![Picnic space: Bowral Lions have added a new picnic bench to Bowral Lions Park to mark a very special occasion. Photo: Supplied Picnic space: Bowral Lions have added a new picnic bench to Bowral Lions Park to mark a very special occasion. Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/BsiwkMTjUiUfGgmGHtfdCy/77062f48-f294-45c3-ace0-115aa9aa8355.JPG/r0_305_3264_2140_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Bowral Lions Club found 100 reason for a celebration on June 7.
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The club members gathered to celebrate 100 years since the formation of the first Lions Club in Chicago.
A century later and there are 1.4 million members of Lions Clubs in almost every country of the world.
It is the world’s biggest service organisation.
The Bowral festivities were two-fold, and in the true tradition of Lions, they were about giving rather than receiving.
This included the installation of a picnic table in Lions Park in Bowral and the presentation of a cheque for more than $21,000 to Challenge House in Mittagong.
The picnic table was installed in an area in Lions Park which will get the winter sun, but will be shaded in the summer.
Despite rainy conditions they were not enough to put a dampener on the celebrations.
Bowral Lions Club president, Roger Humphreys, thanked Wingecarribee Shire Council and its staff for help and co-operation in the installation of the picnic furniture at the park.
A small plaque commemorating the Lions centenary will soon be placed on the table.
Following that ceremony a presentation was held at the nearly-completed Challenge House in Mittagong with a presentation of a cheque to Challenge Southern Highlands general manager, Tony McElhinney.
These funds will be used for the purchase of white goods for Challenge House.
It is intended that each room will be provided with a TV and refrigerator for the use of individual house members.
Cook tops will also be provided in the kitchen.
Mr McElhinney said these facilities would allow the residents of Challenge House to learn how to live independently and in safety.
A Bowral Lions Club spokesman said the clud would donate about $42,000 to charities this year.
They said most recipients would be local with funds raised throughout the year.
“A total 100 per cent of all fundraising goes back into the communities we serve,” the spokesman said.
Membership of Bowral Lions Club is open to all men and women.
For further information about the club call Bill on 4862 2496, or Roger 0411 038 137.