Ireland Lions District Governor Gerald Cashman highlights Disability Awareness in Newcastle, Co.Down

Newcastle Lions Club, Co.Down were thrilled to welcome District Governor Gerald Cashman and his wife Mary to help the club promote World Disability Day 3.12.22. Over a very busy weekend DG Gerald was able to meet with Lions from zone B on Friday night and on Saturday joined with members of Tourette's Support NI who had travelled from Magherafelt and Killyleagh to help promote awareness of Tourette's Syndrome, through the publication of the book by the Tourette's diary by ten year Lucy -Marie Phillip's. I can't make it stop.

On Friday evening in the Burrendale Hotel there was a mixture of work, food and beauty. Guests including DG's wife Mary went to a Clarin's beauty products presentation in the hotel. At the same time before meeting individually with clubs, DG Gerald presented long service pins to numerous members including one for 50 years' service to Downpatrick's Lion President Hugh Kelly. Lions from Downpatrick, Armagh, Newry, Ballynahinch and Newcastle were then split by clubs and DG Gerald was then allocated ten minutes to meet and talk to each club, encouraging all to increase membership and charitable donations. In a round robin approach, while the DG spoke to one club, the other clubs had a ten-minute information session with Laurence Mc Alindin from the Shimna Stars Special Olympic basketball team Newcastle, Emma Chestnutt, Sri Lanka Lions, Dan O'Reilly Recyling spectacles. On a very cold Saturday morning DG Gerald and Mary went to Newcastle's library to join with lions and guests to listen to the TSNI members speak about how Tourette's Syndrome affects the whole family. Copies of Lucy-Marie Phillips book were distributed to the public present and will also be forwarded to school libraries by Newcastle Lions Club. Lastly Newcastle Lions would also like to thank Lions Marian and Frank Mc Greevy for their offer of hospitality and hard work for making the week end possible.

District Governor Gerald Cashman with Tilly Hudson

District Governor Gerald Cashman with Tilly Hudson highlighting the Tourette's diary of Lucy-Marie Phillips, zone B Marian Mc Greevy, Tourette's Support NI members Orlagh Curran, Tilly Hudson with mum Katie Morter, DG Gerald, Newcastle Lion president Liz Murphy and TSNI member Brian McCallion.

Lions overwhelmed by Wee Charity Shop donation to Sri Lanka School

Each year Newcastle Lions Club promote an International Peace Poster event. Numerous schools in the lion's catchment area take part. This year through the great work of Lion Emma Chestnutt, County Down school children had the opportunity to be aware of the artwork of the children of Colombo Sri Lanka, who also entered the international peace poster event. In Sri Lanka the school children joined the Principal of Gnanodya school and school children with teachers to award Adithya Senarathne with her LCI award certificate and gifts. These included Rs: 4000/- gift vouchers, Rs:3000/- cash and exercise books. Following the presentation, the school children were given a brief introduction to Lions Club International.

In County Down following the judging of the entries, schools were visited by the Newcastle Lions and prizes awarded. The children in all the schools were only then made aware of the difficulties the children in Sri Lanka faced.

While the children in some of Sri Lanka's schools had wanted to enter the poster event, due to a shortage of paper and colouring pencils or paint it was impossible. After some sterling work by Emma, who reported the difficulties to the Lions and the Wee Charity Shop Newcastle, and as a result of this, Emma was thrilled to accompany Lion Brendan Downey to collect a donation of £2000.00 to Newcastle Lions Club. With the donation Emma was able to provide paper and colouring facilities to an orphanage, also school children in Gnanandya School, Shasthranada MV, Payagala Schools. The remainder of the donation will support all the children in their education and other sustainable projects in Sri Lanka. In December the donation to the Colombo schools will be further enhanced when Newcastle Lions will host a pub quiz in the Harbour Inn on Friday 16th Dec at 9.00 pm.

Lions Brendan Downey and Emma Chestnutt, receive a cheque for £2000.00 from volunteers at the wee Charity Shop (not for printing, staff prefer to be unnamed)

Lions Club Colombo Alexandrite President Prash Barnes with Gnanandya principal Mr K KSamantha , winning peace poster student Adithya Senarathne, Lion Kanis Jurampathy and Lion Muthu Ekanayake

Belfast City Council and Newcastle Lions undertake recycling of spectacles project.

During the past months, Newcastle Lions Club have been encouraging people to donate reading and sight glasses which can then be recycled to third world countries, helping people who normally could not afford to purchase glasses.

In Newcastle glasses could be donated at the local library or opticians. The project has now gone to a much higher level, with Newcastle Lions joining with Belfast City Council in receiving all glasses donated at the Council's four recycling centres.

When the glasses have been collected by the Lions, they are then despatched by courier to MEDICO LIONS Clubs France in Le Harve.

This Lions facility was created in February 1978 , in the first year 5,000 pairs of glasses were accepted, today 3 million are accepted annually. MEDICO is the international humanitarian arm of the Lions Clubs of France. its activities are in 56 countries on 5 continents.

" In Harve the glasses that are in perfect condition are cleaned, calibrated, identified and bagged so that missionary doctors can meet the needs of patients examined " . They are then sent all over the world to help those in need.

Newcastle Lions president Liz Murphy would like to thank Belfast City Council for allowing the club to collect the glasses donated at the recycling centres.

Photo: distribution of donated glasses in Thailand