Golden Memories from Bill

AMONG MY “GOLDEN” MEMORIES

Wednesday, 23rd October 2024 was 50 years since I was inducted into the Lions Club of Timboon, and as I reflect back on my Lions journey, how fortunate I have been to have worked beside and been inspired by so many other Lions who have been dedicated to our motto, “We Serve.”  Among many highlights has been the development of our Lions Eye Health Program to the highly acclaimed, valuable community service it has now become.

Little did I realise 25 years ago, back in 1999, as the then District Governor of District V2, the grant application to LCIF of which I was a signatory for funding of the original pilot program would evolve into the Eye Health program we offer today. Nor did I envisage still being at the forefront as Treasurer of LEHP and a member of the National Management Committee. The magic of the Children’s screening is now spreading Nationally, so much so that at the August National LEHP Committee meeting we acknowledged the original Adult message of the need for “regular eye examinations” was somewhat on the back burner, and we resolved to revitalise this in 2025 under National Committee member Michael Neal’s leadership. Whilst eye-care messages remain very much the same, the “packaging” needs to change, as we have found already with the upgrades constantly being made to the brochures and other materials promoting Children’s Screenings.

Speaking of message, can I share the story of when I was called upon at an MD Convention to make an on-stage presentation without notice, due to the original speaker being delayed in traffic.  No warning, no notes!  No worries!  I hit the audience with a couple of facts as to why LEHP’s message was so important to every Club and Community then, and is still so.

1. The first story I shared was from the very first use of the pilot program at a Lions Club, my own Club of Camperdown. Our original “Save your sight – take the LEHP challenge today” brochure was fixed to the wall and members were asked to read the lines of numbers at the same distance as we check the children’s acuity. There were 5 lines, the top 6/15, and the second 6/12 at which it is considered an inability to read the numbers suggests the person’s sight was not good enough to hold a driver’s licence.  One of our members (Doug) could not read any top line numbers. His occupation – School Bus Driver.  An appointment with an Optometrist quickly followed.  Doug was immediately prescribed spectacles, his photo and story appeared on an upgrade of the brochure.

2. Clarrie was a near neighbour who I often met up with during a morning walk to check my post office box. Usually chatty, and bright, I sensed something was wrong one morning.“What’s up Clarrie?” I enquired.  To which I received the reply, “Bad news mate. They’ve taken away my driver’s licence.  They say my glaucoma is too far gone.”  He couldn’t remember when he had ever had a previous eye health assessment.  He was devastated.  His wife was in a nursing home in another town.  Now he was faced with difficulty in getting to visit her regularly as he had always done.  Clarrie lost his independence forever.

Just two very important take home messages for those conventioneers, and are incidents still worth sharing today.

There are probably Lions in your own Club who have an eye condition needing attention, if they were checked.  There is probably some-one in your Street who has an eye problem they are unaware of that needs a comprehensive eye examination as soon as possible.

Nothing has changed.  Let’s make sure we revive the Adult program in ’25.

Bill Duncanson (PDG)
Treasurer, Lions Eye Health Program