By ALANA MITCHELSON
THE Lions Club of Geelong will launch a membership drive next month to encourage young people to sign up and give back to the community.
Club president Michelle Challis, a member from a “very young age”, said she had fond memories of selling Big Ms in her early teens and helping out with Australia Day barbecues.
Ms Challis joined the club in the footsteps of her father, Derek, a 45-year Lions veteran.
“At the moment we have 25 members and we’re aging. We’re mostly aged between our 30s and 50s,” Ms Challis said.
“It’s getting harder for young people to commit their time but it’s important to give back.
“It’s personally easier to sit back and say ‘I don’t have time and that someone else will do it’ but if we all give a little bit of our time, we’ll all benefit.
“Often the friendships you make at Lions are quite rewarding. There are people of varied ages and backgrounds.”
The Lions Club donated about $30,000 to various local, national and international projects each year, Ms Challis said.
The club will launch its membership drive at 7pm on 11 November at Newtown’s Steampocket Pizzeria and Café.
Rotary Club of Corio Bay president Sandy Thompson said the Lions were not the only organisation whose average age is getting older.
Many service clubs in the region were experiencing similar struggles sustaining members, she said.
“Part of the challenge is that society is more fast-paced.
“Work tends to take over family commitments and it’s hard for people to give up their spare time towards volunteering,” Ms Thomspon said.
“All we can do is build good will and strong friendships and hope that loyalty will grow from that.”
