40 Years of the Yankalilla & District Lions Club
Barry Jeffery

Barry joined us to talk about the history of the Club. He has been a member since 1991 and now, looking back on his school days at Peterborough High, he has a different outlook on the subject of history!

The Lions was formed by Melvin Jones in Chicago 1917 to provide services to the community. There are now more than 4,800 clubs in 200 countries. In recognition of the founder there is a Melvin Jones Fellowship. The first Australian club was founded in 1947 and the Yankalilla district club in 1985. In 2001, the first woman became a member and there are now 15 female members. At present there are 44 members, including 6 Charter members, and about six young members.

During the 40 years, the Club has only had one break from meetings and that was during the Covid pandemic. The Club provides numerous services across the district from supporting school children with scholarships, building the shade cloth for the children’s playground to helping the Surf Lifesaving Club and providing medical checks for skin cancers. Fundraising takes the form of recycling, hire of equipment, BBQs and the Lions Book Shed. Over its history $1.5 million has been raised for the benefit of the community and global charities. The Quilt Display, held biennially from 1991, was one of the early fundraisers, which was recognised Australia wide by quiltmakers. The Museum has been a Lions project from its inception in 1987, for example the toilet block and John Fisher Shed.

The Historical Society receives Lions help to upkeep local cemeteries and create memorials like Normanville’ s Avenue of Honour. In recognition, the Society’s website lists the Lions as an organisation that preserves and promotes the district’s heritage.