Lions Club of Boddington 50 years of Service history book released for milestone anniversary

A Wheatbelt community group has commemorated its half-century milestone with a historical novel to tell the stories of the 39 founding members and honour those who have followed.

The Lions Club of Boddington celebrated the release of its book, the Lions Club of Boddington 50 Years of Service, on January 17 at the club-built pavilion on the Boddington Lions Rodeo Complex.

The 316-page book is divided into five decades, with each chapter opening with a summary of club highlights and special moments within those ten years, before an ‘their own words’ section, which features interviews with members from that time period.

Club member and author Joan Gregson spent two and a half years interviewing past and present club members, compiling meeting minutes and archives dating back to 1976 to create the historical keepsake.

Fourteen radio interviews by Ann Patterson from 2019 to 2020 with charter members, including those who have passed away, have been resurrected and transcribed for the book.

Ms Gregson said that a “real turning point” for her was listening to the 14 radio interviews because it made her realise the immense amount of work the club had achieved and its huge impact on the town.

She said she was grateful for those interviews because the members who were no longer here were able to have their stories told.

“I thought about all the things the Lions Club have done in town, and the humongous amount of volunteer hours, it was just ridiculous,” she said.

“And not just by the club but by the town, they all got together behind the Lions Club.

“I looked at it and I thought what an honour to be able to put this historically so that it doesn’t get lost for maybe another 50 years time, these guys’ grandkids could be reading about what a bunch of people had done.”

Among its 50 years of achievements, the club counts building the Boddington Lions Rodeo Complex, two rotundas, assisting in emergency recovery efforts across the district — including donating money to interstate Lions Clubs — general community repair and upgrades, chopping wood for pensioners, fundraising, and leading busy bees among its best.

Ms Gregson said when the club was established on January 16, 1976, there was an obvious gender divide and women were not allowed to join, but in 2000 Eleanor Doney was named the first female Boddington Lion.

She said this opened the door for female members to follow in her footsteps.

Ms Gregson said the services offered by the club have changed throughout its 50 years, having moved from installing smoke detectors, security alarms and mowing lawns to leading busy-bees, emergency recovery efforts, and fundraisers.

They have also had massive success with the Boddington Lions Rodeo since its origin in 1977.

Current club president Mark ‘Lofty’ Shaw said he has read the the book twice, saying he did not sleep the night of its release because he spent hours reading.

“I’m just blown away by the book,” he said.

“The story that Joan has captured from the old boys that inspired us, and still inspires me in Lions, is just tremendous.”

Mr Shaw said if every Lions Club wrote a book detailing its service to the community everyone “would be better off for it” because of the inspiration it will give young community members and volunteers.