As another Lion year draws to a close

As another Lion year draws to a close, Newcastle Lion President Liz Murphy, can look back as a job well done. One of our service activities is the recycling of used spectacles.

The club has collected spectacles from different sources. Lions logo collection bins have been distributed to local opticians, Mc Gloins and Specs - Xpress, as well as Newcastle Library, and Eyeworld , Mc Gloin's opticians Belfast and now Castle Espie Wetland Centre. As well as distributing bins , the club also collects glasses from the four Belfast City Council recycling centres and from Portview Fit-Out Limited.

Portview is a world class company, they deliver beautiful interior fit-out projects for the world’s top brands, combining style and substance to achieve The Perfect Fit.

The involvement with Portview is something the Lions hope can go from strength to strength in marketing Lionism. Portview began life in Belfast in 1975 and over the years carved a niche in the fit-out market. Whether it is football, jewellery or clothing, this Belfast Company has completed contracts with Arsenal F.C., Tiffany Covent Garden or Issey Miyake. In 2019 it won its first SBID International Design Excellence Award and it also collects used spectacles for Newcastle Lions Club.

Photo, Staff from Portview Fit-Out Limited , James Mc Collum and Berina Rice Purchasing Manager present Lion Dan O'Reilly with a box of used spectacles.

Lions work promoted on BBC NI News .

On Tuesday last, Newcastle Lions Club were pleased to have one of the service activities which they undertake, in managing and maintaining ten defibrillators , promoted on television on BBC NI Newsline , BBC Digital Service and on the radio on Evening Extra. The club have been undertaking this work for five years . They also now have help from staff from TGem Healthcare .

As part of the news article, the Lions were interviewed by BBC NI Health Reporter, Rory O'Reilly. He also interviewed Stephanie Leckey from NIAS and Sean Mc Laughlin whose life was saved by a defibrillator. While taking part in a charity boxing match in Ardglass, Sean took a heart attack and the defibrillator had to be enabled on three occasions to save him The news article has helped promote information about the work of Lions in Northern Ireland.

Photographs:

2 VDG Marian McGreevy is interviewed for BBC NI by their health reporter Rory O'Reilly

Lion Frank McGreevy gives an interview with BBC NI Rory O'Reilly re one of the Lion defibrillators.

Newcastle Lions Club annual appeal for recycling items for Africa underway.

On Saturday 13th May between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm ,Newcastle Lions Club will hold their annual recycling appeal to help people in Africa. Through the great generosity of the owner Daniel Mc Cann, the drop off point for the collection will be at Mc Cann's Fish & Chip Shop Main Street Newcastle. The Lions wish to stress that under no circumstances ,nothing is left at Mc Cann's until the Saturday of the collection. As in previous years, the Lions are looking for, good or broken tools such as saws, hammers or spades. Sewing machines both treadle and electrical and adult bicycles, rusty or good. Newcastle Lions are already running a fantastic recycling programme for used spectacles, if you wish you can leave these also.

The Lions have been thrilled to hear about the fantastic work of the Downpatrick based Tools for Solidarity. As part of the Lions annual collection , tools and sewing machines are despatched to TFS. Today the group has two volunteers, John and Sofia working in Tanzania. They are, helping to train students how to use a sewing machine so that they then can become self sufficient . Downpatrick and Belfast TFS have three training centres in Iringa, Mwanza and Njombe Tanzania. In December 2022 , TFS sent out a container of sewing machines and tool kits to Iringa. In Tanzania TFS volunteers are also providing vocational training for people with a disability . As part of this project those with a disability will receive, training ,tools or a sewing machine and some small capital to start their own business. If you have a sewing machine but are unable to bring it to Newcastle, please contact the Lions on 07725725932 for collection.

Newcastle Lions members, Marian Mc Greevy and Lion President Liz Murphy with Teresa Mc Cann and Daniel Mc Cann and lions Robin Mc Caren, Terry O'Reilly and Dan O'Reilly display some of the items the Lions hope will be donated on Saturday 13th May at the drop off point at Mc Cann's Fish & Chip shop.

Sewing machines donated previously from County Down now being used to help families in the Njombe village South Tanzania.