Lions in the 202J region of the South Island are all set to offer free health checks at rural events across their region, which takes in Rakaia in the north to Middlemarch in the south.
Immediate past governor and Lions My Free Health Check South project leader Jules Ellis of the Fairlie Lions Club was on hand with the first of the official southern health checks at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest at Winchester.
“We are up and ready to go. We have about five events lined up and are encouraging bookings to come in early as we expect it could be quite popular.
“Groups, organisations or businesses running events such as farm sales, saleyards, A&P shows, business and industry groups hosting filed days: we are keen to hear from them to get us booked in,” Ellis said.
The Lions My Health Check project was initiated with the distinctive orange AgriHQ-supported Glob caravan that is now under the umbrella of the Lions 202D region taking in the Manawatū-Taranaki region.
The project in the South Island replicates the original Glob, with Lions My Health planning committee and Glob secretary Robert Heath and the Glob’s Dr Warren Nicholls in Winchester set to assist the southern Lions with their first major event.
“We didn’t take the Glob, they had organised their own caravan, but took our Lions flags, signage, medical consumables, test equipment and paperwork so we could run and demonstrate to the local Lions how the project functions,” Heath said.
“They now have experienced Lions for the front-of-house aspect, understand the Lions members involvement, have a nurses team and are currently finalising their doctor.
“There is a nucleus of Lions who now have first-hand experience of the Lions Health Check system and understand the value of it for their communities,” Heath said.
At the Young Farmer Agri-skills day at Winchester, 58 people were checked and 11 referred to their GP for follow-up.
A good number came from the North Island areas of Kaeo, Waikato, Dannevirke, Wairarapa and the rest from the Mainland, Heath said.
While in the south Ellis arranged for Heath and Nicholls to give a PowerPoint presentation covering discussion on the Glob and Lions My Health Check project to Lions presidents from several South Canterbury clubs.
With the 202J region taking in about 1200 members across 33 clubs, Ellis said it is expected the Lions Health Project will be well supported.
“Last year we undertook 1200 projects, putting in 18,000 hours of voluntary community work raising $750,000, so we are a big lot, well prepared and we are ready for business now with the Lions My Health Check project and we look forward to seeing a lot of you taking up the free health checks at events across the region.”
Anyone interested in helping with the Lions 202J My Health Check project and any groups or businesses wanting to book the service are welcome to call Jules Ellis on 0274205838 or email micheleandjulian@gmail.com
