THE Hamilton Lions Club held its changeover dinner late last month, with outgoing president Kevin Buck passing the Lion gavel and gong to incoming president, Raelene Hadden. 

Some 40 Lions and guests attended from neighbouring clubs with the installation officer coming from Wellington in South Australia. 

The Hamilton Lions Club was proud to announce they are hosting the Lions Skin Cancer Van later this month.

The van will be parked inside the Hamilton Showgrounds beside the Lions Club rooms with entry possible via the club rooms from Shakespeare Street.

This will be the van’s third visit to Hamilton with all available time slots very rapidly booked, with an overflow list to allow for cancellations.

The Lions Club said it was a timely reminder to the Hamilton community to be vigilant with their skin as life threatening melanomas and other cancerous lesions can occur many years after the damaging event.

The cancer van has been in the Wimmera region and has been to Ararat, Willaura and Lake Bolac in the last week.

The van will visit Hamilton on July 20 and 21 and Coleraine on July 22.

It will be in Casterton on July 27 and 28.

The van is staffed by volunteers who all have stories to tell of the heartache when people are confronted with news that they may have a malignant lesion.

The message was very clear - use sunscreen, wear a wide brimmed hat, and of course monitor your skin with frequent checks by your local doctor.

Prevention is the key.

At the changeover dinner before completing his tenure, president, Kevin Buck reported on the past year of activities such as the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal which was a Hamilton record of just under $70,000 and also the inaugural Royal Children’s Hospital Golf Day which was held at the Hamilton Golf Course.

Lions’ members have been very active raising funds for the many donations made to our community including the MRI for the Hamilton Hospital and helping in supporting the Hamilton Scouts with their new shed.

Other activities such as barbecues are frequent at Coles.

The club also supported the shear-a-thon at Wannon in March, with proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House.

The president’s appreciation awards were presented to Lions Francis Pekin, Roger Dimond, Raelene Hadden, Brian Simkin, and Allan Hadden.

The prestigious Geoff Dunne memorial perpetual shield was presented to Lion, Brian Simkin, a member with over 53 years of continuous service to the community.