to students aged between 4 and 23 years old. They provide services from their rooms in Sandringham Vic, and reach out across Australia regularly visiting the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.

MOORABBIN LIONS PARTNER WITH URBAN FOREST GROUP Cont..A big thank you also to Marilyn and John for organising chairs & trestle tables, and for erecting the Marquee and the feather banners, both in the park and on the nature strip. which alerted residents to something special going on. We greatly appreciate Lex & Marlene Richardson yet again kindly hosting the BBQ by allowing us to use their garden. Much appreciated was Stuart Moyns food preparation & cooking, which with the social interaction at the end of clean-up, made it a most enjoyable morning for everyone present. Working alongside Moorabbin Lions were Jeremy Hewett: President of Linton Street (Moorabbin) Community Urban Forest Project Inc, Angus Hewett & John Atkinson, the Vice President of this group. which has just celebrated 21 years. When the group started out, this area from Linton Street through to Doonga Avenue was barren, neglected & often muddy, but it has over the years, with the planting of hundreds of trees, shrubs & grasses, been transformed into a beautiful green haven, blocking out the built form and concrete surrounding it, and much loved by local residents and those from further afield, not to mention dogs, birds & other wildlife.Also working energetically on-the-day were community members Mandy Fraser-Jones & Sanai & Kento Hikima, who made a very valuable contribution towards the 16 bags of rubbish which were collected. Gillian Lelah, Lions Club Site Organiser said: “The effect of Clean Up Australia Days, combined with the continual maintenance efforts by some residents throughout the year, is making this a better environment for everyone to enjoy." In the past 25 years, Australians have devoted more than 27.2 million hours towards the environment through Clean Up Australia Day and collected over 288,650 tonnes of rubbish. The appeal of Clean Up the World (an estimated 40 million people from 130 countries take part) has demonstrated that this simple Australian idea has universal appeal and the health of the environment is of concern to people and communities worldwide.

BIRTHDAYSBIRTHDAYSMarch March

3rd Geoff Thomas 3rd Geoff Thomas 24th Marilyn Lissenburg 24th Marilyn Lissenburg 24th Russell Jackson 24th Russell Jackson

Lions Children’s Mobility Foundation Lions within Australia work with Cerebral Palsy Associations to assist children with Cerebral Palsy, funding Hart Walkers and other mobility devices.