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ENVIRONMENT WATCH

As your new Environment Chair, I am very

keen to publicise the many simple ways we can

contribute to making our planet a cleaner,

greener space. My thanks go to John Creagh

who had this portfolio in the last Lion’s year for

the work he did to highlight this Global Cause

for us.

July has been designated Plastic Free

July as part of the environment

calendar for 2020.

What can we do to assist both our planet and

the education of others in this matter?

Here are a few ideas:

• Do a stocktake of your kitchen

cupboards and commit to gradually phasing out plastic containers,

especially ones that get used in the microwave. Glass and bamboo

containers are much more environmentally friendly and better for

your health.

• Rather than throwing the kitchen

containers in the bin, repurpose them for keeping items in the workshop or

garage such as nails, bolts and screws. Or, if crafty, store buttons, pins and the

myriad of other craft items that you may have around the house.

• Ditch plastic straws for metal or

bamboo ones that can be cleaned in the dishwasher or by the dishwasher!

• Invest in some silicon lids that can

replace cling wrap for many purposes.

• Were you aware that many of the liquid

soaps on the market contain tiny beads of plastic that end up in our waterways

and our marine life? Good old- fashioned bars of soap counteract this

problem.

• What is your toothbrush made from?

Substitute a plastic one for bamboo.

These are but a few of the ways we can

contribute to Plastic Free July ourselves.

But what can our clubs do to spread the word?

• Pop an image of single use plastics like the one in this article on your Club

Facebook page.

• See if your local school will put an

article in their Newsletter that you write.

• Design a competition for the children to

come up with the most innovative way to go Plastic Free for the month, with

some simple prizes as an incentive. You will be astounded by how creative the

children can be and how passionate many of them are about this issue. And

of course, this will create a great

publicity story for your club.

There are so many ways to get involved. I would love to hear your ideas so feel free to email me

with them or let me know if you have a Facebook/Instagram post that relates to our

challenge for July. Caring for our environment is but one way we can make a difference

through service.

Cheers

Debbie Williams

Lion Rodd Chignell

District Service Team

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ASHGROVE/THE GAP NEWS

Slowly and cautiously we are now emerging

from the restrictions that were placed on us all

by the Covid-19 pandemic. Life is gradually

getting back to some level of normality but, at

the time of writing, our regular Lions club

meetings are yet to be re-instated. However,

there is an expectation that our annual

changeover, when our new office-bearers are

formally declared, will take place at the end of

this month.

This event is an important one in the Lions club

calendar. It’s a time to thank outgoing office

bearers and to welcome in the new team. This

year the outgoing president is Neil Philips and

the president elect is Susie Green, who will be

ably supported by her enthusiastic team

members.

It is interesting to note that the idea of a female

president of any Lions club, worldwide, would

have seemed impossible prior to 1987, which is

when Lions Club International decided to

change the constitution to allow women to

become full members. Up until this time

women could only be part of the Lions family by

becoming a member of a Lioness club, which

had to be sponsored by a Lions club. These

Lioness clubs were formally recognised and had

their own president and supporting office

bearers but members were not able to vote or

hold office in any Lions club nor allowed to

attend any Lions conventions. Lioness clubs

were first formed In America in 1975 but in

1991 it was decided that Lions Club

International could better support Lionesses if

they became part of the organisation as full

Lions club members. Gradually, over the years

Lioness clubs were disbanded although a few

still remain to this day.

Neither Ashgrove nor The Gap Lions club had

registered Lioness clubs attached to them,

although both had strong Ladies Auxiliaries,

mostly made up by the spouses of club

members. Since the amalgamation of these two

clubs in 2007 the Ladies Auxiliaries gradually

petered out but there has been, and continues

to be, a steady increase in female Lions club

members. Ashgrove/The Gap has previously

had one other female president of the club,

Joyce Arnold, and so Susie Green will become

the second female to take on this role.

Congratulations Susie!

WHEELCHAIR AVAILABLE

The Lions Club of Toowoomba Wilsonton

Inc. has been given an electric wheelchair and

we have had it serviced by a reputable

company here in Toowoomba that sells this

type of equipment and it is now a perfectly

working, fully sanitised wheelchair with new

batteries.

We would like to donate it to a Lion or a Lion’s

family member. If there is no one that requires

a chair in our Lions Family, maybe a Lion’s

club knows of a community member in 201Q3

that needs an electric wheelchair.

It is looking a little dusty, but this photo is

the “before” picture

Contact me at robcar57@bigpond.net.au or

on 0448-955-744

Thanks

Bob Goldsworthy

Immediate Past President

Lions Club of Toowoomba Wilsonton Inc.

We Serve

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