Four of its founding members — Beatrice Johnson, Jennifer Clearwater, Joan Young, and charter president Barbara Williams — were present at Invercargill Foundry Restaurant on March 26 to celebrate the occasion.
Club president Denise Zonnefeld said the evening was a time to reflect on the club’s achievements, honour its long-serving members, and look ahead to the future.
Club photographer Beatrice Johnson, who has documented the club’s events for more than three decades, was given a special appreciation for preserving the club’s history.
Originally chartered as the Lioness Club of Wyndham in 1980, the club provided women in the district with opportunities to serve their community while building friendships.
Over the years, members undertook ambitious projects, from hosting fashion shows and variety concerts to bagging potatoes and baking thousands of cheese rolls to raise funds for local initiatives.
Faced with changes to Lions International policies, the club transitioned from a Lioness Club to an official Lions Club in 1993. Since then, it has continued its legacy of fundraising and community service, supporting causes such as Camp Quality, Southland Hospice, the Ronald McDonald Room at Southland Hospital and the Gore Food Bank.
While membership numbers have shifted over the years, the club remains committed to its mission.
A major fundraiser has been catering for the Wyndham Harness Racing Club, earning a reputation for offering some of the best food at racing events. Newer initiatives, such as the annual Toot For Support drive, demonstrated the club’s ability to evolve with the community’s changing needs, Mrs Zonnefeld said.
The group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Three Rivers hotel at 6pm. Mrs Zonnefeld said anyone interested was welcome to join. — APL
