STAFF WRITERS

 

LIONS Australia, the country’s largest service organisation, is gearing up for an inspiring and action-packed National Convention in Traralgon.

This highly anticipated event, which will be held from May 2 to 5, will bring together hundreds of volunteers from across the country to celebrate the incredible work of Lions members and recognise those who go above and beyond to support their communities.

One of the major highlights of the convention will be a keynote address on Saturday by Australian ultra-running legend, Pat Farmer.

Renowned for being the only man who has ever run continuously from the North Pole to the South Pole, Pat has raised millions for charitable causes, including Lions Australia.

Pat recently supported a passionate Lions volunteer, Sari-Elle Kraemer, who completed the World’s Highest Marathon at Everest Base Camp last year, raising more than $126,000 for the Australian Lions Foundation.

Sari-Elle placed seventh in the foreign category and third among female competitors in this gruelling event.

Sari-Elle has continued running to raise awareness of Lions and in the lead-up to the convention. She will embark on an ambitious 85 kilometre run from Licola to Traralgon to raise awareness for a newly established Lions Club supporting the Licola Wilderness Village.

The village provides life-changing camp experiences for disadvantaged children, and after volunteering there over the summer, Sari-Elle was inspired to take action.

Sari-Elle will be commencing the run from Licola Wilderness Village on May 1, and will set off uphill running over 45km on the first day with significant elevation gain before finishing at the Heyfield Hotel.

Lions Clubs of Licola, Wellington Latrobe, and Heyfield will be supporting Sari-Elle on the run.

Sari-Elle will then aim to run another 40km on Friday, May 2. She will be joined by local runners from Traralgon Harriers Athletics Club and is set to arrive at the opening ceremony on Friday evening, which will feature food trucks and a range of stalls showcasing some of the amazing Lions club projects and foundations.

The event is open to the public and is free to attend.

The convention will also feature key updates from Lions Australia’s Foundations, celebrating the impact of various community initiatives. Attendees can look forward to the much-anticipated National Finals of the Youth of the Year and Leo of the Year competitions on Monday, where young leaders will showcase their talents, passion, and commitment.

“The Lions Australia National Convention is always an incredible time for our members to come together, celebrate our achievements, and be inspired by the impact we are making,” Lions Australia Chief Executive, Rob Oerlemans said.

“It’s a chance to hear from extraordinary speakers, connect with like-minded volunteers, and return home even more motivated to serve our communities.

“With an exceptional program and line-up of speakers, the Lions Australia 2025 National Convention in Traralgon promises to be a milestone gathering for volunteers nationwide.”

Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman said all was in readiness.

“We look forward to welcoming Lions Australia and their members to Latrobe City for the national convention. This will be a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of volunteers and the difference they make in each community they serve,” he said.

“We also cannot wait to showcase Latrobe City to our visitors and hope they can make the most of what our region has to offer.”

Some Lions are on a mission to cure childhood cancer and diabetes, others are committed to assisting those impacted by drought and floods, and many are simply working together to help people in need in their local community. One thing all Lions have in common is together, they are making an incredible difference.

The public are encouraged to come along, be inspired and celebrate the incredible work volunteers do in the community.

For more information, visit: lionsclubs.org.au/members/73rd-md-201-convention2025/