2012 Feb - Lions Australia

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Tell the world who we are By Wing-Kun Tam, Lions Clubs International President Maybe you associate rap music with gritty urban life in America. Well, a Lions club in Hong Kong held a popular anti-drug rap competition. The winner told Lions that before the contest he thought Lions helped only older people. The rap contest opened his eyes and also succeeded in publicising our multifaceted service mission to many others. Working with Lions Clubs International, Lions in Wisconsin produced a very funny rap video. LCI wanted to show the fun side of Lions while showcasing our various service projects. The video works because it shatters the unfortunate stereotype of Lions as older and stodgy. The video is part of a larger public relations effort by LCI including public service announcements, roadside billboards and online advertising. The rap contest drew attention to Lions, and the rap video went viral, as amused Lions and others used e-mail, Twitter and Facebook to spread it. Lions need to do more public relations. It works. Publicising what we do and who we are results in more members, more partnerships, more support. Maybe a generation or two ago we could stand pat and let people come to us. Those days are gone. In the Internet age, amid a vast sea of information and groups vying for attention, success comes to those who pursue it. Clubs need to reach out to traditional outlets such as newspapers and television but also should use social media and Web networking. Create or improve the club’s Web site and Facebook page. Upload videos to YouTube. Tell LCI of your success stories using the new service activity reporting system. You don’t need to be an expert. LCI can help. On its Web site is a tutorial on setting up a Facebook page; our E-Clubhouse tool can help you design a Web site in minutes. LCI’s Web site also has tips on developing key messages, writing press releases and placing LCI’s public service announcements on television and radio. You need to believe in the power of public relations and then act with courage and commitment. It won’t get done unless you and your club do it. Tell our story, shout it out on the Web and in newspapers and get ready for new members and an increased level of service. 4 Geordie’s bookmark spreads far and wide A bookmark designed by a 14-yearold Brisbane student has proved a bonanza for Lions fundraising. The bookmark was produced by the Lifesaver Foundation and was created by Geordie McGrath, who also designed the successful and much sought after bookmark distributed at the International Convention in Sydney. Geordie is a 14-year-old student of St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace. He is a bright student who, with his fellow choir members at the school, has performed in such places as the Vatican. The choir has also been selected to perform at this year’s Anzac Day dawn service in Gallipoli. The bookmark was targeted at increasing membership by asking a simple question: ‘Who are the Lions and what do they do?’ It answered the question with brief statements. Those who were interested were then directed to the Lions Club website or their local Lions club. Brian McGrath OAM, a Lifesaver Foundation director, said the latest bookmark project has been one of the best yet. “Fifty were sent to every Lions club in Australia at no charge and the clubs were given the opportunity to order more. Any profits from this mail-out will go to the Overseas Specialist Services Association of Australia which annually sends 10 medical teams to East and West Timor.” When this issue of the Lion magazine went to press, more than 148,000 bookmarks had been despatched to clubs and District Governors. The Lifesaver Foundation was formed in 1985 from a grant of $200,000 from the original suppliers of Lions Mints. The foundation still has the $200,000 and for the last 25 years has used the interest from this money to increase awareness in the general public of what Lions do. The current directors are Brian McGrath OAM (Queensland), Doug Omond OAM (South Australia) and James MacLeod (Victoria). Geordie also helps his local Lions club pack Christmas gifts that are distributed by nurses who help the elderly and others. Lion
Joycie’s $3 million gift for sight Joyce Henderson spent a lifetime giving to people less fortunate than herself – and even in death her legacy continues. Her latest gift will go a long way in helping to prevent eye injury in children. The Joyce Henderson Trust has gifted $3 million to the Lions Eye Institute (LEI) in Western Australia to create a fellowship that will attract some of the finest young trainee eye doctors from around the country and the globe. The trust has been chaired for the past 10 years by long-time Lion member and former Speaker in the WA Legislative Assembly, the Hon. James Clarko. The bequest was made following a meeting between Mr Clarko and the LEI’s inaugural chair, PDG Brian King AM MBE. The pair has known each other for more than 45 years. After realising the Lions Eye Institute could answer the needs of the Trust, Brian arranged for the Managing Director of the Institute, Lion Professor David Mackey, to develop a range of options to fulfil the wishes of Joyce Henderson. “She would be delighted, knowing that such important work will be funded through one of the world’s great eye research institutes,” said James Clarko. Mr Clarko and his wife Edith met Joyce Henderson when they moved to the Perth beachside suburb of Trigg in the 1950s. Joyce was born Emily Joyce Henderson in Fremantle in 1907. She was one of five children – all of whom married although none had children. She married twice, to Captain John Turner in The $3 million cheque that will help to prevent eye injury in children. It came about following a meeting between long-time Lion and former Speaker in the WA Legislative Assembly, the Hon. James Clarko (left), and his friend PDG Brian King AM MBE, the Lions Eye Institute’s inaugural chair. February - March 2012 This philanthropist’s legacy lives on and on 1944, and Arthur Brushfield in 1979. “Joycie”, as she was known, was at the heart of community life, running a highly successful general store, post office and a small telephone exchange that was originally owned by her mother Lavinia. “Women with children who came to Joycie in need were always looked after,” James Clarko said. “She would always give them money and never expected it to be repaid. “If someone was struggling to sell a block of land and they needed money quickly, she would simply buy it off them. That was how she ended up owning so much of North Beach!” Joyce Henderson was a leading figure in the local Anglican parish and among her many contributions to the local community was the construction of the Henderson Environment Centre, housed within the beautiful Star Swamp Reserve. James Clarko said Joyce was a relative of leading WA paediatric ophthalmologist Mary Bremner, who had sparked her personal interest to support research into all causes of injuries and the ongoing health of children’s eyes. That commitment has now been translated into the creation of a prestigious new fellowship at the Lions Eye Institute. “The Trust made the decision to create a fellowship for a final year ophthalmology trainee or fellow who wishes to specialise in paediatric ophthalmology. “The $3 million will be invested to ensure the Joyce Henderson Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellow will continue in perpetuity.” Professor David Mackey said the Fellowship would attract top young trainee doctors and generate exciting research. “LEI is one of the leading medical research institutes in WA and a key global player in the prevention of blindness – and Princess Margaret Hospital’s paediatric ophthalmology training program is the most efficient in the country,” he said. “This remarkable bequest from the Joyce Henderson Trust will allow a final year trainee to conduct major research through LEI as well as undertaking clinical work at the hospital, with a focus on eye injuries. “Western Australia has never had a paediatric ophthalmology post with a major research component so this bequest is breaking new ground and provides a wonderful training ground for some of the world’s top young eye doctors. “Joyce Henderson’s legacy will be to send out into the world of paediatric ophthalmology a raft of highly trained and talented young doctors who can make a real difference to the prevention of injury in children’s eyes.” Professor Mackey said the research program would include: ● A trauma audit, making use of linked database resources in Western Australia. An example of the applications from this could be an analysis of eye injuries caused by magpie attacks, leading to improved education of children. ● Analysis of UV damage of the eye, particularly among children who participate in high-risk sun exposure sports such as surfing, life saving, sailing and cricket. Once the level of damage from these high-risk activities is established, research could look at future public health initiatives to reduce risk. Researchers at LEI are leading the world in this area. ● Analysis of the relationship between increased near work, decreased outdoor activity and rates of myopia (short-sightedness) in children. Research is needed to calculate optimal time outdoors to prevent myopia without increasing risk of sun damage. ● Creation of an ongoing prospective study into the link between strabismus (turned eye) in children and mothers smoking during pregnancy. How does smoking injure the developing brain and eyes? Many of these studies require long-term follow-up of participants. This has been a key feature of the Western Australian Birth Cohort (Raine Study) which has now been followed for 20 years. James Clarko said Joycie would have been delighted to know her bequest would do such important work.“All throughout her life she was a woman who gave an enormous amount to the community and, even with her passing, that giving continues.” – Francesca Robb 5
Page 1: Registered Registered by Australia
Page 6 and 7: LIONS ACTION Students with green th
Page 8 and 9: 8 10,000 satisfied Schoolies It cou
Page 10 and 11: U.S. Army turns to Lions Quest At s
Page 12 and 13: 12 PATRICK the Lion Namers P atrick
Page 14 and 15: LIONS YOUTH LEOS DO LIONS PROUD Com
Page 16 and 17: LIONS YOUTH 16 Young vision Brooke
Page 18 and 19: Stepping ahead in spinal cord recov
Page 20 and 21: A LIONS GUIDE What you should know
Page 22 and 23: When you feel proud to be a Lion So
Page 24 and 25: Cup’s a winner Melbourne’s raci
Page 26 and 27: Committee Vacancies The Council of
Page 28 and 29: 28 yoursay Lions’ letters Best da
Page 30 and 31: 30 Just some of our award winners

2012 Feb - Lions Australia

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