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LIONS The Hyden Lions was chartered in ’78, with 26 members.

Wherever there was a need for action on a project to benefit the district, for the Shire, for Progress, or Hyden Tourism, the Lions jump in without fuss and do

it. They have been the district ‘quiet achievers’. Over the decades, the Club also ran a range of money raising activities to benefit the district (catering, mozzie

baiting, can collection, contracting). Funds raised were applied to charity projects like para basketball, skin cancer screening, youth athletics and the Kondinin

Hospital.

One motto was: “we have to be a self-help town. If we don’t do it, no one else will”. Less than 30 members have achieved so much since ’78, all to the district

benefit, and for the companionship and social connection of working together.

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STORY

Their first action was getting the equipment to produce the Hyden newspaper, “Waveline News”, starting in August ’78, and continuing today. Their first big

project was buying a Ditchwitch trenching machine to help lay telephone lines and Scheme water piping across the district. They raised funds in various other

ways including other contracting and catering. From ’84, the Wandilla Spectacular rodeo horseshow was held annually using the grandstand, and judging box,

both built by the Lions.

Lions next sold the Ditchwitch and bought a tree planter- a three point linkage ripper and seat- that went on to plant over 80,000 trees in the district. These

grow along the road SE of Hyden for 16km, on farms: 115 were planted for Mrs Frazer in 2 days, and 1500 for Russell Mouritz. Of these 1000 were planted as

feed for the Wildlife Park koalas, and more were along the highway between Hyden and Karlgarin. In May ’94, Lions completed a 3km walkway from Wave

Rock to the town sown with native species, being trialled by locals.

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About 3,000 trees were planted around the Wave Rock attraction, and another 13,000 along road verges, as a money raiser. They also collected, baled and

trucked aluminium cans to Perth for charity cash.

Along the way, the Club raised thousands of dollars from their activities and donated widely to charities. The Lions Personality Queen, and Charity Queen was

one such charity event, in ’93.

Next, a concrete mixer on an old truck poured pads for many grain silos, houses and commercial sites in the district for years, including the slab for the CRC. It

was also a great money raiser, and was sold on in ’97 when the work tailed off.

The ‘96/97 changeover of office saw a Certificate of Appreciation to the retiring Claytons: Bob and Pat,

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and the changeover for ‘97/98 year was in the presence of the District Governor. The Lions helped (and celebrated) the opening of the Hyden Airport in ‘98.

Hyden Lions took over a “too hard” project from Progress about ’83, and test drilled around the district looking for a suitable site for the cemetery. By ’89,

they had located a spot on the hill west of Hyden town. They went ahead and cleared, levelled and fenced it, and committed to maintain it. A large crowd

celebrated the opening.

In the ‘90s they helped build a walk from Wave Rock to the town, complete with their ‘Sydarb’ bridge in metal. The official opening was by Mia Davies, MLA.

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1990 gift of chair to Kondinin Hospital…and support for the Mobile Skin Cancer screening unit

From ’95, into the ‘00s, creative members of the Lions built a heritage streetscape as a tourist attraction: a mud settlers house, and figures in metal from the

pioneer days. A goodly crowd attended the opening, Hyden style. They also created a small park on the corner of Marshall Street, featuring scrap art and an

old Massey tractor, the second into the district in the ‘30s, seen here ready for a re-paint.

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But their largest project was the building of retirement units for the Progress Association, Whispering Gums in JV with Homeswest, on land transferred from

the school reserve. This was taken over in ’96, and by ’98, four units had been completed. Another 2 have been built since, 2 more planned, and land

reserved for a Seniors Community Room when funds are available.

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And around ’01, the Club upgraded the tip in a JV with local farmers and the Shire.

The Coronation Park children’s playground was another much needed town amenity

In ’10, volunteers were active as ever, the Lions progressed the airfield lighting, to pilot activated service by ’11. Cabling had to be laid, and communications links set up.

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A Bike-a-thon and Postie bike challenge visit was held in ’13…

Ray Herring’s award

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And the Patient Transfer Station – a major Lions project- was opened for 24-hour care of emergency patients. Construction went from foundations, to steel framework, to

the finished building and facilities, and official opening.

Catering for the Wave Rock weekender in ’15 was another worthy district support project.

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Celebrations at the 40th anniversary of Hyden Lions Club in ‘18…and service award to Peter Mulcahy

Seniors lunch with music and a floor show! And Lions family names in the street…