History in Tasmania
A SHAKY START
The first Lions Club in Tasmania, Launceston, was formed in 1957. This was just 10 years after the formation of the Lismore Club, the first in Australia. 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 story is told how Bill Tresise persuaded a very reluctant group of Tasmanians to form a club, but had apparently neglected to do the necessary paperwork to legalize the formation under the rules. It was not until two members of the new club went to a luncheon of the Lions Club of Melbourne and were not recognized by officials that things began to happen rapidly. The Melbourne Club chartered the Lions Club of Launceston on December 4, 1957. The Charter Night Dinner was held in the Launceston Hotel. Lion Geoff Finney was Charter President and George Paton was Charter Secretary.
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 until today there are fifty one Lions Clubs through the state. There are also two branch clubs, two Leo clubs and a Lioness club.
DISTRICT STRUCTURING
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.
1979 - 1981
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 MHA was elected as our first District Governor.
In February 1980 DGE Roger's Club (Lions Club of Burnie) also celebrated its 20th Anniversary. The Lions Club of Hobart celebrated 21 years in April 1980 and the Lions Club of Devonport also celebrated 21 years in February 1981. In June 1981 the North East Lions Club was charted.
The first District Newsletter was printed by the Circular Head Chronicle in July 1980 and the news article of the times states 'it was one of the most ambitious tasks undertaken by "The Chronicle" and a challenge to staff. One thousand copies were printed and distributed to forty clubs.
In September 1980 International President William Chandler visited Australia and DG Roger represented the District at a meeting with him in Melbourne.
The first District 201T1 Convention was hosted by the Lions Club of Glenorchy with Lion Jack James as Convention Chairman. The Mercury produced an 8 page feature, a multi-page feature was also run in the Advocate (how times have changed).
District Governor Roger Groom was inducted at the 63rd International Convention in Chicago USA in July 1980
Recent History
In 2004 - 2005 PDG Tony Roney was elected as the first MD201 Council Chairman to come from our District.
DISTRICT ACHIEVEMENTS
Lions Eye Diagnostic Centre
In September 1981 the Lions Eye Diagnostic Centre was opened at St Johns Hospital in Hobart. This centre was fully funded by the Lions Clubs of Tasmania who contributed almost $80,000 to the project. This meant that people requiring ophthalmologic treatment could have it in Hobart and not have to fly to Melbourne. Dr Gordon Wise was medical director and Lion Kevin Bell was technician. This centre ran for many years supported by the Lions Clubs of Tasmania.