Ash Bolt
More than 100 Geelong residents received a belated Australia Day treat, with the Lions Club of Geelong Corio Bay providing free rides on the Ferris wheel at Eastern Beach last week.
Lions Club of Geeong Corio Bay’s Brian Edward handed out 154 free tickets to the wheel, provided by operator Hilite Amusements, to deserving children and their families last Thursday.
It allowed Encompass Community Services’ clients living with disability, disadvantaged youths from Geelong’s northern and eastern suburbs who took park in the Lions Club’s recent Licola Wilderness Village camps and refugee families supported by Diversitat to experience the Ferris wheel.
“Every kid [at the camp] was given an invitation to bring their family down to the Ferris wheel for a treat,” he said.
“It was all about giving these families the chance to experience something that they otherwise may not.”
Mr Edward said he was pleased with the turnout, despite the threat of poor weather on Thursday afternoon.
“Apart from the free Ferris wheel ride, each child was given an Australian flag with compliments of Geelong’s Australia Day committee,” he said.
“So overall my view is that the Lions Club of Geelong Corio Bay ferris wheel treat project was a success.”
Mr Edward said the program was an extension of a camps he ran through the Lions Club of Geelong Corio Bay last month, where 132 children from lower socio-economic were sponsored by the club and other Geelong organisation to take part in a short camp at Licola Wilderness Village.
The camps are for children aged between eight and 11 and feature activities designed to build respect for others, confidence and self-esteem.
More than 1000 children have been sponsored by the club to take part in the camp.
