Esperance Lions Jim Hamilton and Neil Husbands with the Top Club Service Project award for Australia for Australasia and the south west Pacific. Photo: Geoff Vivian.
Esperance Lions have been given an international award for their popular childrens’ fishing clinics.
Local Lions Jim Hamilton and his daughter Mandy travelled to the Lions International ANZI Pacific forum at the Gold Coast as the club project Mr Hamilton initiated had already been given the Top Club Service Project award for Australia.
He said organisers announced the award in the last five minutes of the conference.
“You could have felled me, it was awesome,” Mr Hamilton said.
He said he had not been all that keen to make the journey, but he said the club “pushed” him to go, and his daughter’s decision to accompany him changed his mind.
“The club pushed because Jim’s been the driving force behind the fishing clinic ever since it’s been started,” Esperance Lions president Neil Husbands said.
“We wanted him to go so he could recognize his achievement.”
Mr Hamilton said it was an honour to attend the conference and to stand and be recognised.
Esperance Lions now have the Top Club Service Project for Area Seven which includes Australia, New Zealand, and the Southwest Pacific nations.
Meanwhile the fishing clinics continue, with children from the Mallee Schools due to attend at Bandy Creek yesterday and today.
