Top award given to Lions member

AWARD GIVEN: Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell presents the Lions Melvin Jones Fellowship Award to Trevor Fulton alongside outgoing president Jill Austin and District Governor Daryl Morley.

Charlotte Varcoe

AFTER being involved in the Lions Club for more than 20 years, Mount Gambier’s Trevor Fulton was awarded the Lions Melvin Jones Fellowship Award at the recent changeover dinner.

The award is considered the highest form of recognition for Lions Club members and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lions.

Mr Fulton first began his journey with the Lions Club whilst living in Tumby Bay before moving to Mount Gambier in 2000.

Deciding to join the club following his retirement from a long career as a farmer, Mr Fulton said he had never lived anywhere close to town or anywhere where there was a service club to join.

“This meant I couldn’t do real community work so when I retired I thought service work was one thing I wanted to do,” Mr Fulton said.

“Originally I joined the Rotary Club and was there for a few years before shifting to the Lions Club.”

Transferring his membership to Mount Gambier’s Lions Club 13 years ago, Mr Fulton said he had enjoyed his time serving the community thus far.

“I think a real highlight for me was when one of our other members got a project going which helped people that were going to Adelaide for cancer treatment,” he said.

“We raised a lot of money for Greenhill Lodge to support people from the South East who used the service for either weeks or months while getting treatment which was a real benefit for the community.

“I have also been involved in the Lucindale Field Days and have done a lot of catering for the club there over the years which has been a highlight because within recent years it has been one of the only things we have made money from which we could then contribute back to the community.”

Mr Fulton said throughout the years, the real benefit of volunteering for the community organisation was helping those in need.

“I also help with the Riding for the Disabled group which I have really enjoyed doing because watching the kids riding the horses and the joys on their faces really makes you appreciate that you are contributing to something special,” he said.

Appealing to those interested in volunteering or joining a service club, Mr Fulton said people should do it sooner rather than later due to the increase in age of current members.

“We are in need of more members as we are all getting older and not getting many younger people joining,” he said.

“Service clubs need better support from the community and we understand people are so busy with their lives these days but we are desperate for new members so anybody who may be interested should join as soon as possible.”

During the changeover dinner, members also celebrated the induction of incoming president Steve Bell and retiring president Jill Austin.

Other award recipients included Trevor Buckell being presented with the Australian Lions James D Richardson Award.