Latest news with #LionsClubs
Daily Express
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Promoting peace through art
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Lee (centre) and guests releasing doves to symbolise the sowing of peace. Kota Kinabalu: Lions Clubs International District 308-A2 will be visiting schools in the coming months to promote peace through painting. This follows the launch of the club's recent Peace Poster Contest themed 'Together as One' by District Governor Dato' Winnie Lee Siew Ping at the Sabah International Convention Centre. Introduced in 1988, the contest is a global initiative encouraging young people aged 11 to 13 from around the world to express their visions and ideals of peace through art, she said. The event also aims to foster creativity, broaden their global perspectives, and spread the message of peace, she added. 'This contest is not merely a competition of creativity but a channel for nurturing human values and cultural understanding. 'Over the years, Lions Clubs worldwide have actively engaged schools, planting the seeds of peace in the hearts of children,' she said. For the contest, preliminary rounds will be held to select outstanding artworks for the district-level competition, with winners then nominated for the Multiple District and International levels. The contest aligns with District 308-A2's mission of Focusing on Youth, Sowing the Seeds of Peace—for every artwork is a light of peace painted by a child to brighten the world. Also in attendance were Lions Cabinet Officers, Club Presidents and representatives, as well as 300B6 District Governor Huang Hsiu-Ching from Sister District (Hsinchu, Taiwan), District Governor Wu ChangYun from Friendship District 382 (Dalian, China), and PDG Liu Quan and Lion Wang Ban from District 387 (Shenyang, China). * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
The trucks hauling the generosity of strangers into a green drought
Look closely and you'll see the green is no more than a thin shroud laid upon what, just a few weeks ago, was bare earth. Empty paddocks stretch away. Hard-pressed farmers have de-stocked, unable to afford to feed their animals. But where sheep still graze, their noses are pressed to the ground, their jaws working hard at drawing poor sustenance from the skimpy new growth. Cattle can't get their tongues around the mirage of grass. They stand defeated, waiting to rush the next expensive delivery of hay or grain. Here is a paradox: a green drought. As winter came and rain fell, satisfaction at dams filling was curbed by farmers' knowledge that the weather's long-awaited turn was a hoax. After crushing months of the familiar form of dry – the gasping paddocks turning to dusty parchment – the rains came too late, too far into winter's chill to stimulate anything but phantom growth. Venture out into these sham green plains of pain and you might come across convoys of trucks loaded with hay – great rolls of it, or big square bales stacked high. Loading The convoys haul from far away to try to help farmers battle through to spring, when that counterfeit green pick might transform into useful sustenance and debt-wearied land-holders might find the confidence to start rebuilding their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. The momentousness of the convoys is that as the cost of hay and grain reaches to the moon, leaving many farmers despairing of making it to tomorrow or ever recovering, the trucks are supplying their loads of hay for free. The trucks that ground their way to Camperdown last Saturday night brought loads from as far distant as northern NSW worth half a million dollars. All of it, including the cost of running the trucks and fuel, was at no cost to farmers. The gift was arranged by the charity Need for Feed Australia, a project of Lions Clubs. It was established during southern Australia's worst big dry on record, the millennium drought from late 1996 to 2010. About halfway through that long agony, a fellow named Graham Cockerell was rocked to read that three farmers a week were taking their own lives. When he was just 11 years old, he suffered the pain of his own father's suicide on the family's farm. His father, like many others, had simply found himself in circumstances he couldn't control, and couldn't see a way out. Cockrell decided he wanted to try to save other families from experiencing his family's depths of anguish. And so he arranged to fill a small truck with hay, and he sent it to East Gippsland farmers burnt out in the drought-fuelled fires of 2006-2007. Since then, with the support of Lions Clubs all over the place, Cockrell's idea grew into Need for Feed, which became well-known for providing aid following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. Since then, Need for Feed, run totally by volunteers who give their time, trucks, fuel and fodder, has turned up regularly to help communities brought low by Australia's most familiar catastrophes: droughts, floods and fires. It estimates it has provided more than $45 million of assistance so far. Other organisations, like Aussie Hay Runners, do the same sort of thing. Only a couple of weeks ago the Hay Runners ran a convoy of donated hay from East Gippsland to areas around Colac and Hamilton in south-west Victoria. The motive behind this generosity? Five years ago, when Western Victoria's farmers were having a good season, they arranged to send truckloads of hay to help out East Gippsland farmers burnt out in devastating bushfires. Knowing about suffering, East Gippsland's farmers decided last month it was time to return the help they had received. In just three weeks, they gathered trucks and hundreds of donated hay bales and set out in convoy from Orbost. Elsewhere, another disaster relief charity, BlazeAid, raised enough money to cover the freight costs of hay coming from Queensland to western Victoria. Governments, of course, provide disaster relief, too. But in a drought, the Victorian government doesn't hand out money for fodder, arguing such a subsidy would send the price of hay and grain spiralling out of reach of farmers everywhere. And so, good-hearted people of the land, who know firsthand the torment of seeing their animals starving and families falling into despondency and worse, have taken the weight upon themselves to try to alleviate some of the suffering. It will never be enough, of course. As climate change forges on, the need for both immediate assistance and long-term innovation towards resilient, sustainable farming can only become more urgent. For the moment, however, it seems worth knowing that in a world as grim as ours, the old urge in country Australia to help out strangers in need – and let's call it loving your neighbours – has not surrendered.
The Age
17-07-2025
- Climate
- The Age
The trucks hauling the generosity of strangers into a green drought
Look closely and you'll see the green is no more than a thin shroud laid upon what, just a few weeks ago, was bare earth. Empty paddocks stretch away. Hard-pressed farmers have de-stocked, unable to afford to feed their animals. But where sheep still graze, their noses are pressed to the ground, their jaws working hard at drawing poor sustenance from the skimpy new growth. Cattle can't get their tongues around the mirage of grass. They stand defeated, waiting to rush the next expensive delivery of hay or grain. Here is a paradox: a green drought. As winter came and rain fell, satisfaction at dams filling was curbed by farmers' knowledge that the weather's long-awaited turn was a hoax. After crushing months of the familiar form of dry – the gasping paddocks turning to dusty parchment – the rains came too late, too far into winter's chill to stimulate anything but phantom growth. Venture out into these sham green plains of pain and you might come across convoys of trucks loaded with hay – great rolls of it, or big square bales stacked high. Loading The convoys haul from far away to try to help farmers battle through to spring, when that counterfeit green pick might transform into useful sustenance and debt-wearied land-holders might find the confidence to start rebuilding their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. The momentousness of the convoys is that as the cost of hay and grain reaches to the moon, leaving many farmers despairing of making it to tomorrow or ever recovering, the trucks are supplying their loads of hay for free. The trucks that ground their way to Camperdown last Saturday night brought loads from as far distant as northern NSW worth half a million dollars. All of it, including the cost of running the trucks and fuel, was at no cost to farmers. The gift was arranged by the charity Need for Feed Australia, a project of Lions Clubs. It was established during southern Australia's worst big dry on record, the millennium drought from late 1996 to 2010. About halfway through that long agony, a fellow named Graham Cockerell was rocked to read that three farmers a week were taking their own lives. When he was just 11 years old, he suffered the pain of his own father's suicide on the family's farm. His father, like many others, had simply found himself in circumstances he couldn't control, and couldn't see a way out. Cockrell decided he wanted to try to save other families from experiencing his family's depths of anguish. And so he arranged to fill a small truck with hay, and he sent it to East Gippsland farmers burnt out in the drought-fuelled fires of 2006-2007. Since then, with the support of Lions Clubs all over the place, Cockrell's idea grew into Need for Feed, which became well-known for providing aid following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. Since then, Need for Feed, run totally by volunteers who give their time, trucks, fuel and fodder, has turned up regularly to help communities brought low by Australia's most familiar catastrophes: droughts, floods and fires. It estimates it has provided more than $45 million of assistance so far. Other organisations, like Aussie Hay Runners, do the same sort of thing. Only a couple of weeks ago the Hay Runners ran a convoy of donated hay from East Gippsland to areas around Colac and Hamilton in south-west Victoria. The motive behind this generosity? Five years ago, when Western Victoria's farmers were having a good season, they arranged to send truckloads of hay to help out East Gippsland farmers burnt out in devastating bushfires. Knowing about suffering, East Gippsland's farmers decided last month it was time to return the help they had received. In just three weeks, they gathered trucks and hundreds of donated hay bales and set out in convoy from Orbost. Elsewhere, another disaster relief charity, BlazeAid, raised enough money to cover the freight costs of hay coming from Queensland to western Victoria. Governments, of course, provide disaster relief, too. But in a drought, the Victorian government doesn't hand out money for fodder, arguing such a subsidy would send the price of hay and grain spiralling out of reach of farmers everywhere. And so, good-hearted people of the land, who know firsthand the torment of seeing their animals starving and families falling into despondency and worse, have taken the weight upon themselves to try to alleviate some of the suffering. It will never be enough, of course. As climate change forges on, the need for both immediate assistance and long-term innovation towards resilient, sustainable farming can only become more urgent. For the moment, however, it seems worth knowing that in a world as grim as ours, the old urge in country Australia to help out strangers in need – and let's call it loving your neighbours – has not surrendered.
The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
Online scams becoming ‘silent killers', police say
ACP Abdul Rozak (centre) launching the poster. With him are Teoh (right) and Hoe. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star THE growing menace of online scams have become impossible to ignore, with police describing them as 'silent killers', where the crimes not only drain victims financially but also leave lasting emotional scars and shatter livelihoods. Investigation officer Inspector Muhammad Hyzreen Mohd Zain said such scams could wipe out victims' savings and 'subsequently destroy their lives.' 'Scams don't just take your money, they destroy futures. They're silent killers,' he said during his speech at Scam Awareness Talk + Say No to Scam campaign held at a mall in Farlim, Air Itam, Penang. He said such crimes could also tarnish the reputation of enforcement agencies and erode public trust when victims mistakenly believe authorities failed to act. He urged the public to practise digital vigilance to prevent falling prey to such schemes. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen urges the public to practise digital vigilance. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen stressed that many victims unknowingly allow scammers access to their financial information simply by downloading suspicious apps or clicking unverified links. He advised the public to avoid sharing personal or banking information over the phone, even if the caller claimed to be from a government agency or financial institution. He said scammers would often impersonate officials to gain trust and extract confidential data. Insp Muhammad Hyzreen also reminded attendees to be wary of investment offers that promise unusually high returns. 'Always verify with Bank Negara or official sources before committing to any investment platform,' he said. He encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity immediately to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997, or contact the nearest police station for guidance. The talk, organised as part of the campaign, aimed to educate the public on emerging fraud tactics and reinforce the importance of community vigilance in combating financial crime. Organised by 30 Lions Clubs from Penang with collaboration from police, the event also saw the launch of the Call 997 poster. Event organising chairman Teoh Shaw Jhee said the club had printed 2,000 copies of A2 posters which will be put up around Penang. 'The posters will be placed in public areas such as markets, schools, malls and high-rise buildings,' Teoh said in his speech. Teoh said cyber and financial scam cases were now a threat to the public, and as such, it was important to raise awareness. He said Lions Clubs could help police raise awareness of scams. He said the posters was also to inform and educate the public on who to call if they faced the threat of scams in their daily life. 'Awareness is our first line of defence, calling 997 is the right way when you risk being scammed,' he added. Present during the programme were George Town OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rozak Muhammad, his deputy Supt Lee Swee Sake and District Governor Lions 308 B2 Don Hoe. ACP Abdul Rozak, who launched the poster, praised Lions Clubs for organising the event and described the initiative as a noble effort. 'While we remain fully committed to combating corruption, success requires the collective support and cooperation of all stakeholders,' he said in his speech. He advised the public not to be easily misled or duped by attractive offers from unknown individuals online.
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Kian Kok to host Lions Charity Bazaar 3.0
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Connie with the organising committee members for Bazaar 3.0. Kota Kinabalu: Following the successful organisations of the first two fundraising events, the Lions Charity Bazaar 3.0 is back again. It will be held from 7am to 5pm on Oct 12, this year, at the Kian Kok Middle School here. Advertisement Bazaar Organising Chairperson Connie Ting said this major fundraising event brings together 16 Lions Clubs from across Sabah in a united effort to support Lions Clubs International's 8 Global Causes. 'The goal is to raise RM200,000 with all net gross proceeds channelled toward Lions' global service areas,' said Connie during a press conference at GA Space here. The focuses are vision, hunger, environment, diabetes, childhood cancer, humanitarian relief, youth empowerment and rural medical camp. They invited NGOs and youth organisations to take part by setting up booths to showcase their causes. Advertisement 'Companies are encouraged to support the event through sponsorships, with various sponsorship tiers offering promotional opportunities,' she said. 'Vendors are welcome to join the bazaar and benefit from a large public turnout.' The public can support the cause by purchasing charity coupons priced at RM50 and RM100, which can be used to enjoy food, games, and activities throughout the day, she added. Bazaar 3.0 will offer a full day of family-friendly fun with food and drink stalls, live entertainment and engaging activities for all ages, she said. The event is designed to be a meaningful family outing day, blending enjoyment with charity, she said. The participating Lions Clubs are Api Api, Keningau Downtown, Kota Kinabalu Asia City, Kota Kinabalu Capital, Kota Kinabalu Central, Kota Kinabalu Centennial, Kota Kinabalu City, Kota Kinabalu Downtown, Kota Kinabalu Lintas, Kota Kinabalu Mandarin, Kota Kinabalu Vintage, New Century Kota Kinabalu Star City, Labuan Mandarin, Luyang (Ace), Penampang Host,Ranau, Sabah EveryGreen, and Tanjung Aru. Also present were Charter President, Lions Club of Api Api, Chris Liew (Deputy Organising Chairperson); Second Vice District Governor Elect, Alyssa Lim; and President Elect, Lions Club Tanjung Aru, Cynthia Chung. For more details, contact Connie at 0178210989. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
