Emu Plains Lions celebrated 35 years of helping the local community and charities last month, by holding an Anniversary Dinner at Emu Sports Club in Leonay.

The Dinner was kicked off by Jessy McKinless of Nulunga Dreaming, who organised a group of young dancers to perform indigenous dancing before 76 guests and dinner on the night. The Kooly Deadly Kids Dance Group entertained the guests before dinner.

The Lions Club distributed $18,000 in donations from their various activities; proceeds from the sales of Christmas cakes, puddings and Christmas trees, raffles, Bunnings and other BBQ’s, Chocolate Wheel in Westfield Plaza, and other charitable work.

The charities who benefited on the night were local charities; Westcare, The Haven, Paying it Forward, Little by Little (Kurambee School), Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Sailability, Australian Lions Foundation, Nepean Room of Ronald McDonald House, and the Cancer Care Centre at Nepean Hospital.

President, Cheryl Devine commented, “These donations couldn’t be achieved without the support of the local community”.

The Club also awarded Ian West with a Melvin Jones Award, the highest recognition of local service, presented by John Choma, a Founding Member of Emu Plains Club, and 49 years in Lions overall.

The Club is ‘sporting’ a new look BBQ, with a trailer gifted by Jim Aitken + Partners.