Saturday, 28 March 2026
Shangri-La Sydney, The Rocks
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Bujari Gamarruwa

Diyn Babana, Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In greeting you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of these lands and waterways, I pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. I extend that respect to the Elders of all parts of our country from which you have travelled today.

Parliamentarians, State^[1] and Federal,^[2] District Governor,^[3] CEO of Women and Children First,^[4] Lions Clubs members, distinguished guests, friends all

There is something about names and logos which assume an importance in any organisation. Indeed, organisations, like people, need a sense of identity and, it seems, can be one the most challenging aspects of the birthing process of an organisation and Lions Clubs was no exception.

In the case of the Lion’s Club international, within its first three years it had not one attempt to find the perfect emblem, but two, although it did not stray far from the original one lion to two.

I do have to say, however, that the choice of the lion raised my curiosity, for a club that was inaugurated in the United States. Lions are not indigenous to the country. Its national mammal is the Bison... however, that wasn’t proclaimed as such until 2016. Its national bird is the bald eagle, which is an apex predator.

The Lion is also an apex predator; however, that is the antithesis of what a Lions Club is all about. And, in any event, to use the Bald Eagle as the logo would have identified too closely with the United States, when the intention was that this was to be a truly international organisation. In short, Lions Clubs International would have quickly had an identity crisis.

So… what could be more appropriate than to choose the lion as emblem, an animal imbued with the qualities of leadership, strength, courage, and fidelity. Such characteristics perfectly suited the group of businessmen’s clubs that, in Dallas, Texas, in October 1917, morphed into a new club under the banner ‘Association of Lions Clubs.’^[5] Their common purpose was to use their members’ combined talents, connections, and drive to benefit people in their local communities, particularly those less fortunate, an ethos that was embedded in one of their founding statutes “No [Lions] club shall hold out as one of its objects the financial gain of its members.”^[6]

As to that second logo… the meaning of the Janus-faced lions looking in opposite directions unveiled in Chicago in 1920,^[7] was explained as follows…

… [to face] […] the past with pride and the future with confidence, [to look] […] in all directions to render service.^[8]

That statement rings as true today as it did then, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Lions Club of Sydney Pacific… reflecting on the three decades of community contribution this active, vibrant club has provided and knowing that that same sense of service will continue in the many decades to come.

Lions have served the community for more than a century internationally^[9], for more than three quarters of a century in Australia,^[10] and for more than 70 years in Sydney.^[11]

Tonight, we add another milestone… 30 years of the Lions Club of Sydney Pacific.^[12]

Time restricts a comprehensive listing of all the diverse organisations and causes that your fundraising efforts have supported over this time—with more than $1 million^[13] raised to date—but include

· China Vision, NSW-ACT Save Sight, the Lions Eye Bank, the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of NSW, the Sydney Cancer Centre, the Australian Cancer Council, Children’s Cancer Research, CanRevive, and the Cord Blood Research Society…

· Westmead Children’s Hospital, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Eye Clinic at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Bear Cottage, the Special Children Services Centre, Children’s Mobility Foundation, Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC), and Parramatta Women’s Shelter…

· The Huang Ying Jung Nursing Home in Gordon, the Indo-Chinese Elderly Hostel, the Chong Pak Seniors Centre, the First Light Care Association, and the Chinese Language Council of NSW

· You have raised money for innumerable disaster appeals for those experiencing droughts, floods, fire, and earthquake, here in Australia and internationally.

· You have helped celebrate and connect local communities through your support of cultural education programs and events, your annual seniors’ lunches, and other social activities.

Tonight’s beneficiary—Women and Children First, who provide vital support to women and families escaping domestic violence^[14]—is no exception. Your generosity will help change lives in ways you may never know and deliver impacts that will reverberate into future generations.

I congratulate all members of the Lions Club of Sydney Pacific, past and present, on this, your 30th anniversary Gala Ball.