Gordonvale Lions in Gordonvale, Queensland | Community group

Gordonvale Lions

Locality: Gordonvale, Queensland

Phone: +61 418 712 925

Address: George Street 4865 Gordonvale, QLD, Australia

Website: http://gordonvale.qld.lions.org.au/

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25.01.2022 THE GORDONVALE LIONS AND THE MERRY GO ROUND Hec Stampa, a resident of the Gordonvale district for about 85 years and Life Member of the Gordonvale Lions Club a...dds his recollections to the merry-go-round story from the October 2019 edition of the Pyramid Views. Gordonvale Lions was chartered in 1968. One of the earliest efforts to raise funds was to hire a merry-go-round from Cairns. It was a good unit and worked well too. Simple procedure- go to Cairns, load up 50 or so pieces, bring to the site, unload and reassemble. When the day was over, reverse the above. In the end, we thought it was too much trouble and so we decided to make one of our own. Jack Kenny suggested to make it on a trailer. I can’t remember how it came about, but the Mill Social Club had already made 10 horses and donated them to us. They only needed sanding, painting and stirrups added and they were ready to go. Lions member, Bruce Frost worked at the Mill. He drew up or had the plans done for the merry-go-round. I remember clearly working for many weekends with Bruce Frost, Nick Kaupilla, John McKenzie, Vito Fermo and Bill Thomas cutting, welding, heating and bending so many of the hundreds of parts that went into putting the merry-go-round together. The centre pole is an integral part of the trailer, as are the four corner posts along with the heavy duty screw jack from a 1964 Massey Ferguson 515 cane harvester donated by Jim Hesp. It also required a right angle drive from the electric motor to the centre pole of the merry-go-round. A second hand diff and axle from a Holden V8 did the job. Somewhere along the way a hydraulic disc brake with callipers was fitted. The trailer was purpose built, not just rugged, but full of nooks and crannies to store and secure the approximately 60 pieces that make the merry-go-round work. I remember when the machinery inspector arrived to check the merry-go-round which was ready to go. He placed (got us to do it actually) one 50kg bag of fertiliser on each of half of consecutive horses and gave the order, START IT UP! Are you trying to break it? we asked. Yes, start it up, was the response. As we all know, our work of love passed with flying colours. In the past 50 years the merry go round has had one minor rebuild of slightly worn rings and hooks (horses to merry-go-round) and at least two complete paint jobs. The trailer floor has also been replaced with 15mm weather ply. So, how good is the mobile merry-go-round? I am confident that you could tow it from here to Perth and back again with no problems. It has been an incredible asset for our community (profitable too) for 50 years. Look after it and the beautiful fun machine is good for another 100. Words by Hec Stampa Photo by Tricia Hesp See more

25.01.2022 Gordonvale Pony Club would like to thank the Lions Club for their generous donation of $1000. Our club has had a challenging and disappointing season, like so many other clubs. So Thank you so much.

24.01.2022 Gordonvale Official timings 3:30am Gunfire breakfast at Gordonvale RSL Annex (next to tennis court in Norman Park) 4:27am Dawn Service begins at Norman Park cenotaph followed by service/ wreath laying... 6:00am Breakfast at Norman Park 9:00am Commemorative march from Gordonvale Primary School to Norman Park (cenotaph) followed by service/ wreath laying Road closures - 9am to 11am Gordon Street from Mills Street to Norman Street Norman Street from Gordon Street to Cannon Street Cannon Street from Norman Street to George Street George Street from Cannon Street to Sheppards Street Lest we remember them

24.01.2022 LIONS CLUB HAS NEW PRESIDENT The Gordonvale Lions Club has a new President and for the first time ever, it is a woman. Denise Bewert was recently inducted as... the President of the club. Denise takes over from popular and hard-working ex- President, Glenn Pope. Glenn has been elected as the 2019 Secretary and Sandra Miller will continue in her role as Club Treasurer. Denise, originally from Brisbane, has lived in Gordonvale for 25 years. ‘One of the main reasons I enjoy being a member of Gordonvale Lions is the sense of service and support that the Lions members give, not only to members of the community, but also to each other. I am very excited about being able to follow in the traditions and community involvement that have been established in the past,’she said. ‘I really recommend that if Gordonvale citizens are looking for a social, community service oriented club, they can’t beat the Lions Club.. Our club is growing as people start to realise the enjoyment and satisfaction of being in a community service organisation. New members are always made very welcome so contact me by email or phone if you would like to come and join us at one of our meetings which are 7:00pm for 7:30pm start at Gordonvale Bowls Club every second and fourth Thursday each month. Contact: [email protected].’ The Gordonvale Lions Club is the second largest Lions Club in the Cairns District. Denise and the new committee have a few new community service activities planned. The first of these started on July 26 with Music Bingo, held at the Gordonvale Bowls Club. Music Bingo aims at providing a fun afternoon for our more mature citizens. Music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s isplayed and great prizes are offered. Denise said Music Bingo would be held once monthly to start, and if it proves popular, will be held once a fortnight. ‘Lions will also continue its traditional fund raising activities such as the food van and hire equipment. Funds raised by Lions are always kept in the Gordonvale community and many local organisations and families have benefited from donations provided by our club’. Denise is also a member of the Gordonvale Philosophy Club, book club, Aqua Boomers, RSL Civilians Auxiliary and plays Mahjong twice weekly in Gordonvale and Edmonton. See more

23.01.2022 DID YOU KNOW? That we rent out tables and chairs - perfect for your backyard event, bbq or celebration. To place your booking, or to find out more info, call into The Feed Shop and see Lioness Michelle, or pm us here.

21.01.2022 Come down to carols at the Turf Club. No need to worry about dinner. Gordonvale Lions are there.

21.01.2022 Hec Stampa joined Gordonvale Lions in 1968. We are very proud of Hec and his contribution to the Gordonvale community.

21.01.2022 Gordonvale Lions out and about - Relay for Life, Ride for Isabel and Gordonvale Markets

21.01.2022 FANTASTIC RESULT FOR LION’S BUSHFIRE APPEAL The generosity of the Gordonvale community was highlighted again on Tuesday Jan 21 in Norman Park when almost $5,500... was donated to assist victims of the bushfires in NSW and Victoria. The Gordonvale Lions Club is currently in negotiation with several Lions Clubs in fire affected areas to determine the area of greatest need. The money will be passed on immediately to those most in need. Gordonvale residents can be assured that every cent raised from their generous donations will be used for practical assistance with replacing clothes, bedding and other needs. The money raised is going to the Cobargo community, which is 27kms from Bega. Words by Denise Bewert, President, Gordonvale Lions Club. Photos by Toni Gane, Mad About Photography Club

20.01.2022 Getting ready this morning for the Pyramid Race

18.01.2022 Rain, hail or shine- Gordonvale Lions is all weather. Come down to Norman Park. Free sausage sizzle. Free lamingtons. Free face painting. Thong throwing competition. Pie eating competition.

16.01.2022 Terrific turn out at Anzac Day in Norman Park.

10.01.2022 Kay Graham happily accepting a donation for the Gordonvale Local Chaplaincy Committee from the Gordonvale Llions Club President Denise Bewert

09.01.2022 Ride for Isabel cyclists were very grateful to Gordonvale Lions for their yummy steak burgers. Everyone was looking forward to it after their 100km ride out to Bessie Point and end of Barbagello Rd and back

09.01.2022 Celebrating Women in Lions! In the last 30 years, we’ve welcomed thousands of women into the international family of Lions. In honor of these very special lady Lions, we’re excited to offer a brand new line of Women in Lions merchandise!... Choose from the beautifully crafted items belowand more! Now available exclusively in the LCI Store. http://app.e.roar.lionsclubs.org/e/es

09.01.2022 If you come down to the E2G site office you can find out all about the highway upgrade between GORDONVALE and Edmonton. Music playing, free arm painting, free coffee, cold drinks and free burgers. Burgers made by our local GORDONVALE Lions Club. Come down before 12:30!

07.01.2022 Hard at it at the Great Pyramid Race.

06.01.2022 Fundraising efforts of Gordonvale Lions assists many local organisations. Cheques were presented tonight to representatives of these organisations.

04.01.2022 Gordonvale Pony Club would like to thank the Lions Club for their generous donation of $500. Our club has had a challenging and disappointing season, like so many other clubs. So Thank you so much.

04.01.2022 Gordonvale Lions 50th celebrations with lunch at the Gordonvale Turf Club today. Birthday cake to be cut by foundation members Jim Hesp, Adrian Woods and John R...ossi. Lions a great servant and contributor to local communities.#GordonvaleLions #GordonvaleCommunitySpirit #ElainHesp #PaulRossi #EmilyRossi See more

03.01.2022 Thank you to the community for their generosity in donating for the fire affected communities. $5000 raised so far. Thank you also to Kat & Tim’s Pizzeria.

02.01.2022 Here's a story from the latest edition of the Pyramid Views about the Lions Youth Quest. Last term I shared the pleasure with many Lions, Lionesses, staff members, parents and members of the wider community of listening to four Gordonvale SHS students professionally compete in a public speaking contest, organised by the Gordonvale Lions Club. The chairperson was our very own past student and past contender in the Lions Quest, Ms Charlee-Rose Paron. Well done to our Year 12s:... Jack Chadwick, Kauri Eddie, Elizabeth Honnef and our year 11 student, Romeo Lor. The students were fantastic ambassadors for Gordonvale SHS and showed great confidence in answering the impromptu questions and delivering their individual speech. Jack spoke about the changing attitudes to the way we view mental illness and the impact of mental illness on individuals. Kauri spoke about the wonderment of our Reef and the impact of pollution. Elizabeth used the medical issues faced by an anonymous Sri Lankan women to highlight the benefits of life in Australia a Lottery of Life. Romeo spoke about the societal costs of gender identity and the looming debate of political correctness. Special congratulation must go to Elizabeth Honnef who was awarded Best Public Speaker and Overall Winner on the night. Elizabeth very graciously accepted her rewards, thanking a number of people for their support. She also paid tribute to her three colleagues and thanked them for their support leading up to and on the evening. It is gratifying to see our students shine within our local community. Words by Jan Carr

01.01.2022 THE MERRY GO ROUND STORY It seems as though I have a thing for rocking horses and I will tell you more about that later, but my Dad must have felt the same. S...o I will start with the Lion's Club merry go round. How it came to be, back in the late 40's - early 50's, the Amadio brothers had a small merry go round with 4 horses which was used at different functions in the area. This included the Mulgrave Mill social club functions but after some time, the mill management decided they would build their own. Mr Arthur Liscombe and chief engineer Mac McDonald gave the word, so building could start. Timber work was done by mill carpenters. Steel work by the boilermakers, blacksmiths, mechanics, fitters and turners. There was just far too many men involved to name so I will only mention the supervisors. Hector Besant and the carpenters. Tom Sayers and Jack Gammie and the fitters, boilermakers and blacksmiths. I will say that there was no modern tools back then; the carpenters had a bandsaw and bench saw with a plane on the side. The horses were cut out on the bandsaw and shaped with a spokeshave and rasp. Steelwork was done by the way of a furnace. The mill was the heart of the town and a very busy place. There was a lot of building going on so there was not a lot of time spent on the merry go round. Over time, it got to a stage where all that it needed was to be driven, so it was decided that it would be given to the Lion's Club along with a new petrol motor donated by the Mill social club. The Lion's Club went on to finish it and built a trailer designed by Bruce Frost. After some years, the Lion's Club fibreglassed the horses and added 2 swinging seats in its early life and was housed at the old Ambulance Station, then the swabbing stall at the race course. Then onto Bill Thomas's farm and now Hesp farm. It was housed at Hec Stampa’s farm too. It is still in perfect order and being used to this day. I would say that it was given to the Lion's Club in the late 60's - early 70's and I could not even guess how many kids have ridden on it over the years. "I hope you enjoy" Words by Tommy Besant Photos by Trisha Hesp See more