by Staff
On December 17th, members of the Waihi Lions Club celebrated what has been another busy and successful year.
But this was a “bit of a do” with a difference. The venue wasn’t a stable but a cowshed.
At one point in the evening, Clarabelle the cow entered the “bier” to deliver small gifts to everyone there. The venue was the Gunner’s Room at the Waihi RSA and milkmaid Liz Lye and her trusty assistant, Leanne Hollis had done a fantastic job transforming the room into something special.
President Duncan Smeaton, who is in fact a cowpoke, really got into the spirit of things by wacking his milking apron with such enthusiasm that any errant dog would have soon “got in behind”.
It is common practice for there to be some form of entertainment at such a function, but this evening it was very special.
For forty minutes club members were treated to a concert of beautiful songs sung by classically trained Kortnee Brooks who has recently moved to the township.
Accompanied by Waihi College music teacher, Edwin Randell, Brooks received a standing ovation.
The evening proved once again that being a Lion is not just about running Book Fairs or Garden Rambles, giving out cups of tea at the Blood Bank or publishing the Community Directory.
Socialising is an important part of club activity and, apart from the monthly dinner meeting, there was a ten-pin bowling evening, a film show in the Katikati Art Centre, a Curry and Games evening at a local restaurant and a mystery tour that ended with a BBQ at Athenree Homestead..
Over the year the club has given considerable financial support in excess of $29,000 to a number of local charities and organisations.
These include Hetherington House and “A Friends Place”, scholarships to Waihi College Students, a donation to Camp Quality (a week long summer holiday camp for children living with cancer), a substantial donation to vital maintenance work at the Cancer Society/Lions Lodge in Hamilton and donations to the St Vincent de Paul and Waihi Salvation Army Christmas appeals. .
There will be a six week hiatus in activities before club members set up the Memorial Hall for a two-day market over Auckland Anniversary weekend and then they will unwind on Anniversary Monday. at the club’s annual BBQ at the Waitawheta Camp.
