History

In 2026 the Lions Club of Brisbane Camp Hill Carindale celebrates 60 years of service to our community. Here is how our story began, what we have achieved, and the people who have led us along the way.

Formation and early history

In April 1966, three Balmoral Lions, under the enthusiastic leadership of their President Ben Goffin and District Extension Chairman Ted Kalinin, approached a number of local business people in the Camp Hill–Carina area about forming a Lions club. Their representations were well received, and many local businessmen felt that a Lions club would be a great vehicle for fostering community spirit in the suburb.

A meeting of interested people was held at the Railway Hotel, Woolloongabba, in April 1966, and the club was formed. At the Charter Dinner on 6 August 1966, President Jack Tobin accepted the Charter from Lions Clubs International. Our club serves the communities of Camp Hill, Carina and Carindale. Carindale was included when the name changed to Camp Hill Carindale Lions Club on 7 June 1990.

Membership has fluctuated since our original 24 members, but the club has always been an effective and driving force in the community.

Key dates

• 27 April 1966: Charter established for the Lions Club of Brisbane Camp Hill.
• 6 August 1966: Charter formally presented to President Jack Tobin by Lions Clubs International.
• 7 June 1990: Club name officially changed to Lions Club of Brisbane Camp Hill Carindale.
• February 1992: The first women were admitted to the club.

Some major achievements

In the early 1970s, at the urging of Past Presidents George Shaw, Tony Ryan and Bill Mears, the club was instrumental in the formation of the Camp Hill – St Thomas and Carina Senior Citizens Club. Our involvement with the Carina club has continued, and several Lions, including Lion Garth Inglis, have served on the Carina & District Committee on the Ageing. PDG Ken Scells led the building of the Carina Senior Citizens Centre, which is also used by Carina Meals on Wheels. It is a major task, and the centre has been a great success for our elderly citizens.

In 1991, a large number of members helped organise and run Brisbane’s first International Lions Convention at the Boondall Convention Centre. It included an “Aussie Picnic” and a hugely successful City Centre March of Lions from all over the world.

Our Lions Park, on the corner of Old Cleveland Road and Narracott Street, Carina, is another major achievement. It was the late Lew Phillips’ dream, and it has been developed progressively with the City Council from 1992 onwards, including a rotunda. Gaming Commission grants of $4,000 and $6,500, plus Council spending of around $20,000, under the chairmanship of Lion Bruce Hunt, created a marvellous park. It is regularly used by local families and children, and by the club for tree plantings and a Remembrance Ceremony on National Tree Day each July.

The club won the Club of the Year Award for 1993–94 in District 201Q1, which then comprised 82 clubs in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. It was the culmination of an extremely busy year that included sponsoring the new Brisbane Finlandia Club. Our President was Lion Stan Rawlings, and Lions Lady Thelma was President of the Ladies Auxiliary.

In February 1998, 15 Lions and partners built a $40,000 bandstand at Whites Hill Reserve in a single weekend, with some help from Coorparoo Lions, in support of local Councillor Michael Caltabiano. It was a brilliantly successful project and a really positive example of Lions serving their community.

Community projects over the years

Our projects over the years have been incredibly numerous, and examples of our work remain as a reminder of the efforts of Lions past and present. They include:

• Helping Headway Inc. paint the Whites Hill Guides Hut and re-roof the Camp Hill Guides Hut.
• Supplying Talking Book equipment to blind people, and helping the Wattle League for the disabled.
• A computerised Touch Talker for a person with cerebral palsy ($4,500 raised), 1993–94.
• Catering the Farmhand Concert at Glenmorgan, near St George, organised by the late Lion Jim Wilson, 1995.
• The Queensland Cancer Fund Doorknock Appeal. Lion Nev Davis was Area Co-ordinator for Carina and Camp Hill for the 15 years to 2000, and Lion Stan Rawlings was Area Co-ordinator for Carindale for 20 years. Between them, with marvellous support from local residents and Lions, they raised over $150,000 for the Queensland Cancer Fund.
• Bus outings for Greenmeadows pensioners, and a donated television set and video.
• Christmas Cheer: Christmas cake slices for the Bulimba and Carina Meals on Wheels kitchens, and Christmas cakes for the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul and Brisbane City Mission.
• Citizenship ceremonies for new Australians, held every Australia Day since 26 January 2000. These local functions are a huge success and very popular with our newly naturalised Australians.
• The Lions Youth of the Year Quest, held annually for local high schools.

Fundraising over the years

Over the years the club has raised funds through the Magic Show, the Queensland Cancer Fund Doorknock, sales of Lions Mints, Christmas cakes, the Christmas liquor raffle, the Hawkins Nursery raffle, a Melbourne Cup function, and the sale of Lucky Envelopes at the Crackerjack Carnival.

Where the funds have gone

• The Lions Miss Personality Quest, where we regularly had an entrant raising funds for the Lions Medical Research Foundation. We topped this up to at least $5,000 a year to help eradicate river blindness in Africa.
• The Lions Cord Blood Bank Appeal, for research funds at the Mater Hospital, which we have supported regularly with over $10,000.
• Lions Clubs International’s SightFirst campaign, which raised $140 million worldwide in 1993 and 1994. Our club donated over $2,000, and later $1,000 towards SightFirst II.
• Replacement vehicles for St Luke’s Nursing Service, Camp Hill, and the Blue Care Nursing Service, Salvin Park.
• Annual donations to the Australian Lions Foundation since its creation, and natural disaster appeals, including the Brisbane, Lismore, Charleville, Townsville and Innisfail floods, the South Australian bushfires and numerous cyclones.
• For many years, the sale of Lucky Numbers at local primary school fetes to support those schools, as well as the Whites Hill State College Chaplaincy and countless other local and district charities.

Women in the club

Lions clubs were originally male only. In 1987, Lions approved women joining Lions clubs, and our club admitted its first women in February 1992, when three women transferred from the Mansfield Lioness Club as it handed in its Charter.

The admission of women had an unfortunate side effect. The Lions Ladies (wives of Lions), who had served as a most effective Ladies Auxiliary for the club’s first 28 years, found their position rather different, and the Ladies Auxiliary disbanded in 1995. In the past, they greatly assisted the club at Election Day stalls, Art Unions, the Crackerjack Carnival, Melbourne Cup Day functions and social activities.

Eight women have been elected Club President: Janell Fox, Fay King, Mary Phillips, Kathy Davies, Margaret Scells, Amy Mulvihill, Marie Ryan and Libby Salles.

Community projects in recent years

• Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony
• Anzac Day BBQ
• Community BBQs
• Lions Youth of the Year
• Clean Up Australia Day
• Lions Eye Health Program
• Community Tree Planting Day
• Volunteer Expo
• Kindness Cupboard Food Drive
• Rashie swim shirts for primary school children
• Pancakes in the Parks at community events
• Whites Hill College bursary, with the Lions Community Impact Award presented
• Lions Lap the Map for Diabetes
• Lions Awareness Day
• Mother’s Day Roses
• Rededication of the club
• Catering for Movies in the Park
• Eyeglasses recycling
• School chaplaincy at Carina State School
• Prader-Willi fundraiser
• Community Friends charity
• BlueCare Seniors Expo
• Backbone Youth Arts Festival
• R U OK? Day
• Carina State School Carnival, with a BBQ
• The “Spooktacular”, which we started with Cr Lisa Atwood as a celebration of the end of Covid
• Support for the Moreton Bay Boys’ College Leos

Fundraising in recent years

• Christmas Cake fundraiser
• Magic Show
• Bunnings BBQs
• Community fundraiser BBQs
• Corporate fundraiser BBQs
• Matsuri Festival parking
• Belmont Tavern meat raffles
• Lions Mints

District Governors from our club

Over the years, our club has proudly produced leaders who have served the wider Lions district as District Governor.

• PDG Noel Gollschewski, 1989–1990
• PDG Ken Scells, 1992–1993
• PDG David Greenup, 2019–2020
• PDG Ian Bruning, 2022–2023
• PDG Jorge Salles, 2024–2025

Looking ahead

The members of the Lions Club of Camp Hill Carindale can be justifiably proud of their achievements over the past 60 years. A major contributing factor has been that a majority of our members, both men and women, are outstanding members of their community with outstanding organisational and management expertise, so our projects are well managed. We look forward to the future with confidence in our ability to “Serve our Community” with distinction.

 

 

 

 

 

Honour Roll

YEAR	PRESIDENT	SECRETARY	TREASURER
2025/26	Carl Miller	Maria Murtas	Kevin Whitmee
2024/25	Libby Salles	Maria Murtas	Kevin Whitmee
2023/24	Kerry Kilpatrick	Libby Salles	David Greenup
2022/23	Lyndon Kurth	Bill Dahl	Kerry Kilpatrick
2021/22	Marie Ryan	David Greenup	Kerry Kilpatrick
2020/21	Bill Dahl	David Greenup	Darryl Moses
2019/20	Ian Bruning	Lyndon Kurth	Kerry Kilpatrick
2018/19	Lourens Feuth	Linda Draper	Jorge Salles
2017/18	Kerry Kilpatrick	Linda Draper	Ken Scells
2016/17	Lyndon Kurth	David Greenup	Ken Scells
2015/16	David Greenup	Lyndon Kurth	Lourens Feuth
2014/15	Ian Bruning	Mary Phillips	Lourens Feuth
2013/14	Amy Mulvihill	Megan Lowndes	Sharon Lowndes
2012/13	David Greenup	Mary Phillips	Ian Bruning
2011/12	Margaret Scells	Mary Phillips	Paul Mulvihill
2010/11	Kathy Davies	Marianne Gayton, Mary Phillips & Jenny Worling	Paul Mulvihill
2009/10	Jorge Salles	Jenny Worling & Mary Phillips	Paul Mulvihill
2008/09	Jorge Salles	Mary Phillips	Paul Mulvihill
2007/08	Paul Mulvihill	Jenny Worling & Mary Phillips	Ken Scells & Garth Inglis
2006/07	Ken Scells	Ian Bruning	Paul Mulvihill
2005/06	Ian Bruning	Jenny Worling & Marianne Gayton	Paul Mulvihill
2004/05	Mary Phillips	Chris Strohfeldt	Stan Rawlings
2003/04	Gary Jones	Chris Strohfeldt	Jorge Salles
2002/03	Paul Mulvihill	Mary Phillips	Jorge Salles
2001/02	Greg Jenner	Mary Phillips	Garth Inglis
2000/01	Ken Howatson	Jenny Worling	Paul Mulvihill
1999/00	Ken Howatson	Ian Hawes	Paul Mulvihill
1998/99	Ian Hawes	Garth Inglis	Paul Mulvihill
1997/98	Fay King	Annette Quinn	Stan Rawlings
1996/97	Ken Howatson	Stan Rawlings	Garth Inglis
1995/96	Lew Phillips	Garth Inglis	Stan Rawlings
1994/95	Janell Fox & Jim Wilson	Ken Scells	Nev Davis
1993/94	Stan Rawlings	Garth Inglis	Alan Wickham
1992/93	Dudley Fisher	Garth Inglis	Fay King
1991/92	Lew Phillips	Garth Inglis	Alan Wickham
1990/91	Nev Davis	Bob Mills	Garth Inglis
1989/90	Craig Gollschewski	Col Grant	Wayne Hartig
1988/89	Noel Mullins	Col Grant	Nev Davis
1987/88	Wayne Hartig	Noel Gollschewski	Dudley Fisher
1986/87	Barry Cutler	Aub Short	Dudley Fisher
1985/86	Col Grant	Aub Short	Garth Inglis
1984/85	Nev Davis	Merv Lupton	Ken Scells
1983/84	Vern Dean	Noel Gollschewski	Ken Scells
1982/83	Jim Wilson	Vern Dean	Brian Ciseau
1981/82	Barry Cutler	Merv Lupton	Steve Russell
1980/81	Jim Wilson	Ken Scells	Barry Cutler
1979/80	Noel Gollschewski	Ted Pottle	Ken Scells
1978/79	Henry Ford	Noel Gollschewski	Ted Pottle
1977/78	Ossie Wirth & Henry Ford	Noel Gollschewski	John Connelly
1976/77	Ken Scells	Nev Kruger	Bill Mears
1975/76	Vern Trost	Nev Kruger	Ian Powys
1974/75	Tony Ryan	Bob Field	Don Lukes
1973/74	Bill Mears	Norm Hall	Don Lukes
1972/73	Theo Dipple	George Shaw	Nev Deeks & John Vos
1971/72	George Shaw	Theo Dipple	Ken Scells & Alan Green
1970/71	Ian Powys	Nev Kruger	Don Luke
1969/70	Jack Hinton	Eric Biskup	Bill Mears
1968/69	Jack Price	George Shaw	Herb Opperman
1967/68	Eric Biskup	George Shaw	Herb Opperman
1966/67	Jack Tobin	Paul Flanagan	Bill Mears

 

Charter Members

ALLAN ADDLEY	DUNCAN GILBERT	HERB OPPERMANN
ERIC BISKUP	GEORGE HOARE	PETER OSBOURNE
STEVE BROWN	NEVILLE KRUGER	JACK PRICE
ERNIE CAIRNS	TREVOR LEONARD	TOM QUINLAN
BOB CHESTER-MASTER	ALAN MURRELL	GEORGE SHAW
BOB FIELD	BOB McBEATH	DON THOMPSON
JOHN FITZGERALD	KEN McNAUGHT	JACK TOBIN
PAUL FLANAGAN	BILL MEARS	ANDREW YATES

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