Mooroopna Service Clubs collaborate for community good
By Deanne Jeffers
SERVICE clubs in Mooroopna are proving that they are stronger together, going over and beyond to align themselves for the betterment of the entire community and their members. Recently, the Mooroopna Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs held their annual dinner with 80 members across the three organisations.
Bill Winters of the Mooroopna Lions Club said hosting the event at Bill + Beats this year brought the members closer.
“The thinking behind it was that we know the Mooroopna community has gone through a lot over the past few years, in particular, post the floods in 2022,” said Bill. “We can see what is happening within our community and we thought it necessary to combine our groups and our manpower to see what we could do for our community to celebrate volunteering.”
“There was a big emphasis this year on having a fun night, rather than a formal dinner,” added Barb Joyce from the Rotary Club of Mooroopna. Guests enjoyed lucky door prizes, raffles, and plenty of laughs. On the night, Les Young was awarded the Mooroopna Kiwanis Club 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award.
The groups would like to sincerely thank local businesses for getting involved by donating to the raffle, which totalled $800 in prizes.
Looking ahead, Mooroopna Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs are planning to unite again for the beloved Mooroopna New Years Eve event. The free event attracts thousands to Mooroopna oval and is run entirely by volunteers. By pooling their resources, they hope to deliver another successful event that will in turn unite the community they serve.
While independent groups, fostering collaboration between each of the service organisations ultimately means greater outcomes for the entire community. This year the annual dinner raised $3,000, which was donated to the Shepparton Bloke’s Biggest Lunch, with all proceeds helping men in the community undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
These organisations are continuously adapting to continue their valuable work. Anyone that is interested in learning more about joining any of these groups, or volunteering their time without becoming a member, should contact these clubs individually. They would love to hear from you.
