The Diamond Valley Lions club first met in March 1973. Over the following 50 years the club has served the Diamond Valley community and fundraised for local, Victorian, national and international causes.

To mark the 50 years the club is planning to build a sensory garden. It is hoped that the garden will be enjoyed by people with no or low vision, people with mobility issues and anyone with autism and related needs. Anyone who would enjoy a quiet contemplative and reflective space filled with scented and textured plants, seating and artworks.

We have council permission to locate the garden next to the labyrinth on the Diamond Creek trail (near the baseball park car park).

Are you a Landscaper or enthusiastic amateur?

Would you like to help us with this project?

Photos from our 50th anniversary lunch.

Top left - District Governor Graham Bryant with Diamond Valley Lions Club and visiting Lions

Top Right - Diamond Valley Lions

Middle - President Fiona Kates, charter member Brian Sedgman and newest member Vince Careri

Bottom left - District Governor Graham Bryant presenting Charter member Brian Sedgman with his 50th anniversary monarch pin

Bottom right - President Fiona Kates with past Diamond Valley Lions Club Presidents

50 years of Diamond Valley Lions

In 1973  the most popular films in Australia were Live & Let Die, American Graffiti,  The Exorcist.

Most popular cars ? - Holden , Ford Falcon, Datsun.

Number 1 in the Australian charts on this day in 1973, was “You’re so vain“ by Carly Simon

Who do you think was in the VFL grand final ? Carlton v Richmond (Richmond won!)

Sydney Opera House opened after 14 years in the making.

Gough Whitlam was PM and Australian of the Year. In this year, he declared peace in Vietnam, introduced no fault divorce and nominated Galston as a site for a second Sydney airport

The Club was chartered on 26 March 1973, with sponsorship by Templestowe Lions. 

It started with a bang with 29 members, all men, who undertook such diverse projects as buying and erecting a bungalow for a widow, clearing and levelling a parking area at Hurstbridge Community Hall and buying breathing apparatus and a first aid kit for Hurstbridge Fire Brigade. 

Over the years, amongst the hundreds of activities and projects it embraced, the Club ran a Miss Diamond Valley Beauty Quest,  raised funds to help Wattle Glen PS rebuild after fire and sent groups of disadvantaged children to holiday camps at Licola, an activity that the club continues to this day. 

A club book records the first 30 years of Diamond Valley Lions Club, it records how much practical help was given to the community, such as moving firewood, patching up a dwelling for a pensioner, and shifting a bed for a single mother. 

The club members definitely worked hard in those days. Anecdotal tales tell us they used to have a few cold ones afterwards, just to quench their thirst, of course!

Some notable dates that jumped out were 

• In 1976-77, the club sponsored the new Lions Club of Kinglake

• 1980-81 the Lions Park in DC was established

• 1981-82 began construction of an adventure playground at a children’s home

• 1984-85 the club organised the District Convention at La Trobe Uni,

• And one questionable one - in 1992-3 they installed 20 peepholes for locals! Front door security viewers

Also in the book are names of places that no longer exist - Sutherland Children’s Home? The Diamond Creek Bini-shell? There was also the Bundoora Extended CAR centre, but that one may be a typo!

Of course, over time the Club has evolved because of the members within it, (with their different passions and priorities) and due to changes in society and technology. In 1999, a woman joined the ranks for the first time as a Lion member, and the club now has pretty much equal representation of both genders.

More recently, the club had to adapt to COVID lockdowns - moving to Zoom meetings and motions passed by email.We all felt that the social connection through our meetings helped raise our spirits during that time (that, and possibly Trevor’s terrible ‘dad jokes’!)

So the present day, with 17 active members. A slightly motley crew who as a group, manage to produce some great work, and make a significant difference to the lives of locals - whether it is local children through the Blue Light disco, Keeping Nillumbik Kids in School and the Wattle Glen PS encouragement award, or supporting local groups such as Greensborough Junior Football Club, Greenhills Community House & Backpacks 4 Vic kids 

Or even, enabling access to better healthcare such as our auditory screening days, and with donations to the skin cancer mobile unit, childhood and prostate cancer research, Lions House and many more

It is a club of which we are all very proud.

And what does the future hold?

Well, this year is massive – as well as all of our usual activities- through the year we are undertaking 50 acts of kindness, to represent our 50 years. These can be anything from collecting spectacles for Recycle for Sight to assisting at the Blue Light discos.

Next month we are having a working bee at the house we sponsor at Licola Wilderness Camp and in November we will be hosting the skin cancer mobile unit for a weekend, and our local community will be able to book in for a free skin cancer screening.

At the end of the year, the club will run the Twilight Christmas Market in Diamond Creek, as it has for the past 25 years, and in the run up to Christmas we will also continue our largest single fundraiser involving the sale of Lions mini cakes in the cafes in Bunnings stores throughout Australia

In addition to all that - we are excited about our 50th anniversary project!

We are currently in discussion with council to put in a sensory garden near to the Tram in Diamond Creek. Our vision is to have a garden that stimulates all the senses with having textural, scented, and edible plants. Access for the vision impaired and those with no or low mobility. Information labels that are written and in Braille, A quiet area to stop and reflect, perhaps for those with ASD and other special needs. A competition for locals interested in landscape and garden design, either as a hobby or professionally, will be run to find the best design. 

We hope that this will become a long lasting symbol of DVLCs support of the community, and a reminder of our history within Nillumbik .

Act 1 … In early January we donated $1,000 to a Lions flood relief initiative helping families re-establish themselves

Act 2 … Helped club member Lorraine pack, recycle and dispose of all her furniture before her move to NSW

Act 3 … In January we sent 1,976 pairs of spectacles to the Lions Recycle for Sight depot where they will be cleaned, graded and then sent to adults and children in need in Asia, The Middle East and Africa. For information on where to drop off used spectacles go to Recycle for Sight

Act 4 … Donated $1,000, via the Lions Clubs International Foundation, to support Lions Clubs in Turkey providing immediate, short and long-term relief to earthquake victims

Act 5 … Delivered a further 6 blankets to Backpacks 4 VIC kids. For details on how you can help this worthwhile project go to https://www.backpacks4vickids.org.au/

Act 6 … Supported a local lad with an intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder with a donation towards a new trampoline which helps his self-regulation

Act 7 … Sent several boxes of used stamps, many dating back to the 1960's, to the Lions Stamp Club. Donated stamps are auctioned and last year the club donated $48,000 to the Australian Lions Childrens Mobility Foundation who fund walking and other mobility aids to empower children out of their wheelchairs. Do you have stamps you'd like to donate? Contact us www.diamondvalleylions.org.au

Act 8 … Our brilliant BBQ team raised $1,095 for the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation’s annual ‘Lions Biggest BBQ’ appeal. The Foundation supports childhood cancer research in Australia. For more information visit www.alccrf.lions.org.au

Act 9… Picked up litter around Wattle Glen as part of ‘Clean Up Australia Day’

Act 10… President Fiona volunteered as a Dermatologist on the Lions Skin Check and Awareness Unit in Traralgon. The unit, funded by lions Clubs and public donations, is fully resourced and voluntarily staffed and offers a free service particularly in rural and remote areas. For more information www.lionsvdcf.org.au

Act 11… Some of our braver Lions help each month at the Diamond Creek Blue Light Disco ensuring hundreds of kids have a great evening.

Act 12…Donated $1,000 to Keeping Nillumbik Kids in School (KNKIS), a joint project with Nillumbik Lions which provides financial assistance to meet the additional school costs of camps, uniforms, text books etc, keeping our young people engaged in education.

Act 13… a group of Lions visited our sponsored house at Licola Wilderness Village to do some maintenance and have some fun!

Act 14… we donated $1000 to the Lions Rheumatism and Arthritis Medical Research Foundation Australia https://www.lionsrheumatismfoundation.org.au/

Act 15… donated new parts to the Diamond Creek Men's Shed defib unit.

Act 16… visited Audrey, our sponsored Hearing Dog, who is the ears for a family in Hurstbridge. We visit occasionally to help with training and catch up for cuddles. For more information about Lions Hearing Dogs https://lionshearingdogs.com.au/

Act 17… We donated $500 to Greenhills Neighbourhood House for pantry items for their food packages. If you would like to donate there is a trolley in Coles Diamond Creek or can email us at diamondvalleylionsclub@gmail.com

Act 18… We are proud to be sponsoring a new Lions club, the Lions Club of Plenty Valley based in the South Morang/Mernda area. Have you thought about joining Lions and making a difference in your community? If so email us at membership@gmail.com

Act 19… In the Driver's Seat is a fantastic project which gives people with visual impairments the chance to drive round Sandown Racetrack. Diamond Valley Lions are honoured to able to volunteer at this event - it is a rewarding and fun day for all involved.

Act 20… One of our club members is now the National Christmas Cake Chairman, coordinating the production, ordering, delivery and sales of the Lions iconic cakes.  Well done Doug for stepping up and taking on this role.

Act 21… Our dedicated BBQ team have been at Mernda Bunnings cooking the legendary sausage sizzle. So far this year they have raised $6000 for good causes - what a team! Think you could cook a sausage or two? Want to have fun doing it and raise money for those in need? Contact us now membership@gmail.com

Act 22… One of our members is now the Host Booking Coordinator for the Skin Check and Awareness Unit which travels round Victoria offering free skin checks. The unit is wholly run by volunteers and has recommended over 2400 people arrange a follow up with their doctor. #saving lives

Act 23… We helped the Friends of Pepper's Paddock, Wattle Glen with planting in their reserve for National Tree Planting Day. (use

Act 24… Joined other members of the community in Eltham North to plant shrubs as part of the Queens Platinum Jubilee project

Act 25… Helped our sponsor club, Plenty Valley Lions, at their first BBQ. They soon got the hang of it!

Act 26… The Lions Club of Diamond Valley joined with Eltham, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and the All Abilities Lions clubs for a hugely successful fundraising lunch, raising over $10,000 for Back Packs 4 Vic Kids. For information click here https://www.backpacks4vickids.org.au/

Act 27… Cooked and served delicious egg and bacon rolls and then sausages at Greensborough Junior Football Club's awards day.

Act 28… Helped out at Hurstbridge Wattle Festival

Act 29… One of our members has been busy sewing Santa sacks for Back Packs 4 VIC Kids. The sacks will be filled with toys to try and make life for displaced children a little better. 

Act 30… Over the last couple of months we have sent off hundreds of pairs of glasses for recycling, taking our total number of glasses recycled since the project began to over 97,000. For a list of collection points click here https://www.diamondvalleylions.org.au/recycle-for-sight-program 

Act 31… We have donated $500 to The Cancer Council Victoria to support the good work they do.

Act 32… A couple of Lions spent a pleasant Sunday morning supporting Wattle Glen CFA at their fundraising open day

Act 33… Thanks to our annual project 43 local children benefitted from hearing and sight tests and students at Melbourne University obtained valuable experience.

Act 34… We are again selling Lions Hearing Dog calendars https://lionshearingdogs.com.au/

Act 35… We quickly donated $500 to help a local community member after a devastating experience.

Act 36… Some of our members had a busy day helping out our fellow Whittlesea Lions at the Whittlesea show.

Act 37… Last weekend we hosted the Lions Skin Check and Awareness unit.  25% of the 127 people screened were advised to see their GP for further assessment of suspected lesions. The unit is fully operated by volunteers and is a great community service.

Act 38… We donated $300 to the Australian Lions Wellbeing Foundation for their work on wellbeing initiatives in schools, encouraging young people to be their best self. https://alwf.org.au/

Act 39… We donated $500 to Australian Lions and Operation Smile Australia. The donation will go towards a new scholarship program aimed at bringing young surgeons from the Philippines and Bangladesh to Brisbane for an intensive 8 week course in cleft palate surgery. https://www.operationsmile.org/

Act 40… We donated $150 to Allwood House, Hurstbridge in support of the fantastic community work they do.

Act 41… We donated $200 to Coogee Lion Sari-Elle who will be running a 42.195k marathon at Mount Everest to raise money for the Australia Lions Foundation Compassionate Grant program. Compassionate grants are awarded to support people with special needs, public relief and community welfare.

Act 42… We gifted uniforms to the members of our sponsor club Plenty Valley Lions. Plenty Valley Lions are roaring ahead with community projects and having uniforms gives the club members their identity and builds cohesion. We wish them success!

Act 43… We donated Lions Christmas cakes to CareNet's reverse advent calendar project.

Act 44… A group of Lions visited our house at Licola to do some painting and repairs. The village runs camps for underprivileged children offering them an environment of fun while creating a spirit teamwork and cooperation.

Act 45… We organised and ran the annual Twilight Market raising funds which will go back to the community. The market is a favourite of the traders and community. Set amongst the trees it brings a festive spirit to Diamond Creek.

Act 46… We had the pleasure of  helping Father Christmas send a reply to hundreds of local school children who had written to him. This is one of our most important jobs of the year and we were delighted to be trusted to help the great man and his team.

Act 47… We have donated $500 each to the following Lions appeals: Lions Arthritis Foundation, Lions House at the Austin Hospital, Australian Lions Foundation Disaster appeal, Lions Clubs International and $1000 to the Lions Skin check and awareness unit which travels around Victoria offering free skin checks and referrals for suspect lesions.

Act 48… We have donated $500 to the RCD Foundation who support paediatric patients and fund research into brain tumours and brain cancer.

Act 49… We are very excited to have permission from the council to build a Sensory garden next to the labyrinth on the Diamond Creek trail. We are working with a garden designer and construction will start in 2024. The garden has been designed for anyone with no or low vision, those on the autism spectrum or anyone looking for a tranquil space to reflect and get in tune with their senses.

Act 50… The club members have volunteered over 2500 hours raising thousands of dollars for projects in the Diamond Valley and Australia. It is a pleasure to serve our community and 2023 has been a fantastic 50th anniversary year. Here's to 50 more!

To join Diamond Valley Lions please see our website https://www.diamondvalleylions.org.au/