The front page on this day in 1958 celebrated the launch of the Lions Club of Canberra. Representatives of 23 clubs from around Australia were there to wish the new club well.
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The district governor Jack Manning said the charter was "evidence of faith and a bestowal of confidence that the laws of our land, the principles of peaceful brotherhood, the uplifting of city and community spirit will go ever forward."
Lionism, he said, built interest among its members in the civic, commercial, social and moral welfare of their community through unselfish service.
"It stands for good citizenship, cleanliness, effective administration, economy and the development of collective interests. Members of the Canberra Club, in taking membership, have given proof of their devotion to country, shown the spirit of good citizenship, and professed loyalty to the ideals of good government, I hope that no Lion may ever default in his allegiance to those ideals."
The already established Canberra Rotary Club welcomed the Lions as a fellow service club. Federal member Jim Fraser was there to pass on his congratulations, as was the first secretary of the United States Embassy.
The Lions Club of Canberra's inaugural president Bill Graham said that Canberra was ripe for service clubs and hoped the members would help make Canberra a better place to work and live. Times Past wishes the club a happy anniversary.
