Well, can you believe it, it is the end of yet another year. As we get older, the

years just seems to go by so much faster.

This time of the year is the time that we should reflect on what we have achieved during the year. We should look at the positives and the negatives but never dwell on the negatives for too long.

As Port Shepstone Lions we have so much to be proud of. Our achievements for the current Lionistic year include one of the best Leadership camps ever, The gift of sight to 12 deserving patients, a magnificent Oldies Christmas Lunch and the annual Christmas tree for the kids of Suid N a ta l L a ë rsko o l . We a l so contributed to the environment and food security by ways of a Beach Cleanup and the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f Nestle products to the needy in our community.

As a Club we also won three awards a t M i d y e a r Conference and

o u r c l u b i s held in high esteem by the r e s t o f o u r District. The fact that the First vice District Governor and The Zone Chairman comes from our club is proof enough.

As a club we also look forward to our Christmas dinner and the New Year’s Eve Party at the Pont.

As we draw the curtain on 2013, my wish for all of you is to enjoy this festive season with your family and friends. Have a B l e s s e d C h r i s t m a s a n d Prosperous New Year. Re-charge those batteries and let’s come back even stronger next year.

Andre BenekeClub President

December 2013

5th : Lions Expo Meeting - Den12th : Combined Directors / ClubMeeting - Den13th : Club Christmas Party - Bela’s Restaurant14th : The Pont Family Fun Day16th : Food collections at Harbourview Superspar31st : Lions New Year’s Eve Bash -The Pont Holiday Resort

January 2014

2nd : Ladies Meeting - Den9th : Directors Meeting - Den16th : Lions Expo Meeting - Den23rd : Club Meeting - Den25th : Lions Bingo - Den

Birthdays :

December :

7th : Mike Davison7th : Hans Wagenaar21st : Colleen Baker

January :

6th : Ronald Tarboton19th : Mervin Curnow24th : Jane Massey30th : Karin Warman

ions Clubs in Zone 6 (KZN South Coast) received a very generous donation of R500 000-00 worth or Nutren

Lfrom Nestle in Durban. This Zone project was organised by Lion Colin Mackintosh of the Scottburgh Lions Club. The supplies were transported to the South coast courtesy of Port Shepstone Lion Jean Masson

(Multicrop Construction) and stored at the Shelly Beach Lions' Den from where they were collected by the various clubs. Many local community organisations will benefit from this healthy supplement. Port Shepstone Lions have thus far made donations to St Martins, South Coast Hospice, Reinhard's Place, Bread of Life and NG Church feeding scheme.

Lion Jeff Smith donated a number of boxes to CEO Di Van Wyk of South Coast Hospice in

Port Shepstone.

(Right)Lion Jeff Smith visited St Martin's and handed over some of the Nutren to Lorette Millar, Administrator of the school

(Above) The Multicrop crew who kindly assisted with the transportation and offloading of the hundreds of boxes.

(Left) Kokstad Lions President Nigel Hoffman taking delivery of the stock for their area

Lions Paul Brauteseth (Shelly Beach) and Jeff Smith (Port Shepstone) displaying the

generously donated products.

Lion President Andre Beneke and Community Services Director Jeff Smith visited Suid Natal Primary and presented Melissa Morrison with a cheque for R500-00. Her entry for the 2013 Lions Peace Poster Contest was judged 2nd Place overall for District 410-C. School Principal, Mr Lourens was also presented with a cheque to the value of R500-00 which he indicated would be used for funding towards the art class.

Melissa’s entryfor the 2013Lions InternationalPeace Poster Contest(Below)

On Sunday 24th November, a group

of Sheppie L ions and helpers

embarked on a cleanup of the

Umtentweni Beach area together with

members of the Tweni Conservancy.

This successful project was followed

by a braai and fellowship at the

Sheppie Lions Den.

he November / Year End Lions Bingo

Tsession held at the Sheppie Lions’ Den was a huge success and very well attended. Well

done to Lion Alastair Warman and his Team for successfully running this project every month during the course of 2013. A great achievement. This event has become a highlight for the elderly in the Port Shepstone area.

Andre Junior (left), son of Lion President Andre Beneke insisted on also making a contribution towards the annual Toy Story project. Definitely a Lion in the making!

On Saturday 30th November, Port Shepstone Lions and Lion Ladies hosted their 23rd Annual Christmas Luncheon for Senior Citizens at the Port Shepstone High School Hostel.

Approximately 80 senior folk from the Flower Foundation, Anerley Haven, Mbango Valley (Villa Bruno) and other residences in the area were transported to the event by Lions members.

They were all treated to a superb live music ensemble courtesy of Sue Neilson on the keyboards and singers, Brian Algie and Marie Webster. The guests were serenaded with Christmas Carols and other beautiful melodies.

The guests were served a delicious 3-course Christmas lunch prepared by the Lion Ladies. Santa Clause, aka Lion Alastair Warman and Club Mascot, Melvin the Lion, aka Lion Mike Heathcote presented each guest with a sponsored Christmas gift bag filled with wonderful presents.

The whole event was, once again, a huge success thanks mainly to project coordinator Lion Hilton Horsley and his team of dedicated Lions and Lion Ladies. Port Shepstone Lions are extremely grateful to Sue Neilson for once again organising the live entertainment as well as Port Shepstone High School for allowing the Club to use their Hostel dining hall. The Lions would also like to thank the Hostel staff, Sunrise Farms, the Frey family and Fresh Meat for their assistance and support.

Melvin brings some joy to their lives

The Sheppie Pride - Page 8

Getting Santa & Melvin ready was no easy task!

Hey HarryWhat’s the deal

with your tail boet?

The CoolestSanta in Town!

Finally!

Thisone’snot!

This boepis real!!

(L-R) Kevin Ross, Elsie Mc Killen, Wayne Skinner, Mervin Curnow, Andre Beneke, Clayton Curnow, Betty Bing, Martin Rundle, Dale Mc Garry, Melvin The Lion, Inika Curnow, Johann Du Plessis, Jean Masson and Rob Bing (front)

Good Afternoon and welcome to our annual Christmas Lunch.

The elders, across all faiths and religions in society…constitute a battalion of the most stable, mature, and wise people. Whilst this is the case…they also constitute the most vulnerable members of our society…. These people are susceptible to all kinds of abuse...neglect and danger… They are ever at risk of being attacked and harmed... In most instances…this is done by people who are their closest relatives… friends and family.

This lunch has become an institution which you, our valued guests and us, the Lions look forward to every year.

This is our humble way of showing respect to our elders… and what you have done for the younger generations… You have been mothers and fathers... Working hard to put us through school and university… Feeding us…. clothing us and unselfishly giving up on some of your dreams… just so that we can have what we need...You taught us life, full stop.

Then we had kids of our own and you suddenly became grandparents… It was so nice for us to drop off the little brats with granny while we enjoyed our lives.

While all this happened… you became old and frail…without us noticing. Suddenly granny can't look after little Johnny any more… and what do we do…We ship you off to an old age home. We have no more use for you. Our conscious is clear…. We've done the right thing.You will be lucky if you see us once a month again… Some of us don’t even bother to see you ever again… How sad is that, after all you have done for us.

"We make those cry, who care for us. We cry for those, who never care for us."

It's STRANGE but TRUE!”

The Bible in Exodus 20 verse 12 says: "respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

The Torah says "rise before an elderly person and stand before a wise man."

This… Ladies and Gentleman… is why we are here today. We will not forget you... If some of you are far from your families and loved ones…or have no family and feeling lonely…remember we are here for you.

Lion Hilton, Our Lion Ladies and fellow Lions, Thank you for the hard work you've put into this event.

Thank you.

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country t o w n , i t w a s b e l i e v e d t h a t h e h a d n o t h i n g l e f t o f a n y v a l u e .Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this

poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to e v e r y n u r s e i n t h e h o s p i t a l .

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem :

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one anotherA young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feetDreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swellsI remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.Not a cranky old man .Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

ion Lady Anna Compion recently visited the Port LShepstone Hospital Maternity Ward and

donated a number of gift hampers to the many

underprivileged patients. Unfortunately we are no

longer allowed to photograph the patients receiving

the gifts, however, the ward Sister happily agreed to

pose for this photograph. Well done to our Lion

Ladies Club on another fine service initiative!

During the heavy rains that fell at the

beginning of November, Lion Lady

President Estelle’s house was flooded. Out

of sheer desperation she sent a “Whatsapp” message out to the club and within a very short space of time, Lion

Alastair Warman and Lion Lady Jenny Vogt arrived to assist with the mop up operation.

Jen was moving so fast that the camera could not focus properly on her face! Well done to those who responded

showing that we are not only there for our community but also for each other.

Zone 6 Chairman, K e v i n R o s s conducted a very successful 2nd Zone Meeting at the Shelly Beach Lions’ Den on 23rd November an d the new She l l y Beach Lions’ Den which is located at Izotsha Memorial Park. The meeting was f o l l owed by s n a c k s a n d fellowship.

Members from all 6 Clubs attended. ZC Kevin Ross & ZC Jeff (Pebble) Smith

DC Karin Preston Jeff (Pebble), Karin & Kev enjoying fellowship

ion Lady Inika Curnow Ldecided to create a

Christmas Tree out of

driftwood! With the recent

floods, there was plenty of

driftwood along the beaches.

Her efforts paid off and kids,

Dom & Lolly decorated the

tree beautifully. A very fine

initiative indeed - taking any

orders??

The Port Shepstone Lions’ Den is fast becoming a

firm favourite for parties and year-end functions.

The Club’s administration account is bearing the

fruit of the fine efforts of those members who assist with the bar and catering at these events.

Superb catering courtesy of Saffron Chefs

Al’s final resting place!

The “After Party”!

The friendly barmen

The Den all decked out

Superb cuisine - courtesyLions Al and Nico

The Dancing startsSpeech time

The Guests

The Braai area

The Pub area

LION RONALD TARBOTONPartner : Mary-JaneChildren : Son, Cade (4 1/2) & daughter Emilie (6)Occupation : Director - Criterion Power Sports Been a Lion since : 2013Sponsored by : Lion Clayton CurnowGreatest Lionistic Achievement : Being able to dodge work!Hobbies : Bikes, boats, jetskis & golf Bad Habits : Love parties too muchYour philosophy on life : Enjoy the moment.

LION WAYNE SKINNERMarried to : LizelleChildren : 3 daughters - Bianca (14), Danika (13) & Zara May (2)Occupation : Contracts Manager at Multicrop ConstructionBeen a Lion since : 2013Sponsored by : Lion Jean MassonGreatest Lionistic Achievement : Still new to the organisationHobbies : Camping, waterskiing (can’t do the movies any more!)enjoying life in generalBad Habits : Watch too much tvYour philosophy on life : Do it right the 1st time or not at all.

visit : for more information.www.lcif.org

President : Andre BenekeImm.Past President : Jean MassonFundraising : Alastair WarmanService Projects : Jeff SmithHouse & Entertainment : Dale Mc GarrySecretary : Charles WallisTreasurer : Richard BorradaileMembership : Kevin RossPublic Relations : Denis MeyerBar Manager : Alister LoveLions Alert : Andre Beneke (Acting)Lion Tamer : Clayton CurnowTailtwister : Barry Van Der Veen

Lion Ladies President : Estelle O.NeillLion Ladies Secretary : Anna CompionLion Ladies Treasurer : Jane Massey

Newsletter Editor : PDG Denis Meyeremail : pro@sheppielions.co.za

Web Site : www.sheppielions.co.za

Club Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/PortShepstoneLionsClub

Club Postal Address : P O Box 509Port Shepstone 4240Club Street Address : Lions’ DenAmbleside Road, Umtentweni

Port Shepstone Lions Club2013-2014 Board Of Directors

n Thursday 28th November, a group of local businessmen, including

Omany Sheppie Lions were hosted at the “Shark Tank” courtesy of Leaf Technologies. Lions Mervin and Clayton Curnow took time to pose

with Sharks C.E.O.John Smit and the coveted ABSA Currie Cup Trophy which is proudly on display at Kings Park - home of the best provincial rugby side in the world!

Club Excellence Process launched at Sheppie Lions

PDG Stuart Charlton visited our November Club meeting and introduced the "Club Excellence Process" concept to the members. Port Shepstone Lions Club are the first club in the

District to register for the "CEP". Lion Rob Bing has kindly agreed to be the club's facilitator and will be arranging 4 workshops which will assist the club i n b e c o m i n g more e ff i c ien t with community service projects a n d f o r w a r d planning.

Merry Christmas &a Happy & Prosperous

New Year

to all our readers....

From thePort Shepstone Lions

& Lion Ladies