Sedgefield Lions

The "Chicken Coop" is the clubhouse next to the clinic on the Village Green where the Sedgefield Lions meet at 18:30 on the third Thursday of every month.

Their purpose is expressed in their core values statement;

• To promote the principles of good government and citizenship.
• To actively participate in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of their community.
• To unite their clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding.

The current Office bearers are, President: Peter Hall,  Secretary:  Wendy Roscoe,  Treasurer: Eric Roper.

Contact the Membership Chairperson, Viv Grater on 083 298 3473 if you are interested in finding out more about joining the Sedgefield Lions Club.

Lions worldwide have "5 pillars of service" they use as guidelines for the projects they involve themselves with, 1) Vision, 2) Hunger, 3) Diabetes, 4) Cancer, 5) the Environment.  However, As a group of socially minded people they regularly get together to discuss, assess and address specific needs in their community.   They also  work together in smaller group projects and assist to raise funds for other charities.

Throughout the year, different members take on a particular activity they’ve chosen to be responsible for and then garner support from those within the club to help them achieve their ends.

They frequently draw upon locals and friends willing to assist with their knowledge and expertise or just as more bodies to share the load. Lions frequently say that they cannot do what they do without the support of the community. Some special helpers are called “Friends of the Lions” because they are always available to help no matter what!

In the past year (2023) the Lions Club have been involved in the following projects,

• Eye, diabetes and blood sugar tests.  Every year eye tests are carried out at various local schools and hundreds of children’s eyes are tested.

NB.People who have eye glasses they no longer use are encouraged to hand them on to the Lions. YOU CAN DO THIS BY PUTTING THEM IN THE MARKED BOX AT SEDGEFIELD PHARMACY. They can be effectively recycled by giving them to someone who needs them. It  can change a life!  From time to time Lions will take on a special sight-impaired project, e.g. assist an individual to get medical attention for a difficult vision problem that the person cannot afford to attend to themselves.

• They also sponsor annual blood pressure and sugar testing free of charge to the community, setting up in a public place like the Wild Oats market or outside the Pick 'n Pay.

• Created child and breast cancer awareness  through selling cupcakes for cancer.
• Assisted  with the annual Melodrama.
• Provided marshals at cycle races in Sedgefield, George and Karatara and to direct traffic, people and parking at the Simola Hill Climb, Tortoise Tuff, the Knysna Oyster Festival Trail Run, and Karoo to Coast Cycle Race events.
• Assisted to establish a vegetable garden at Karatara.
• Organised the Santa Shoebox gifting.
• Coordinated the Battle of the Buskers Fundraiser.
• Held the Lions Inter-Club Potjie Competition.
• Gave gifts to working women in recognition of Women's Day.
• Gave support to TLC, Slow Town Meals, Sedgemeer Park, Hospice and Rondevlei Learning Centre.
• Participated in raising awareness of women abuse and gave assistance to abused women and children.
• Supported and gave assistance to the scouts.
• Formed a Leo Club for the youth.
• Entered a team  in the "Anything that Floats" Competition.

Sedgefield Lions Fund-raising

Fund-raising is a hugely necessary part of the Lions function not only for their own projects but also on behalf of other charities.

They  inaugurated a Braai Competition/ Beer Festival on Heritage Day that was so successful it has been repeated. 

They hold an annual popular Carols by Candlelight on the Village Green outside their clubhouse.

From their funds Sedgefield Lions have provided emergency supplies to people whose houses were destroyed by a fire in Smutsville. They annually give senior citizens (the over 70’s) a scrumptious tea along with live music (that had many a one dancing) and take-home gifts.

They support the annual raucous Melodrama,  TLC Music Quiz, Cansa Walk and Hospice High Tea.

Lions readily lend a hand to help other charities when needed. e.g. At short notice some members assisted with decor for a TLC Masked Ball. They have donated soccer balls to the Slow Town Soccer Team, provided funds for a man to have hip replacements, sponsored a Rapid Response Vehicle to attend to emergency calls, a NSRI rubber duck for sea rescues and the boathouse in the parking lot at Myoli Beach for the NSRI boat. They have helped de-oil, clean and feed bewildered penguins rescued from coastal oil-spills. There is almost nothing beyond the scope of Sedgefield Lions.

June 2023 was Sedgefield Lions 37th birthday. It’s a far cry from their early beginnings when a few men met in a chicken coop on a farm outside Sedgefield. The Lions Club of Sedgefield was charted in 1986. Today they have a good number of enthusiastic, hard-working, fun loving members (you have to love what you do to be part of this up-beat team)!

Find our local Lions on Facebook

References

The Edge - for stories and photos (thanks Bomber) 
The Lions Year-books
Eric and Alison Watson
For updates - thanks to Viv Grater.

Links to Related Sites

Lions Club International Southern Africa

Lions in nature work as a team and this rings true for their human namesake the Lions Clubs around the world. “Teamwork makes the dream work” says the Council Chairman of Governors, Southern Africa, Denis Meyer “Team meaning togetherness, empathy, action and motivation.” The Region has four challenges they want to meet 1. Engaging our youth 2. Sharing the vision 3. Relieving hunger 4. Protecting our environment………

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Lions Club International

Lions Club was initiated in 1917 by a 38 year old business leader, Melvin Jones from Chicago and within three years it became an international organisation. Their mission is to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs.

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