Cooktown Endeavour Lions Club was established on Saturday 23rd June 1979 at the old Endeavour Inn Restaurant on corner of Charlotte and Furneaux Streets.
The Club was chartered by the Atherton Lions Club. Charter night was attended by 62, Including Atherton Lions members, local community and partners.
For the first few years meetings were held at various pubs, clubs and restaurants but in 1994 we built our own club rooms. This was achieved by donations of labour by many tradesmen in the town.
The Club has provided the community with many assets including a major contribution to build the 25meter Swimming Pool. This was possible with a sizeable donation from Lions International, Lions Australia and Cooktown lions.
We have provided in the middle of town a Lions Park with a fenced children’s play area. We have electric BBQ’S a large Rotunda and tables and Chairs. Over time we have installed 6 drinking fountains and 12 bench chairs at certain areas around town. We developed a lookout area on top of Grassy Hill (has since been redeveloped by Cook Shire Council)
We have 7 electric mobility scooters that we provide (6 Scooters replaced with new ones mid 2018 at cost of $30000.00 with Donations from RSL Sub Branch, RSL Memorial Club, Cooktown Bowls Club, Gunguard Community Aboriginal Centre) and maintain for the disabled people that require them.
Yearly we provide the schools with bursaries two at $3000.00 (Bert Mason Award), one at $2000.00 and 3 at $350.00
To achieve some of the monies needed, we conduct a weekly raffle at the TOP PUB, we collect aluminium cans and bottles (Containers for Change Scheme ID C10002078), we conduct BBQ’s and Bars as required by the local council. Our club appreciates our community and our great community help, be it through Raffle tickets, assistance with labour, donations, materials, workmanship, attending functions and supporting our projects and events.
Here are some of our successful projects we have done over our 43 years in this community.
SENIORS:
Annual Seniors Xmas Party since 1988, Supply and Maintain Mobility Scooters, Money towards multipurpose respite services, Aged care facility, Sunset Lodge Air Conditioner.
YOUTH:
Lions Youth of the Year Program, School Bus Shelters, End of Year Scholarship’s and Endeavour Awards, both State and Christian College, Travel Assistance for Excursions and Sporting Events, Old Skate Park behind boatshed house, New Skate Park, Rear of PCYC. Billy Kart Races June Weekend, Naval Cadets, Airfares for Medical Procedures.
HOSPITAL and HEALTH:
1ST4WD Ambulance, Helicopter Pad and paths at Hospital, Airsock, Outside Lights, Specialty Chairs, TV, Various Medical Machines and Equipment,2 Specialist bed Pads, 250 Emergency Medical Information Books.
COMMUNITY:
Air-conditioned Lions Hall for meetings and etc, no charge for not for profit organisations. Benches and bubblers around town, Grassy Hill, Lions Park 1st Playground Equipment, BBQ and Rotunda at Lions Park, Coast Guard Boats Endeavour 1 and 2, communication systems, Lighthouse Repairs and Maintenance, Swimming Pool (Endeavour Lions $19000.00, International Lions $25000.00, Australian Lions Clubs $15000.00). Water Bore on School grounds, Ashes Wall at the Cemetery, Keable Park Swings and Shelter, Annan river restocking, Recycling Aluminium Cans.
FUNDRAISING:
For: Royal Flying Doctor Service, SES, Lions Hearing Dog Programme, FNQ Hospital Foundation (inc Cardiac Challenge), Cooktown Crocs Underwater Hockey Club, Cooktown Kindergarten
EVENTS:
Lions Convention (Clubs from Mackay to New Guinea), Jazz Festival, Many Catering Jobs for Events,
Some of the current Projects that we have in mind is the installation of another Ashes Wall, (when needed). We are also working on a nature play based playground based in Keeble Park.
At present we have 26 members , We are always open to new members. Our club encourages younger members to bring all their family to our monthly Dinner Meetings. We would love for you to bring new ideas to help our community. It would be good to get new projects underway and new members in the Lions Club.
We enjoy being Lions Members and encourage more people to join us. 100% of all fundraising goes back into the communities we serve.