The Lion king

Andrew Mathieson
IT COULD be a scene played out behind the Vatican walls rather than in another dusty Australian hall.
Wise old heads gather around, interview candidates, analyse credentials and, after four or five ballots elect their new leader.
But this time the only white smoke to waft out – which would otherwise ceremoniously signal a new pope – is from the occasional puffs of a cigarette smoked by weary Lions clubs’ governors celebrating a job well done.
The similarity to the process in the papal enclave causes the Lions’ latest national council chairman, Bob Gilchrist, to giggle uncontrollably.
“It’s a bit like that,” he jokes, “but without the robes.”
Bob’s record with Lions as a two-time Leopold club, secretary, treasurer, even district chairman representing a handful of zones and 68 small clubs in Victoria’s south west, makes for an impressive portfolio.
Outpointing seven rival district governors from three states won him Bob the final nod for the national job.
But, surprisingly, the service club organisation established in Australia in 1947 has never had a Geelong resident ascend to the top until this year.
“I don’t know why,” Bob ponders.
“I know three others here have gone for it but it’s a process of elimination.”
Once in the job, the role as national council chairman is more akin to politicking. During the one-year term, the chairman presides over the national convention and meetings all over the country.
At every public appearance Bob’s wife, Barbara, joins his side more often than would the partner of the most popular Prime Minister.
Partners are an integral part of any Lions’ governor’s leadership chances. In fact, they even play their part in the election process.
As a husband, Bob’s smart like a pollie, too, mentioning Barbara’s name in dispatches like a well-worn speech.
“She’s there to keep me in line with the fans as well,” he says.
Just like a campaign trail, Bob and Barbara hop into a car after lunch in Ballarat to head toward Heywood for the afternoon where, as chairman, he will swear in the club’s new board of directors.
It’s all part of the job, Bob observes.
Not that he wants a rest but, at 70, he probably deserves one.
After arriving from Northern Ireland in 1959 Bob joined Australia’s original Apex club in Geelong.
The club sponsored him to work at the city’s Ford factory in product development for the next 34 years under the former Bring out a Brit scheme.
As a young man, he learned how to express himself with confidence in Apex through traditional public speaking competitions.
“But I still have the nerves talking until I get into it,” Bob admits five decades on.
“I’ve had to speak in front of 1200 (people), so I sort of have confidence speaking in front of large crowds.”
However, Bob’s stage fright withers away when he dons a costume and his voice can reach a higher octave in song when indulging his love of amateur theatre.
He has no fear in playing leading musical roles as Curly in Okalahoma, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Ben Rumson in Paint Your Wagon and Colonel Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun.
Bob has produced shows year after year and run workshops that have seen Guy Pearce, Barry Crocker and Tim McCallum walk through the theatre doors.
Bob now restricts productions to retirement homes these days but still can’t crack the habit of putting on a good show for the audience.
“I got involved with the theatre way back and have done a fair bit of singing,” Bob proudly boasts.
“I enjoy working back stage and front of house at times but I enjoy the performing the most.”