John Dunn This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. ararat.yourguide

   ararat.yourguide.com.au/detail - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/16/2006   Last Visited: 5/16/2006

   Lions Club of Ararat member John Dunn has been awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship and is one of only a handful of Lions members in the region who have achieved this honour.
   
   The Melvin Jones Fellowship is recognition of a commitment to humanitarian work and is Lions' highest honour, representing humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion and concern for the less fortunate.
   
   Created in 1973, the fellowship is named for the founder of Lions Clubs International Melvin Jones.
   
   John Dunn was a Charter member of the Lions Club of Ararat when it formed in 1973 and the only remaining Charter member still active in the club.
   
   John is the first Ararat Lion to be awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
   ...
   John said.
   
   "It certainly came out of the blue."
   
   Over the 33 years of the club's operation in Ararat, John has been president for three terms, secretary for nine terms and treasurer for nine terms.
   ...
   Some of the larger annual events have been Australia Day breakfasts, walk for cancer, Golden Gateway breakfast and the Jail House Rock Festival," John said.
   ...
   John remembers tree planting and developing the Lions barbecue shelter and surrounds.
   
   "But after several years of ratbag vandalism we were forced to remove them, much to the disgust of the many normal visitors who used to spend a pleasant day at the lake. Hopefully in the future we will try again," he said.
   
   In the early days, rag collecting was a big money spinner for the club, with members collecting, sorting and selling rags.
   
   "I was putting out bags for a collection one Saturday and our daughter Wendy, aged about eight, was helping," John recalled.
   ...
   "There were 60 odd spins during the afternoon and we had our own PA system to promote our cause," John said.
   
   "The horses bounded out of the starting stalls and as they rounded the bend into the straight the track broadcaster was describing a thrilling finish when suddenly he was drowned out by our spruiker begging everyone to `Get your lucky tickets here and support your hospital'. We were almost run off the course. Needless to say, over $2000 was raised on the day."
   
   It seems that John Dunn has taken Melvin Jones' personal code to heart, that is `You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else'.

2. 2. ararat.yourguide

   ararat.yourguide.com.au/displa - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/17/2006   Last Visited: 5/17/2006

   Lions Club of Ararat member John Dunn has been awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship and is one of only a handful of Lions members in the region who have achieved this honour. 16/05/2006 [ more ]