Winning Lions at the trophy presentation are from left, Karen Johnson, Bill Cairns, current Cambridge Lions Club president Elbe Moreland and, past district governor Suez Reid. They were pictured with the visiting vice-president of Lions International from Canada, Dr Paddi Hill.
Members of the Cambridge Lions Club are basking in success after winning the premier trophy naming them the top club in Lions District 202L for the year 2021-22.
District 202L encompasses the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and King Country. The win covered the year in which Warren Beard was club president (2021-2022) and was awarded in recognition of his ‘Team Cambridge’ initiative which called on members to ‘share the load’.
The club last won the trophy in the 2012-2013 year.
Describing the win as a coup, Warren said it reflected on success that came during a particularly difficult period when the club was affected by intermittent Covid lockdowns and extended periods when normal club activities were halted.
“My call for us to operate as Team Cambridge, and for all our members to ‘share the load’ was made on the back of that. Even with those constraints, we were able to put back over $250,000 into the community that year, a sum that included $60,000 for the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade,” he said.
“I was extremely well-supported by a very able management team, and as a club we were very indebted to our community. Without that support, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve as well as we did. This win is a big honour for us … and for the community.”
The club is one of 53 in the 202L District. The trophy was presented by the visiting vice president of Lions International, Canadian Dr Paddi Hill.
