Lions ask for fair go as numbers shrink

Stanwell Park’s Kira Kelly was one of many who enjoyed last year’s Helensburgh Village Fair.

HELENSBURGH Village Fair is a time of fun, excitement and community spirit, but if the Helensburgh Lions Club gets much smaller, by next year the fair may be no more than a fond memory.

Margaret McGuire from Helensburgh Lions Club said last week the club is dangerously low on members.

It needs new people to join if it is to keep up not just the running of Helensburgh Village Fair, but also the valuable charity work it does for the community.

Ms McGuire said with less than ten active members in the club, the strain on members when organising an event like the fair is considerable.

The fair used to run for two days but now only runs for one, because of the strain on the organisers but Ms McGuire said the fair was still popular enough to make just one day of celebration worthwhile.

“(Last year) we earned the same profit (as previous years) and we only got tired one day instead of two days,” she said.

Ms McGuire said people's lack of time makes it hard for them to be involved with the club, and said often people say they would be glad to help but don't want to pay the twice-yearly Lions Club membership fee of $75.

Ms McGuire said in response to this the club will be dropping it's membership fees by half, but added that the cost of this must be covered by the fair.

This year's Helensburgh Village Fair will take place on Saturday October 27 at Charles Harper Park in Helensburgh between 8am and 6pm.

There will be plenty of stalls and things to do all day and a huge street parade will march at 3pm, which will include up to 300 local Surf Life Savers in recognition of this year's 100th anniversary of Surf Life Saving.

For more information on the fair please visit www.helensburghlions.org.au