Words: Zena Savage

Lions have recently been seen in the Brighton Council community; however, these are not the four-legged creatures you might imagine. Rather, they are dedicated individuals from the Lions Club of Brighton.

The Lions Club of Brighton are a small but committed group of volunteers who balance their service with personal, family and professional responsibilities. Our membership represents both men and women, each contributing their unique skills and generously dedicating their time to support our community.

Our motto is “Making our communities a better place to live, work and grow.” While our efforts primarily focus on the local area, our reach also extends to regional, national and international communities. All funds raised are reinvested into supporting our local community.

We are widely recognised for organising monthly markets (held on the first Sunday from February to November, and a Saturday Twilight Market in December). In addition to the market, we actively uphold our motto by addressing numerous requests for assistance throughout the year. In the past year, our initiatives have included:

• Presenting Rising Star Awards. One Year 6 student from each local school receives a $400 gift voucher from Officeworks to facilitate a smooth transition to high school
• Concreting a section of driveway to improve wheelchair access into the home for a local resident
• Preparing and serving an evening meal at Ronald McDonald House, where families can stay while their child is in hospital
• Providing one-off gardening support for an elderly woman following her husband’s passing.

We also make financial contributions of varying amounts to enable locals to participate in:

• State sporting events
• Medical procedures on the mainland
• A two-year program in Austria for an opera singer
• The Windward Bound Youth Adventure Tallship voyage.

Additionally, we support other community events and charities such as:

• Running the free BBQ at The Brighton Christmas Carols
• $500 donation to Brighton Youth Action Group for Youth week activities
• $500 donation to Australian Bush Fire and Flooding Appeal
• $50 donation Herdsman Cove Primary School’s 2025 Aboriginal NAIDOC Week Celebration
• Assisting other clubs in delivering their events, including the Glenorchy Model Train Show and activities in New Norfolk.

With increased membership (particularly among younger community members), the impact of the Lions Club of Brighton could be significantly enhanced. New members would contribute additional manpower, as well as fresh perspectives and ideas.

We encourage all community members to consider getting involved and making a meaningful contribution. To learn more about the Lions Club of Brighton, please visit our Facebook page. You are welcome to attend our meetings, which take place at 6:30pm on the third Monday of each month at the Old Council Chamber in Pontville. Meetings typically last about one hour. We look forward to welcoming you and addressing any questions you may have.