History
June 7 1917, Chicago USA
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest, most active service clubs organisation, with 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries & areas. Lions members are caring people, men and women who enjoy working together and making things happen. They provide help and assistance to the youth, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged of the community.
The International Association of Lions Clubs was born in Chicago on June 7, 1917 when Melvin Jones, a young US insurance agent, inspired a meeting of representatives of several existing business groups with his vision of service.
The association became "international" with the formation of the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Lions Club in 1920. From that time on clubs were formed worldwide.
September 29 1947, Lismore Australia
The first Lions Club in Australia was formed in the northern NSW City of Lismore on July 1st, 1947, largely through the efforts of William R. Tresise, a hardware merchant in the town. Tresise, who had been a national president of the Apex movement, had been empowered by Melvin Jones to bring Lions to Australia. The official Charter was presented to the new club on September 29 in the same year.
A club in nearby Murwillumbah followed in 1948, then in 1952 the first capital city clubs were formed, first in Melbourne and then in Sydney. This signalled the beginning of the subsequent rapid expansion of Lions throughout Australia. We in turn have introduced Lions to New Zealand, PNG, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands. Today, 60 years later, there are 30,000 members in more than 1400 Clubs in Australia.
December 4, 1957, Launceston Tasmania
The first Lions Club in Tasmania, Launceston, was formed in 1957. This club got off to an unusual start and was operating enthusiastically for six months without a sponsor club as required by Lions International rules.
The Launceston Club did not let its unorthodox beginnings stifle its enthusiasm and in a short time chartered six other clubs, the first of which was Hobart which received its charter in 1959. These clubs, in turn, have chartered other clubs.
Tasmanian Lions originally were part of District 201C (Victoria) which was subsequently redistricted as 201V1. A number of Tasmanian Lions served as District Governor during this period.
In November 1979 at the 201V1 District Convention held at the Carlton Town House Melbourne, delegates voted in favor of a redistricting motion which resulted in Tasmania becoming a district in its own right. At the time there were forty clubs in Tasmania and fourteen clubs in Melbourne making up the then District 201T1. Roger Groom was elected as the first District Governor.
The first District 201T1 Convention was hosted by the Lions Club of Glenorchy with Lion Jack James as Convention Chairman.