This is our December- January Bulletin and covers our Lions “slow down” peri-od. I hope we can all connect with family over the Christmas period and take the time to recharge for the rest of the Lions year. Our major fundraiser at this time of year is the sale of Christmas cakes and puddings. Cake Chairman Tony Lisle can supply you with as many cakes as you think you can sell, give as gifts or eat yourself. Check out Secretary Bob’s updated website for the latest on Lions Christmas cakes at http:/armidaledumaresq.nsw.lions.org.au/

Don’t forget the Christmas party is on our second meeting night. It will be held at the Willcocks home at Donald Road.

Instead of gifts, we have agreed to do-nate a bit of cash towards a piano for Autumn Lodge Aged Care Facility. A big thank you Julie and Kevin for making your place available to the club. Thanks also to Des who has had us at his home for the last few Christmases. Hopefully you can have a bit more relaxed party this year.

As well as our regularly scheduled activi-ties November saw us busy as usual with two Bunnings BBQs, a sausage sizzle to help our truck maintenance mechanics and the Relay for Life. It is good to see that we had plenty of volun-teers at each of these events, but it was disappointing that we spent a lot of time waiting for custom at the Relay for Life. Barbeque chairman Des had a busy weekend doing the ordering, rostering, setting up and organising the three activ-ities over the whole weekend.

I would like to challenge the members to come up with some ideas on how to re-lieve the workload that Des has taken on. Some thoughts so far have been; to establish an active committee to assist with all BBQ activities, or some specialist groups to take responsibility for particu-lar events, for example a Bunnings Com-mittee responsible for ordering, setting up and the general organisation of each BBQ we do at Bunnings.

The Club would probably operate more efficiently if we had a central storage centre. We could access small amounts of equipment and the smaller BBQ when required. This would reduce the reliance on the truck as the main storage place and the necessity for it to attend every event. I know it would still be required quite often and it also acts as a good advertisement for the club, but we don’t always need it at small events. If you become aware of an empty garage sized area that a business might be prepared to rent out, or a Council building with a bit of unused space let me know and we can investigate.

Don’t forget that there is no meeting on the first Wednesday in January, although any Lions in town are welcome to get together at the Bowling Club for a social gathering and meal in the Bistro.

Libby and I wish all Dumaresq Lions members and families a happy and health Christmas and New Year.

President John Fitz

Volume 40 Number 6 Dec ‘16/Jan ‘17

PROGRESSIVE MELVIN JONES FELLOW LION DES SCHUMAN OAM

Lion Des Schuman OAM was awarded the Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow at our dinner meeting on16th November in recognition of exceptional service to Lions and Community. PDG Bob Holloway OAM; Region 4 Chairman Colin Gadd and Club President John Fitzgerald presented the Award to Lion Des.

BUNNINGS BBQS IN NOVEMBER Two BBQs for November (5th and 26th) resulting in a total profit for the two of $1,080.00. Many thanks Lions Eddie, Rob Mc, David D, Sally, Bryan, Hans (and Bob F) on the 5th. You all did well to battle the high winds and a tempera-mental gazebo. The 25th crew were Lions Carolyn, Margo, Murray, Rob S, Sue and Eddie

Dates for the Diary from December to March (2017) Dec 1 Cake and Pudding stall at Christmas in the Mall Dec 3 Saumarez Rose Gardens - 7:30am Start Dec 7 Dinner Meeting (NO Board meeting) Dec 11 AURG’s Christmas Party Dec 21 Christmas Party Meeting Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 Boxing Day Dec 31 Community Clean-up (own backyard or wherever you are) Dec 31 New Year’s Eve 2017Jan 1 New Year’s Day Jan 4 Social Meeting Dinner at BowloJan 18 Dinner Meeting & Partners’ Night Jan 26 Australia Day Jan 28 Community Clean-up Feb 1 Board & Dinner MeetingFeb 4 Saumarez Rose Gardens Feb 15 Bring a Friend & Partners’ Dinner Meeting Feb 25 YOTY Regional Finals. Dumaresq Lions Club HostingFeb 25 Community Clean-up Mar 1 Board & Dinner Meeting & DG’s visitMar 1 Nominations for 2017-2018 Board Mar 4 Saumarez Rose Gardens Mar 12 AURG Mar 15 Dinner Meeting & Partners’ Night Mar 15 Elections Mar 17-18 Autumn Festival Mar 25 Community Clean-up 2018Jan 27 40th Charter Dinner

Best wishes for speedy recovery to all mem-bers of our Lions family who have been un-well or are recovering from surgery.

INTRODUCING Claire Addison Dorrian

Lion Dave Dorrian is celebrating the birth of his 12th grand-child, a darling little girl. Born to Gregory and Jessica Dor-rian on 7th November at Armidale Hospital. Claire has two older brothers.

DUMARESQ RAMBLE

December January

Ann McCarthy 5th Dec

Bryan Johnston 8th Dec

John Brady 12th Dec

Jim Brear 17th Dec

Jufen (Hollis) 19th Dec

Maria Schloegl 23rd Dec

David Trenerry 23rd Dec

Keith Smith 29th Dec

Margot Ball 31st Dec

Lyn Hatton 5th Jan

Ros Brady 6th Jan

Laurie Bullock 13th Jan

Tony Lisle 17th Jan

Ray Hollis 30th Jan

RobMcClenaghan 31st Jan

Ann & Lance McCarthy 5th Dec

Les & Libby Davis 7th Dec

Rob & Sue Semple 13th Dec

Ros & John Brady 18th Dec

Eddie & Maria Schloegl 11th Jan

Colin & Carolyn Gadd 17th Jan

Bob & PaulaForster 17th Jan

January December

MEETING ROSTER NOVEMBER TO MARCH

REMINDER REMINDER REMINDER REMINDER REMINDER Remember If you are going to be away for your rostered turn on the Door and Raffles please try to arrange a swap with someone else or leave your raffle prizes with your buddy.

Please remember to inform Lion Helen Lisle by 9pm Monday prior to our meeting – phone mobile 0428 132 020 if you will not be attending or if you are bringing a guest/partner. If you fail to lodge an apolo-gy, give a late notification or a non-attendance, you will be expected to pay for your dinner.

Date Notes Raffle/Door Loyal Toast Welcome Ethics Purposes

7th Dec Board &Dinner

Ros & Annie David T Eddie Bryan Bob H

21 Dec CHRISTMAS DINNER MEETING

4 Jan SOCIAL DINNER MEETING AT THE BOWLING CLUB

18 Jan Partners Peter & Yvonne Straw Pete G Hans Colin Gerry

1st Feb Board &Dinner

Bob H, Dave D & Peter M Ros Julie Sue Carolyn

15th Feb Partners Pete G & David T Tony Marls Des Keith

1st Mar Board & Din-ner & DG visit

Rob & Sue Semple Gerry Carolyn Hans Grahame A

15th Mar PartnersGrahame A,

Jim & Graeme C

Shirley Tony Rob S Andrew

This year’s Youth of the Year comprised of six contestants, with one student from each of the High Schools in Armidale. Stuart Brown (Duval High); Eliza Clark (O’Connor College); Ragavi Jeyakumar (PLC); Samuel Thatcher (TAS); Katrina Tomlinson Gils (NEGS); Aziz Winrow (Armidale High). Each contestant kept us entertained with their outstanding impromptu speeches and prepared speeches. The judges (Jodie Cox, Dr MaryKaspar and Dr Jim Maher) had an unenviable task of selecting a overall winner plus the evening’s public speaker. Thank you to Lions Murray and Margo for all the hard work leading up to the evening and for organising a wonderful evening. Lion Dave Dor-rian did a great job as the evening’s MC.

The ‘no candles’ rule will not be forgotten……….

Congratulations to Ragavi Jeyakumar from PLC for the evening’s Public Speaker Winner and the Overall YOTY Winner for 2016

2016 Youth of the Year

It is hard to believe we are back to Christmas again. Where has the year gone. We ask ourselves this question every year, and we always come up with the same answer.....I don't know.

There is not a lot to report on the mint scene this month. We are still going along steadily. It may be a bit slow over the coming weeks as shops and offices close down for a couple of weeks for the holiday season.

I would like to wish every one a very happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Anyone travelling over the break travel safely.

Until next year....cheers Lion Marls.

SAUMAREZ ROSE GARDENS

Just Gerry and I there on the 19th November. He mulched, I dead-headed and weeded and between the two of us our two beds were "done". Dead heading will be ongoing until April but the gardens are looking pretty good considering all the storm rain we have had. We worked for 2 hours. The working bee on 3rd December is still happening because of the dead heading and weeds. They are cutting the flowers off the lambs ears as they come up too but Gerry is threatening to take his brush cutter out to do that.

Lion Carolyn

Daniel was so excited he just had to tell his parents, 'I learned in Sunday School today all about the very first Christmas. There wasn't a Santa Claus way back then, so these three blokes on camels had to deliver all the toys. And Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer with his nose so bright wasn't there yet, so they had to have this big light in the sky to find their way around'.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

WHAT IS A CLOTHES LINE? The humble clothes line, of many shapes and designs nowadays, is more than it seems. It is a wind gauge and a barometer, a head count and a means test. You can judge a woman by her kitchen, but you judge a house by its clothes line – for the whole family hangs from it.

A house with children in it can be recognised from three gardens away. It will have not only a main clothes line, but several branch lines, and all of them will be heavy with traffic. If there is a baby in the house, the thing will be easier still. An adult house can bulk its washing and choose its days, but a baby house washes clothes as often as it washes its face and hands.

“Everything comes out in the wash” is only half a truth, for the rest comes out in the wash basket. The clothes line is the real informer. It has no loyalties and it keeps nothing back. A human may wear a flour bag patch very close to themselves without anyone being any the wiser, but there is no hiding the shame from the neigh-bours on washing day.

A line of washing has no dignity. It is at once ludicrous and pathetic, and the things that hang from it are carica-tures of humanity itself. They show us up for what we are – walking wardrobes padded out to a fictitious bulk and gravity. We are stuffed humans, as heavy with lin-ings as an onion, and when our peeling hang in the breeze, they look, you’ll agree, quite lonely with us. Clothes may make us, but it is just as true to say that humans make the clothes, for without us, they have neither character nor significance, and all the wind in the world cannot fill an empty sleeve.

A line of washing reveals some secrets, but it thins down the number of secrets. It grades us into age groups and income groups, but it shows that within these categories we are much of a muchness under-neath. A touch of soap and water make the whole world kin, and the spinner is the great equaliser.

Every drying sock looks forlorn and unloved, and no one could tell the Judges from the Tradies. When we are hung up, we all look exactly alike.

NOVEMBER’S PRESENTATIONS Lion Murray Ball was presented with a KEY Award for introducing two new Lions to our Club ( Lions Dave Dorrian and Annie Keoghan) by Presi-dent John

Lion Ros Brady being pre-sented with her 4 year member badge by Presi-dent John Fitz

Our Club was presented with two banner patches at the 2016 Dis-trict Convention in Taree . One was a Level 4 Centennial Service Challenge for 2015 -2016. It is believed this was due to our work

with AURG and the monthly Community Cleanup.

The Level 1 Lions Legacy Project banner patch is in relation to the reflective signs at our Lions Park and the Lions insignia display on AURG’s sign along the Creeklands.

Q. Who's the bane of Santa's life?A. The elf and safety officer.

November’s Community Clean-up was along the Creeklands off Centennial Ave walkway, heading into the back of the playing fields at Phil Wheaton. Many thanks to Lions Bob H, Carolyn, David T, Marls, Gerry and Paula for making our community rubbish free. Bob F could smell the coffee and joined us!! December’s clean up is in “your own backyard” or wherever you are over Christmas and New Year.

Many thanks to the Sixteen Lions who helped at the Relay 4 Life over the weekend of 26th and 27th November. A number of you spent most of your weekend there. The Committee for the Relay 4 Life were extremely grateful nonetheless.

RELAY 4 LIFE

Dear Fellow Lions,

May the Spirit of Christmas and the New Year bring you and your families lots of peace, joy and happiness. Editor