Community & Business
13 July, 2022
Clifton Lions Club welcomes new executive
Clifton Lions Club held its 55th annual changeover on Saturday, 2nd July, which saw quite a few roles change hands.
Outgoing president Maryann Bisdee thanked her outgoing executive including Cynthia and Mike Conway.
Mike was presented with a plaque celebrating his 11.5 years as treasurer. Mrs Bisdee said he is now taking a break on the back benches to recharge his batteries.
The new executive is:
President, Peter Free; Secretary, Maryann Bisdee; Treasurer, Sharon Manning; 1st Vice Pres., Mike Conway; 2nd Vice Pres., Andrew Highet; Membership chair, Bill Cameron; Cakes & Mints Chair, Peter Bisdee; Tail Twister, Andrew Highet.
As well as the induction of officers, a few awards were presented.
The Gold award for Childhood cancer research was presented to Chris and Louise Bazley.
This award was presented in conjunction with the Clifton State School whose students took part in the world’s longest coin line and passed the money on to the Lions Club a few months ago.
“This along with a donation from our club meant we could award the plaque,” Mrs Bisdee said.
‘Thank yous’ were also presented to the Youth of the Year Judges Bernadette Trimingham and Mark Munro.
Donations were presented to local organisations:
Toowoomba Hospice
Can Do Cottage
Clifton Scouts Ass.
Clifton State School breakfast club
Clifton State High School breakfast club and uniform shop
Clifton QCWA
The culmination of the afternoon was the presentation of two Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards by 1st Vice District Governor Andy Fitzgerald.
These were awarded to Lion Peter Free and Lion Maryann Bisdee.
Mrs Bisdee also delivered her President’s Report.
“It has been an honour to be president of this great club for the last few years,” she said.
“Our numbers have increased throughout the last year. We are currently steady at 15 members; however, in April we had a long-standing member Les Mason resign due to age and ill health.
“We wish Les and Marj all the best and remind them that they continue to be part of our lions family.”
Mrs Bisdee thanked many people and organisations for their help over the past year, from running their weekly ‘Goose Club’ raffles at the Clifton Arms Hotel to the Iced Christmas Cake raffle and much more.
Future plans include the “Remolea” Bull sale and a Bunnings barbecue next week, a trivia night in October and taking a more active role in running the Clifton Christmas Street Party.
Mrs Bisdee said it would be remiss to not thank her outgoing executive board members Lions Mike and Cynthia Conway.
“Mike after 11.5 years as treasurer of our club and Cynthia, 18 months as secretary, (when she was only going to help out for a few weeks), Lion Peter Free, as our Vice President, thanks for being there when I couldn’t.
“To our regular club members if there is such a thing as regular members in this club, you are each fantastic, you all have skills that are special and I look forward to spending lots more time with you all.”
