Torquay Lions Club has raised more than $96,600 for local, national and international causes over a big year.
Outgoing Lions president Colin Bellis said the club delivered on its motto of ‘We Serve’ over the past 12 months.
“Various Lions Foundations, created to assist communities in need, received $13,177 from Torquay Lions,” he said.
“$10,000 is being given this year to Foundation 61’s new House of Hope to support women confronting life-controlling issues.
“Without the generosity of the young and the older in this region, and our business community, we could fail in our mission, ‘To Serve’.”
Art of the Minds project founder and president Jules Haddock said she was grateful for the $12,500 Torquay Lions donation and its contribution to the Mental Health Week festival.
“Art of the Minds aims to activate, educate and engage the Surf Coast and wider community to creatively manage mental health and well-being,” she said.
“Through creative art-based conversations, ranging from theatre, song, visual arts, music, yoga, sound, sport events with a twist, and an exciting education event, this festival gives our community the right to talk about mental illness, and the responsibility to support one another.”
Ms Haddock said the festival’s message aimed to reduce stigma and normalise the mental illness experience across all ages and demographics.
“The project forges connections with all community members from young to old,” she said.
“Art of the Minds is passionate about sharing resilience-focused messages by reinforcing through creative education platforms that hope is central to the recovery of all mental well-being challenges.
“We focus on the importance of community connections, by attracting like-minded individuals to not only attend our events but also share positive lived experiences of mental well-being management.”
