IT has been 50 years since 25 men donned their smartest suits and ties and gathered for the first Lions Club of Capalaba meeting at the School of Arts Hall.
The club celebrated its golden anniversary on Friday night with a gala dinner at the Courthouse Restaurant in Cleveland.
It was a celebration of longevity of the club and also its history and more importantly, its past and current members.
President Graham Ericksen welcomed back nine past presidents for the occasion along with past district governors, incoming district governors, past and present members.
A slide show capturing photographs from the early days took members on a trip down memory lane.
In 1971, only men were allowed at the Lions Club meeting which was held in a hall where Bunnings now stands. This was where the first fundraiser was decided... bingo every Friday night.
It was a timely beginning because by the time Cyclone Tracy Hit Darwin in 1973 the club was up an running. Making many trips to the airport, picking up families whose homes had been blown away and taking them to pre-arranged billet houses where they could be looked after.
During the 1974 Brisbane floods, the meeting hall became the store house for donated clothes and household goods. The club also organised 50 new wardrobes funded by Lions and built at the then custom made furniture shop owned by Nev Billeau.
Fundraising initiatives increased and projects included sausage sizzles, meat raffles, lucky numbers, Devonshire teas and the famous Lions christmas cakes.
The fundraising helped many people and organisations.
Two major achievements was the funding for the Meals on Wheels building in 1977 and the Girl Guides hut in 1980.
Capalaba Lions donated to families going through hardship, children with special needs, scholarships for high school students, donations to Sail-ability for the purchase of boats to give children and young adults with disability the opportunity to sail.
They have donated to flood victims, donated Ipads to Young Care and Redlands Special School, plus a 12-seater bus to Nandeebie Blue Care, Traction, Night Ninja's and the lists go on...
A very generous donation came from Jeff and Geraldine Underhill who funded, amongst other things, the building where the Lions Club now meets.
