By Gill Cooper
Ocean Grove’s Taylah Samuels, 9, recently became the 1000th child sponsored by the Lions Club of Geelong
Corio Bay to enjoy community living and outdoor activities at a wilderness camp in Licola.
Celebrating the milestone, Lions club member Brian Edwards said their five-day adventure at Licola wilderness
Village in January had been “an outstanding success” with most kids “very well behaved”.
He said 119 children aged between 8-11 years attended the camp with the help of external agencies and
sponsors plus a dozen other Lions clubs in the region who funded places at the camp.
“Activities include mini golf, trampolining, archery, boat building, obstacle courses and commando courses which
the kids loved,” Mr Edward said.
‘The program provides opportunities for children to build respect for others, confidence and self-esteem. It gives
them a break from home life and lets them enjoy a wilderness experience.
“Many of the children are from foster homes and others are put forward for this opportunity by family support
agencies. About half of the group were selected by their local schools to participate.”
Nine Lions club volunteers attended Camp 294, as well as 22 external volunteers including a registered nurse,
two former school teachers, a businessman and numerous tertiary students, he said.
Mr Edward said two local police officers who also attended this first camp of 2019 were “a great hit” in their
interactions with the kids, many of whom live in Corio and North Geelong.
“Each and every volunteer displayed outstanding commitment to the care and welfare of the children,” he said.
Since his retirement from Victoria Police in 2002, Mr Edward has personally secured $300,000 from various
community-based organisations and philanthropic foundations and trusts to sponsor places.
He said he finds it rewarding to help ensure “deserving” children from the Geelong region can benefit from
adventure-style activities they might not otherwise experience.
“Large numbers of children sponsored to the first annual camp would not be possible without the financial support
of these donors.”
Sponsors include Geelong Community Foundation, Geelong Connected Communities, Geelong Magistrate’s
Court, Howard Glover Trust, Dawn Wade Foundation, Raymond Estate Trust, Gary Johnson, Barwon Child,
Youth and Family, Drummond St Family support, The Smith Family, Drummond Street Family Support, and
district Lions Clubs at Lara, Ocean Grove/Barwon Child, Portarlington-Drysdale, Simpson and Geelong.
