Leos Clubs grow in popularity
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Bucking an international trend of falling service club numbers, the youth arm of the Lions Clubs International – Leos – is steadily growing in popularity. Leos Clubs encourage young people to serve others and their community. The aim is to provide service activities among the youth of the community and develop the qualities of leadership, experience and opportunity through service (LEOS).
Recognised as an endorsed program by the Curriculum Council in May 2007, Leos Clubs have been chartered at Morley and Greenwood Senior High Schools and Carnamah District High School and there has also been strong interest from students at other schools across the state.
Leos membership is also a popular way for students to meet their community service requirement in order to graduate with a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).
Northern district chairman of Leos, Peter Scandrett, said students acquire a sense of belonging and confidence at the same time they learn administrative, organisational and public speaking skills.
“Some of the activities undertaken by Morley SHS’s Leos Club, for example, included singing Christmas carols at an aged care facility. Students had planned to stay two hours, but everyone enjoyed themselves so much that they ended up staying twice as long,” Mr Scandrett said.
“Other activities have included organising a sausage sizzle, selling Christmas cakes and participating in Clean Up Australia,” he said.
“Fundraising has also included implementing a gold coin donation to listen to the school’s rock band and writing to professional sporting organisations to source autographed sporting paraphernalia for raffling.
“Morley Leos members also recently supported the Lions Children of Courage Awards Day by assisting with providing lunch and other forms of support to 78 brave children nominated for a Lions Award.
“The school also has a sister school in Phom Phen in Cambodia and fundraising efforts by the Leos have helped provide the school with a generator, water pump and books, which were presented by Morley’s principal, Gay Fortune.”
Mr Scandrett said student enthusiasm for Leos was also having a positive spin-off on participants’ parents.
He said parents saw students enjoying community service and it increased their own interest in giving back to the community. |
Northern district chairman of Leos, Peter Scandrett
Morley SHS Leo member Serine Meredith with the |
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Morley teacher Norman Paini said his group had received strong support from Noranda and Inglewood Lions clubs and Peter Scandrett, in particular, was a great mentor to students.
Teacher Leigh Mackintosh from Carnamah District High School said Peter’s enthusiasm was also a great support for her club. Her school celebrated its Leos Club charter night on 3 May 2008.
Mrs Mackintosh said Leos was a great way for Carnamah students to meet their community service requirement.
“The program also complements the school’s good behaviour program where students earn ‘keys’ for good behaviour which can then be translated into a reward,” she said.
“Leos has strong support from the school hierarchy and almost one-third of Carnamah students from years 8 to 12 are members.’
Some of the projects undertaken have included a fundraiser where students sought sponsorship to participate in a ‘homeless sleepover’. Funds raised were donated to the Red Cross. Complementing this event was a talk from a local parish minister about working with homeless people.
Students also organised a barbecue and car wash to raise money for the RSPCA and they’re currently raising money to attend an upcoming camp with other Leos Club members from across the state.”
To find out more about Leos Clubs as an endorsed program, view
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Last Updated:
25/ 06/
2008 12:52
