Annual Christmas cake fundraiser in full swing

HELPING OTHERS: Lions Club of Mount Gambier members Eric Roughana and Graham Carter display Christmas cakes on sale as part of the annual fundraiser.
HELPING OTHERS: Lions Club of Mount Gambier members Eric Roughana and Graham Carter display Christmas cakes on sale as part of the annual fundraiser.

LIONS Australia’s Christmas cakes have become a tradition in thousands of Australian homes renowned not only for exceptional flavour and quality, but also for warming the heart.

Perfected over the years, the traditional Lions Australia Christmas cake recipe is packed with high quality ingredients and 50pc fruit, but there is one magic ingredient in this cake that sets it apart from the rest.

The Lions Christmas cake makes a difference.

With all proceeds go back to Lions Club projects across the country, the cakes are helping cure childhood cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, supporting people with hearing, vision and mobility problems and making positive change in local communities.

Christmas cakes and puddings are Lions Australia’s largest annual fundraiser and over the past couple of weeks the local Mount Gambier based Lions Clubs have been out and about selling them in the community.

Lions Club of Mount Gambier member Graham Carter said they were always very popular with much of the profits going towards helping local schools, aged care facilities and the South East Animal Welfare League.

“A few days ago we had a lady come by and purchase 10 of the cakes so they are well liked throughout Mount Gambier,” he said.

“Each year, the fundraiser between all Lions and Lioness clubs in Mount Gambier raises around $20,000.”

The local Lions clubs are among more than 1200 clubs across Australia taking part in the Christmas cake fundraiser, with around 630,000 cakes sold in the country last year.

Lions Australia chief executive officer Rob Oerlemans said the organisation expects to break this record this year as they mark the 100 year anniversary of Lions International and 70 years of Lions Australia.

“To celebrate this exciting milestone, we have beautiful special edition cake tins available – they make a wonderful Christmas gift and they are selling fast,” he said.

“Lions Australia and our 1200-plus clubs are working on some very exciting and incredibly important projects right now and this year when purchasing a Christmas cake or pudding you can rest assured you will help make a real difference.”