Charter
Bundaberg Lions Charter
One Tuesday afternoon early in October 1964, a number of Bundaberg businessmen met in the Civic Centre meeting Room where the Mayor, Ald, C. J. Nielson, introduced three visitors, Jim McLardie, Secretary of Australian Lions, Jim Casey, President of Maryborough Lions Club, and Kev Clifford, member of Maryborough Lions Club.
Jim McLardie announced that he was in Bundaberg to assist Maryborough in forming a Lions Club in Bundaberg. After addressing the gathering it was generally agreed that a club should be formed. Two former Lions now resident in Bundaberg, Col Bourke (headmaster, West State School) and John Male (manager, Woolworths) along with John Crossley became the local committee to identify potential members for a new club.
The next meeting was held at the Metropolitan Hotel on 14th October 1964, attended by 15 potential members. Some of the motions passed at that meeting included
The Lions Club of Bundaberg be formed.
The joining fee be 4/10/ - ($9) minimum;
Annual dues be 8/ - / - ($16) minimum;
Dinner meetings be held on first and third Thursdays of each month;
Elected officers: President Guy Day-Lewis
Secretary John Crossley
Treasurer Bob Cook
15 Lions were inducted at that meeting.
Over the next four months leading up to Charter Night, there were many meetings to organise the new Club. All were attended by Jim Casey and Kev Clifford along with several other Maryborough Lions. On several memorable occasions every single member of the Maryborough Lions Club was present.
By 27th February 1965 another 10 Lions had been inducted into the Bundaberg Lions Club, making a membership of 25 on Charter Night.
CHARTER MEMBERS
ALASTAIR FIRTH ANDERSEN
JAMES ALLEN ANDERSON
COLIN WILLIAM BOURKE
JOHN ALBERT CASPAR
IAN HENRY CLARK
ALFRED WILLIAM JOHN COOK
JOHN COLIN CROSSLEY
ARTHUR JAMES DARNELL
GUY WARWICK DAY-LEWIS
DONALD STEWART DUNCAN
RONALD THEODORE GLASS
MICHAEL VICTOR GRUCHY
KEITH JOHN JOHNSON
ALFRED RICHARD KILLER
JOHN EDWARD MALE
WILLIAM JOSEPH McLEOD MARLES
FREDERICK JOHN McCRACKEN
FRANCIS JOHN McNAMARA
RONALD JAMES NEWMAN
GRAHAM JAMES PLATH
ERIC RYAN
EDGAR ADOLPH SANKOWSKY
WILLIAM NOEL SEARLE
EDWARD MONTAGU STOPFORD
GEORGE WALTERS
The Chartering of the Club was held in the Anglican Parish Hall and was attended by a total of 255 people, comprising 130 Lions, 83 Lions Ladies and 16 Club guests and 26 other citizens. The Lions in attendance travelled from Wide Bay area, Brisbane and surrounds, Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Home Hill.
The young Lions Club found it difficult to raise funds and for several months the Lions Club of Bundaberg worked on an overdraft, thanks to a very understanding bank manager (who was also the Club Treasurer).
Researched by Lion David Dempster