Since 1917, Lions clubs have offered people the opportunity to give something back to their communities. From involving members in projects as local as cleaning up an area park or as far-reaching as bringing sight to the world's blind, Lions clubs have always embraced those committed to building a brighter future for their community.

Today with more than 46,000 clubs in 193 countries and geographical areas, Lions have expanded their focus to help meet the ever-increasing needs of our global community.

Our programs are continually changing to meet new needs and greater demands, but our mission has never wavered:

"We Serve."

Members of the Lions Clubs serve the world wide community. Each member through the structure of the organization provides service at the International, National, State and local level. It is only because people of goodwill have bonded together that such service is possible.

Since 1917, the work of Lions has resulted in:

• The creation of SightFirst, a prevention program that aims to eliminate preventable and reversible blindness worldwide.
• Approximately 20,000 sight-restoring corneal transplants each year.
• Immediate disaster relief and support for rebuilding efforts in communities.
• Sponsorship of Leo clubs and participation of young adults in youth exchanges and international youth camps.
• Development of hospitals, clinics, parks, playgrounds and many facilities that enhance day-to-day life in our communities.

The members of the Lions Club of New Norfolk contribute to these activities by donations to the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

In a practical way they provide sight to many too poor to be able to purchase spectacles. Used spectacles are collected, cleaned and graded and then shipped overseas where they benefit many communities.

The first Australian Lions Club was formed in the northern NSW town of Lismore on July 1st, 1947, largely through the efforts of William R.Tresise. While serving as National President of Apex, and nearing 40, the compulsory retirement age of that organisation, Bill Tresise unsuccessfully urged the formation of a senior Apex movement.

A chance 1946 meeting in the US with a past International President of Lions (Fred Smith, from California) led quickly to interviews with Lions Past International President Ed Barry, of Arkansas, and then with the Secretary-General and Founder of the Lions Association, Melvin Jones, in Chicago. Tresise was appointed a provisional District Governor, with power to form Lions Clubs in his home country.

He called a meeting of the business and professional men in his home town of Lismore, where he operated a plaster and hardware business, to hear the Lions story. An eloquent speaker, Bill Tresise soon convinced enough members to form the club. The first President, Jim Brown, proudly received the Club's official Charter in September of the same year. Melvin Jones cabled: "Congratulations to the 18th country to enter the International Association of Lions Clubs."

Lions Multiple District 201 Australia is involved in setting up by itself or co-operating with other organizations to form foundations. These foundations are the 'money spending' arms of Lions International. A list of some (not all) of these foundations is shown below. Details of these and other foundations may be found on the Lions Australia website.

• Australian Lions Foundation(ALF)
• Australian Lions Children's Mobility Foundation (ALCMF)
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF)
• Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation (ALDAF)
• Lions Cord Blood and Childhood Cancer Research Appeal
• The Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre (QLD) Australia Inc 201Q3
• Lions NSW ACT Save Sight Foundation Lions Clubs NSW Public Health Care Foundation
• Lions Cord Blood Foundation - 201V5
• Lions Spinal Cord Fellowship

The Lions Club of Launceston was the first club formed in Tasmania. For many years Tasmania operated as part of Victoria for administrative and financial purposes. Eventually Tasmania became a District in its own right and now has 50 clubs with some 1230 members statewide.

The Tasmanian Lions Foundation (TLF) provides grants to clubs for projects within the state. It also provides emergency relief grants in the case of an emergency.

The Lions Club of New Norfolk has been active since its charter in 1968. It has formed a very strong relationship with the Derwent Valley Council which enables both to work to provide a better community.

The club now owns its own clubrooms in a historic precinct of New Norfolk.

Our main source of income is the chocolate wheel which operates at five country shows during a year. We also run two raffles during the year.

Major projects carried out by the club since its inception include:

• Childrens Wading Pool at the Olympic pool
• Learn to Swim Campaigns
• Bush Steps
• Information bay on Approach to town
• Tynwald Park
• DVCS Community Vehicle
• Installation of Liberty Swing at New Norfolk

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