A new age for local lionesses

For 38 years the Lionesses have existed under a sponsorship under the Lions Club, but now they’re becoming official and standing on their own two feet.

The Lioness Club of Nelson have been acting effectively as their own Lions Club group for nearly four decades, as a community group raising donations for those who need it in the region.

However, now they’ve been given the opportunity to become their own official Lions Club.

According to Lions Club International, women have been able to join Lions groups as members since 1987. Then, Lioness clubs began to fizzle out as the women joined the groups set up by men.

Now, due to declining members and volunteers, the Lionesses had been given a deadline as to whether they wish to continue business as usual or become an incorporated Lion’s group.

Nelson Lioness Club president Jillian Jary says it would be a shame to stop when the team are still keen to carry on.

“We had to make a choice as to whether we could carry on as the lionesses. We would have to arrange our own insurance, health and safety and we could become a Lions Club in our own right.”

Four of the 21 current members have been there since the Lionesses’ beginning in June of 1983, originally started by Yvonne Pitman and 43 local women.

Jillian says they will continue to call themselves Lionesses and says the day to day work will stay the same.

She says the new title will just mean more recognition for the hard work of their members.

“We haven’t been recognised as a club before, the money we raised or contributed will now be recognised nationally and internationally,” she says.

Jullian says Lions Clubs New Zealand are recognising their 38 years of service to the community with this new appointment.

“They have annual awards that they can submit for, we couldn’t do that and now we have these avenues opened up to us. We can now stand up on stage and excel,” she says.