Lions Club of Port Shepstone Charter Members

Senior Citizens' Luncheons

The Port Shepstone Lions' Den plays host to a regular luncheon for Senior Citizens from the Mbango Valley, Anerley Haven and the Flower Foundation retirement villages. Members of the club use their private transportation for the old folk and serve and entertain them with sing-a-long live music during the Luncheon. The Lions' Ladies Club provide the extremely tasty meals which are prepared in the kitchen at the club house. The Annual Senior Citizens' Christmas party is held during December each year and hosts up to 100 old folk from the many retirement complexes within the Hibiscus Coast region. This event is extremely popular and, for many of the old folk, is the only real celebration of Christmas that they will participate in. A superb 3 course meal is provided by our Ladies and each guest is given a sponsored gift. Our Club "Band" provides live entertainment and sing-a-long music which often results in sporadic dancing and great fun for all.

Annual Blind Bowlers Tournament

The National Association of Blind Bowlers (NABB) was formed in 1963 an in 1965 the Kwazulu-Natal Region was formed. The Port Shepstone Lions became involved with the NABB (KZN Region) in 1981 during the "Year of the Disabled". The annual weekend tournament means a great deal to the blind bowlers and for the past 23 years the Port Shepstone Lions have sponsored the competition. Apart from the games, the weekend includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch and the Lion Ladies provide and serve dinner on the Saturday. The Club is indebted to local businesses for providing the cash and goods which were auctioned to raise funds to pay for the accommodation and meals for the bowlers. There is a coveted floating trophy as well as many other prizes that are handed out to participants. The Club has, on numerous occasions, provided sponsorship to our local Blind Bowlers who have travelled to participate in tournaments elsewhere in the country.

Meals for the Elderly

The Port Shepstone Lion Ladies Club prepare and pack hundreds of frozen meals for the elderly which are distributed free of charge to Old Folks homes along the coast. All meals are cooked and packed in the Ladies' kitchen at the clubhouse on a monthly basis and then sent off to a cold room for storage and distribution. The cost of these meals is sponsored by the Ladies and other sponsors within our community.

Lions Audiology Clinic - Murchison Hospital

In November 2003, it was brought to the attention of Port Shepstone Lions Club that there is a desperate need to establish a formal, well equipped Audiology Clinic on the Kwazulu Natal South Coast. Patients with hearing disorders could only be satisfactorily tested in Durban, some 140 kilometres away. The majority of patients are from rural and peri_urban areas, with little or no resources even to travel such distances. The Murchison Mission Hospital, located 10km inland from Port Shepstone, offered to house such a clinic within their premises. At the time, a monthly clinic was held using a roving Audiologist who served the whole district, referring patients to specialists in Durban if hearing impairment were indicated. The facilities available to the Audiologist were inadequate to identify hearing disorders with the equipment available.

The Lions Club of Port Shepstone, under the leadership of Project Co-ordinator, Lion Martin Rundle, rose to the challenge and applied for an L.C.I.F. Grant to assist with the costs of equipping the Clinic with the latest state-of-the-art audiology equipment. Owing to requirements and stipulations set out by L.C.I.F., the Lions Clubs of Ramsgate and Hibberdene came on board and assisted with contributions towards securing the Grant from L.C.I.F. Port Shepstone Lions have already funded the project to it's completion and are awaiting the transfer of L.C.I.F. Funds which have been approved.

During May 2005, the Audiology Clinic was officially opened during an official ceremony. High profile delegates which included, representatives from the KZN Health Department, Dr Terry Gilpin of the Murchison Hospital, DG Richard Duncan and the Presidents of Port Shepstone, Hibberdene and Ramsgate Lions attended the official opening ceremony.

The Audiology Clinic has proved to be a huge success and is providing a vital service for the following populations in the region :

Region	Population
Southern Kwazulu-Natal :	3158445
Pondoland Region of Eastern Cape :	2473440
Total :	5631885

The Lions Club of Port Shepstone continue to cover the annual costs for the calibration of equipment used within the clinic.

Lions Crisis Centre - Port Shepstone Police Headquarters

The idea of establishing a Crisis Centre at Port Shepstone Police Station was the brainchild of two members stationed at this station, namely Sergeants Lea Beetge and Justine Groenewald. These young ladies approached the Lions Club of Port Shepstone for financial assistance and, after an intense investigation into the feasibility of this project, it was decided upon by the Club's Board of Directors that we sponsor this facility with an initial amount of R10000-00.

The Lions Club of Port Shepstone felt that a facility of this nature was of utmost importance as victims of sexual and domestic offences are severely traumatised when they arrive at the police station and the present resources do not guarantee privacy during the initial stages of reporting the crime. Privacy is of the utmost importance as the victim is not just experiencing emotional distress but embarrassment as well as shame. Therefore the need for a suitable facility arose where a victim can wait in private, where he or she can be comfortable and receive the necessary medical attention and where the interview can be conducted in privacy. The new facility was officially opened by Councillor Peppy Govender of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality on 3 May 2000.

The Lions Club of Port Shepstone and the following sponsors generously assisted with the success of this project :

Mike Mather-Pike : MP Electrical; M-Electrical; Car Plates & Signs; Doug Whittle - Lightning Screeners; Glassfit Port Shepstone; Lion Denis Meyer : Project Co-ordinator; Lion Paul Brauteseth (wheeling & dealing); Lion Rob Bing (woodworker whizzkid); Lion Otto Wank (master plumber)

The Lions Club of Port Shepstone are proud to be associated with this wonderful project.

Louisiana Primary School

The Port Shepstone Lion Ladies have identified Louisiana Primary School, a school for underprivileged children, as one of their projects and provided the pupils with new jerseys to keep them warm during the Chilly winter months. These jerseys were knitted by the ladies at the Flower Foundation and the funding of the wool and accessories was provided by the Lions Club. At a ceremony held at the school the Grade 1 & 2 pupils sand specially composed "Thank You Lions" songs followed by an appreciation speech by Portia Mkhize and Principal PK Appalraju. One of the guests, Pastor O'Driscoll, gave a speech on how wonderful the Lions Clubs International organisation is and added that Lions also give much assistance to the Salvation Army in the UK.

The school has also received donations of school uniforms and sports wear from the Club.

The Lion Ladies continue to monitor and assist the school on a regular basis and also provide ongoing assistance with regard to a feeding scheme.

Port Shepstone Provincial Hospital - Childrens' Ward

The Port Shepstone Lion Ladies have also recently painted and improved the facilities at the Children's Ward at the Local Provincial Hospital and regularly visit the ward together with the Port Shepstone High School Leos Club in order to attend to he many needs of the children. Many of these children have been severely neglected and are in need of love. The contributions of both the Ladies Club and Leos have made a difference in their lives. These children are regularly visited and presented with gifts, especially at Christmas time.

Reach For a Dream Foundation

One of our long serving members, Lion (Dr) Hilton Horsley has served as a National Director for the Reach For A Dream Foundation for many years. As a result of his commitments, The Port Shepstone Lions Club has, for a number of years, sponsored an unforgettable holiday by the seaside for terminally ill children and their families together with the assistance of numerous generous local businesses.

The Club has also, on numerous occasions, sponsored holidays to the seaside for underprivileged children from various parts of the Country.

Lions Roar Out Against Crime

The members of the Lions Club of Port Shepstone have decided to stand together with our Communities and voice our concerns regarding the escalating violent crime that has had a direct impact on so many innocent, law-abiding citizens within our community.
Club President Johann du Plessis stated, "We as Lions, need to stand together with our communities and remind everyone to be alert and to take the necessary steps to ensure that we don't invite criminals to operate freely!"
The Club has produced two perspex plaques, as seen in the photos to the right, to create awareness.
Members of the Club have been seen erecting and distributing these plaques in areas such as Supermarkets, Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Business places and even in Public toilets.
By promoting awareness throughout our community, the Lions Club of Port Shepstone are living up to their motto "We Serve".

Port Shepstone Lions charter a new Leos Club

The Port Shepstone High School Leos Club was officially chartered on Friday 3rd November 2006. The new Club, sponsored by the Lions Club of Port Shepstone, has been active within the local community for a number of years, especially with regard to providing assistance and support to the children's ward at the local Provincial hospital. These dedicated learners have unselfishly volunteered their spare time to various needy causes and have received funding for their various projects from the Port Shepstone Lions. The official Charter Ceremony was attended by a number of high profile dignitaries which included Council Chairman Hennie Van Der Westhuizen, DG Heather Hardman, IPDG Paul Brauteseth, PDG Roy Hardman, Zone Chairman John Saunders (Leos Co-ordinator), District Chairman Tricia Smith, School Principal Peter Mc Killen and members of the Port Shepstone Lions and newly formed Leos Clubs.

Zakheleni Creche - Gamalakhe

The Port Shepstone Lions Club allocated R50 000-00 for this project. The entire complex has been virtually rebuilt. Major changes include the building of an additional room and toilet facilities. An awning has also been installed by Trellidor. The entire complex has also been repainted. A new fence with gates has been erected around the complex for security. Playing apparatus has been erected for the children to play on. An electrical geyser has been installed. This creche caters for +/- 50 children.

Mkholombe Creche - Gamalakhe

The Port Shepstone Lions Club has allocated R43 500 of which R5000 to be managed by the Port Shepstone Leos Club. Intentions are to provide a 6m x 6m canopy to existing container and a concrete slab under same. A VIP toilet is also under construction as well as an 8m x 3m block building to house +/- 12 babies currently housed in a wattle & daub hut with earth floor. Attached will be a store for kids furniture. The whole site has been fenced with a steel vehicular gate. Potable water has been brought to site and an 8kl tank installed. An external wash basin is also being installed. The Port Shepstone Leos are to paint the buildings, plant fruit trees and provide drawing materials. This creche caters for +/- 40 children.

Inkanyezi Creche - Oshabeni

During 2007, the Inkanyezi Creche in Oshabeni burnt to the ground leaving the children and volunteer parents stranded without this vital facility. The Lions Club of Port Shepstone decided to arrange and deliver 2 container rooms which can be used for classrooms and catering as well as new toilet facilities and a water tank. A roof will also be erected outside the containers where the children can play in the shade on very hot days. Funds generated from the 2007 Lions Show and generous Show sponsorships from UGU District Municipality were used to pay for these items donated, the cost of which amounted to in excess of R50 000-00. The Club would also like to express their gratitude to Multicrop for the transportation fo these items. This creches caters for +/- 30 children.

Vikings Rugby Development Academy - Norwegian Settlers Church

A new Cabin has been erected by the Port Shepstone Lions Club for Rugby development at the Vikings Rugby Academy in Marburg. The cost of this new facility amounted to R140 000-00. This facility will be utilized to house youth who participate in the ongoing Rugby development courses that take place at the academy.

Criag's View Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Information pending...........................

The Port Shepstone Lions Club provides ongoing support to the following local organisations :

S.A. Guide Dogs Association

The Association for the Disabled (KZN)

Mbango Home Care (For the Aged) (Web Site)

South Coast Hospice

The Genesis Centre (Web Site)

Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Support Group

The Cancer Association of South Africa

Lifeline

Ziphakamise

People's Rescue

Schools Feeding and upliftment Schemes

Annual Book Prizes for all local schools

Red Cross

Lions Operation BrightSight

Higher Ground

Port Shepstone Child & Family Care Centre

South Coast Place of Safety

Diabetes Camps

This page is dedicated to the Lion Ladies' Club of Port Shepstone whose support and dedication to serving are an inspiration to us all.