Serving local communities has been the priority of Strzelecki Lions Club members since the club was chartered 25 years ago.
The club recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a celebration dinner of past and present club members.
The club was chartered on August 15, 1997 after Rex Motton of the Korumburra Lions Called a public meeting to consider forming a Strzelecki Lions Club.
About 50 people attended the meeting and the club was formed to represent the Poowong, Loch, Nyora, Athlone and surrounding districts.
Charter members included Noel Gregg, Ken Hallyburton, Graeme Lancey, Bill Loughridge, Maurice Schwenessen, Cliff Wallace, Ted Attenborough, Ray Douglas, Harold Hillberg, Richard Bricknall, Brian Cecil, Stuart McCraw, Jim Davis, Ian Gration, Evan Laidlaw, Ernest Poyner, Trevor Sampson, Marco Slywa, Bob Smith, Edgar Spencer, Bruce Tytler, Gary Wolswinkel, Barry Olsen, Kelvin Olsen, Ken Slachter and Allan Schmidt.
In the years following the club's charter, a number of Poowong Apexians also joined.
The primary objective for formation of the club was for members to serve local communities.
The outcome has been strong personal relationships among members, groups and individuals as they continue to work with each other.
A book detailing the history of the club and its members was presented at the recent 25th anniversary celebrations.
The club's first project was the Loch Village Market. Almost the entire club attended the initial meetings for the market and the first market was held at the Loch Memorial Reserve in November 1997. The market moved to its current local at the Lions Loch Railway Reserve in 2000.
The club's second project was the South Gippsland Dairy Expo, with discussions beginning in December 1997. Discussions and research brought the project to reality in September 2000 with the inaugural dairy expo held at the Poowong Recreation Reserve. The event moved to Korumburra in 2009.
Over the years the dairy expo has provided more than $600,000 back into community groups and organisations.
In 2004, the club joined with Melbourne University (former McMillan college campus) to begin the Cows Create Careers program.
A small group of Lions members, with Sylvia Vagg and Michelle Axford from Melbourne University, trialled the project in nine schools across Gippsland.
The following year the project received seed funding from the Gardiner Foundation to expand across Victoria.
Dairy Australia now funds the program which is delivered to about 240 schools in 23 dairying regions across Australia.
Youth exchange, youth of the year programs and a primary schools program with Poowong, Loch, Nyora and Athlone schools have demonstrated the club's commitment to supporting young people in the community.
The Lions Ladies also is a major part of the club, with their contribution a significant and constant factor in the club's successful history.
Last year Lions Ladies members Faye Loughridge, Marieka Wallace, Dorothy Slachter, Beryl Olsen and Jenny Watson were presented to the Strzelecki Lions Topsy Motton Award in honour of Topsy Motton for her contribution to the club.