500 LIONS LIGHT UP KIAMA

Kiama Surf Club members played a role in the moving memorial service held for deceased Lions Club members at the conventions opening ceremony on Friday.

THE Lions Club District N2 201 convention was launched with a bang in Kiama on Friday night with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the harbour foreshore.

Local firm Fireworks Australia sent an exploding burst of colour into the sky above Kiama Harbour as Lions delegates and guests watched from School Flat where the convention had just been officially opened by Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy.

A short time earlier, the Lions and partners from the district extending from Sydney to the Victorian border, and west to Canberra held a moving and very special memorial service for Lions who had died in the past year.

A small blue light, representing each member of the Lion family who had passed away, was carried to a waiting Kiama Surf Club boat where each light was hung at the stern of the craft on a large Lions International emblem.

The surfboat was then rowed by the Kiama Surf Club crew into the gathering gloom of the harbour while the Last Post was sounded.

" Fireworks illuminated Kiama harbour as part of the visiting Lions club convention weekend.

Around 500 Lions and friends attended the convention, held at the Quarry Leisure Centre, and which concluded on Sunday.

Highlights included the keynote speech on Saturday afternoon by former Childrens Court Magistrate Barbara Holborow and a Masked Ball held Saturday night at which well over 400 people danced to the music of the John Field Band.

Barbara Holborow was disparaging of politicians in her speech, which was given a standing ovation by the Lions.

When politicians put their hands on the their hearts and say children area our future, I want to vomit, she said.

Ms Holborow said action was not taken now, children in many areas would not have a future.

You dont know it, but last week (state) parliament passed a bill requiring parents to contract that they will be better parents.

How do they become a better parent if theyve never had a parent themselves? she asked.

How does a state ward contract to be a better parent when theyve never had a mum to show them how to be a mum?

Children are now. Weve got to plug in now so that they do have a future& people who care, like Father Chris Riley, Bill Crews and the Salvation Army.

Concluding, Ms Holborow asked the Lions to follow her philosophy, that every child is the responsibility of every body.

In other sessions, the Lions heard presentations on the Lions Sightfirst Campaign, the Outward Bound program and Lions Children of Courage.

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