Emu Plains Lions Club's Vision to beat blindness

Lion Ian West recalls a time when visiting the Jenolan Caves one evening when all the lights went out and patrons were left in total darkness unable to see their own hand in front of them.   Jenolan is situated in a deep narrow valley a long way from the nearest township, and without lights, the place becomes pitch black and quite eerie.   This state is what millions of blind and visually impaired people around the world experience most of the time.

Sight First is a major International Lions project, and Emu plains Lions are collecting spectacles no longer in use by people having had optical prescriptions altered with time.   Collection boxes are located at the Victor Ing Pharmacy and the Emu Plains Optical Center located at the Lennox Shopping centre on the Great Western Highway, Emu Plains.  

Lion Sue Hunt (pictured left with Emu Plains Optometrist Frank Guernier) is currently heading up the local project for Emu Plains.   Thanks to Sue as well as earlier efforts by Shirley Brown, the Emu Plains Lions have up to date supplied almost 7,000 eyeglasses delivered to grateful recipients in need of optical correction.   Glasses collected are sent to a retired optometrist who donates his time and skills to grade our glasses and then takes them overseas for us.   They are then sent on to places like Africa, Nepal, and other Third World locations and distributed to the visually impaired under-privileged people who lack the means and funding to get optical aid by other means.

Acording to LCIF, SightFirst is Lions’ most ambitious and most successful initiative ever.   Thanks to Sight First, Lions have assisted in restoring sight to 4.6 million people worldwide through cataract surgeries, and helped to prevent serious vision loss for more than 20 million people.   Continued funding of this programme aims to improve eye care services for millions of people battling visual impairment worldwide.   SightFirst was launched by Lions in 1989 to battle preventable blindness.   Sadly, 80 percent of the world’s blind are needlessly without sight.   Through SightFirst, Lions have assisted to prevent blindness by supporting cataract surgeries, building and expanding eye hospitals and clinics, and distributing sight-saving medication as well as funding training of eye care professionals.

This project is of enormous importance to Lions, and continued support is imperative if we are to have any chance of getting through the monumental task of helping the Third World to see properly.  Emu Plains Lions Club would like to thank optometrist Frank Guernier from Emu Plains Optical (our main collection point for glasses throughout the year) for his continuing support for our Eye Glass Appeal.  We would also like to thank our other sponsors for their co-operation.   For more information, you can phone Lion Sue on (02) 4735 7789 (home) or Lion Ian West on (02) 4721 8709.

We greatfully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Jack Hunt for collecting the glasses from the various outlets in the area and delivering them for further processing.   Information for people interstate and overseas is also available from the Sight First Web Site.   This site provide complete information on the latest Lions International project, "Campaign SightFirst II".

Barnardos

Each year the Emu Plains Lions make donations to various organisations, including Barnardos.   Barnardos was set up to assist children, young people, families, and the community to build relationships.   Barnardos earmarked the 2005 Lions donation for paint to revamp a couple of rooms within their vast complex which was in need of repair.   The Lions decided to make a further contribution by offering to paint the rooms using Lions as painters thus leaving management to cover only material costs.

Early on Saturday morning on October 29, Lion David Kitley, (a painter by trade) rounded up his motley crew of six desparados and directed them to paint something beside themselves and each other.   The crew finished about 05:00pm and it is thought that some of the paint actually found its way on to the walls as well.

Lion Liam Nangle repaired a roof leak in one of the rooms which needed painting.   It is unclear whether the hole was there before the crew arrived.   Senior Manager, Trish Hurley, and Lorraine Roe looked after the troops with morning and afternoon teas and arranged a BBQ and refreshments around lunchtime.

(pictured left to right) Lions Bob Henry, Liam Nangle, Peter Teiffel, David Kitley, Alfred Stanislas, Ian West, and (former Lion) Eric Easterbrook.

LION'S HELP ON DEPRESSION DAY

On December 10, 2006, the Emu Plains Lions left on an 8 hour journey to assist at a gathering in Condobolin in the Central West of NSW in regard to "Depression Awareness Day".

Due to high temperatures and a lack of rain, the western region has practically run out of water and the farmers are struggling with failed crops, inability to re-plant as rain is not forthcoming, and loss of livestock as fields are bare and food is extremely scarce for the farm animals.

Penrith City Council sent out representatives in an effort to find out what assistance may be provided from the city, and 6 people representing the Emu Plains Lions were invited to assist on the day.   The farmers were invited to the meeting to talk to Health Specialists from various fields along with representatives from several councils.

The "Gathering on the Grass" event was held at Kiagathur Station 37 km west of Condobolin.   This event was a day for families & friends to get together to raise awareness of Depression, particularly in Country areas, and to have open discussions on the problem.

Approximately 300 people attended with many having travelled several hundreds of kilometres to attend the event.

Guest speaker, Mr. Sam Bailey, (Farmer, Pilot, & Author), was invited to give an inspirational talk to the assembly. He has recently been featured on "Australian Story" on ABC TV.   Dr Helen Stain, senior lecturer for the Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health had a very positive message to impart to the audience as well.

The day finished up with the Lions putting on a huge bar-b-que to feed the families attending the event.   Thanks to Carollyn West and Mary Henry for their invaluable assistance on the occasion.

RUSTY PINS CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONDOBOLIN DROUGHT RELIEF

The Rusty Pins quilting group of Emu Plains have formed a friendship group with the Condobolin Quilters, and out of this friendship was born the idea to make a quilt to raffle in order to raise some funds to help the members of this group, many of whom are farmers, in the Central West of New South Wales.

Quite a few of these ladies travel up to 100kms to come to their craft group which they describe as "their sanity" during these trying times. Our small group just wanted to help in any way we could, so these ladies could have a little bit of respite and then go back home to the harsh reality of their farms in drought conditions.

We have sold raffle tickets throughout the community and at the Lennox Shopping centre, in Association with the Emu Plains Lions Club and we will be sending all monies on to the Condobolin Quilters who will use the funds in their community where they are most needed.

If anyone would like to make a donation to this worthy cause, please feel free to donate through the Emu Plains Lions Drought Relief by contacting Club Secretary Bob Marsden on 4735 3229.

Our quilting group is a small one but we have made quite a few quilts for various charity groups. We meet at Emu Plains Neighbourhood centre on the 1st. and 3rd. Friday nights of each month at 7.30pm. We are always open to new members of any age. Any enquiries can be made to Kay Marsden on 4735 3229.

(Feature Material supplied by Kay Marsden from the Rusty Pins)