About Us

About Us

Our Club History

The Lions Club of Canberra City, sponsored by the Queanbeyan City Lions Club, was chartered on 30 June 1958. Our Club went on to charter 5 other clubs: Kambah, Belconnen, Cooma, Woden Valley, and Canberra Valley.

During the 1960s and 1970s membership of the club blossomed with as many as 80 members. The projects undertaken were very ambitions, overseen by members with trades expertise while other members and their families pitched in to deliver successful outcomes. The club restored and resold damaged caravans, and even built houses to raise funds. The club commenced what would later become the Canberra Home and Leisure Show, built a dip pool for Marymead, and gave support to Koomarri. A fire engine that now resides in the ACT Fire Museum was restored and rebuilt by the club, and members of supported Sailability assisting young people with disabilities to learn sailing. 

Building restoration - Lions Club of Canberra City
Restored caravan by Lions Club of Canberra City

Canberra City Lions were early supporters of the Canberra Festival and the Food and Wine Fest. An annual art show to highlight the work of young and emerging local artists was held for 20 years in the 1980s and 1990s. Golf days were held to raise funds for Guide Dogs, and fun lawn bowls events were also held as fundraisers. The annual World Festival of Magic, or Magic Show, was first held in Canberra in 1992 and sponsored by Canberra City Lions, and continues to this day providing an afternoon of entertainment to needy families in the Canberra region. While in 2017 Lion Rhondda Edwards became the first female member of the Club, which now boasts that one-third of its members are female.

Fire Engine - Lions Club of Canberra City

2024/25 Club Executive Members

male headshot

President

Troy Stevens

PresidentPat Cullinan
1st Vice PresidentTony Farrell
2nd Vice PresidentKaren Doyle
SecretaryPat Cullinan
TreasurerSimon Scott-Findlay
Membership ChairBill Edwards
male headshot

Secretary

Tony Farrell

Lions Clubs International logo - Canberra City Lions Club

Current Life Members

John Edmonds
Mick Brice

Melvin Jones Fellowship Recipients

Melvin Jones founded Lions in 1917. His intention was to launch a club that had community service as its primary aim. The first Australian Club was formed in 1947 and today Lions worldwide has a membership of over 1.3 million in more than 200 countries. The Melvin Jones Fellowship Awards recognize the outstanding persons who have made a significant contribution to Lions. 

Melvin Jones Fellowship recipients include:

Mick Brice

Ron Coffey

Jack Cook

Bill Dunn

John Edmonds

Bill Edwards

Rhondda Edwards

Reginal Frankel

Tony Golby

John Gorman

Keith Gould

Peter Guild

Peter Kobold

Paul Murphy

Rick Scheeren

Margaret Wilson

Pat Cullinan

Troy Stevens

Tony Farrell

Robert Johnson of Hardwickes Accountants

Past Presidents

YearName
2024-25Patrick Cullinan
2023-24Troy Stevens
2022-23William Edwards
2021-22Anthony Farrell
2020-21Anthony Farrell
2019-20William Edwards
2018-19William Edwards
2017-18Rick Scheeren
2016-17Rick Scheeren
2015-16Rick Scheeren/Glen O’Hara
2014-15Bill Dunn
2013-14Reg Frankel/Bill Dunn
2012-13Barrie Cole
2011-12Barrie Cole
2010-11Rick Scheeren
2009-10Rick Scheeren
2008-09John Hayhoe
2007-08Reg Frankel
2006-07Peter Kobold
2005-06Keith Gould
2004-05Keith Gould
2003-04Ron Coffee
2002-03Ron Coffee
2001-02Jack Cook
2000-01Jack Cook
1999-00Reg Frankel
1998-99Des Curnoe
1997-98David Royle
1996-97Rob Colson
1995-96Brian Robinson
1994-95Bill Gargill
1993-94Patrick Brown
1992-93Eric O’Sullivan
1991-92John Edmonds
1990-91Peter Hill
1989-90Eric O’Sullivan
1988-89Ron Coffee
1987-88Gary Dengate
1986-87Peter Kobold
1985-86Bill Dunn
1984-85Nick Guides
1983-84Tony Tonkin/ Darryl Organ
1982-83Tom Van Lent
1981-82Ron Coffee
1980-81Jim Lyndall
1979-80Ian McLaren
1978-79Peter Sullivan
1977-78George Lloyd
1976-77Eric Lee
1975-76Michael Richards
1974-75Peter Pilka
1973-74Ian Robertson
1972-73Bruce Livingstone
1971-72John Gorman
1970-71Graham Edwards
1969-70Barry Kirk
1968-69Ken Hardwick
1967-68Max Wheeler
1966-67Tom Colquhoun
1965-66Gordon Bowdon
1964-65Gordon Cameron
1963-64Arnold Forrest
1962-63Bruce Bowen
1961-62David Pitt
1960-61John Hunter
1959-60Arthur Smith
1958-59Bill Graham
Lions Clubs International logo - Canberra City Lions Club

Lions Clubs are part of community life, in metropolitan cities and in country regions. Clubs are easily identified by our distinctive Logo, the trademark of our International Association, and the ‘We Serve’ motto.

Lions Australia is part of an international association, with people who are joined by the common desire to make their communities better, by using their creativity, enthusiasm and energy.

Lions Clubs International membership currently stands at over 1.4 million in around 45,500 clubs in approximately 202 countries. During the year, individual Lions Clubs perform over 1,500 services each day in their local areas, bringing the association to a level of service never before known.

We are part of the greatest humanitarian service force that has ever existed.

Membership is open to all people of the community in good standing, 18 years and older.

Our Lions Club is Supported by