A NEW group has been formed to provide recreational facilities and events for families in the Milton-Ulladulla area.
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A branch of the Ulladulla-Milton Lions Club, MUD Pride, was officially announced during the Lions District Convention on Saturday.
MUD Pride president Rachael Martin and vice president Amy Whiteman are working mums with young families and are leading the charge to provide more outdoor recreational facilities and events for young people.
They believe the new group will provide a platform for busy mums and dads to become involved developing the district for families now and into the future.
As a branch of Lions, MUD Pride will feed off the existing well established club, but will operate as a separate entity, with flexible, informal meetings.
“We are all about providing for local families,” Rachael said.
“The term pride is a family of lions - and we will be a club made up of families.
“We know people with kids are busy working and running around to sporting, school and social events, so this is a very informal group that we hope will cater for everyone.
“There’s no strict structure, we will just meet when we can at a local park for a cuppa or even via our Facebook group.”
Rachael said the group aimed to work with Lions members to provide additional facilities within existing parks, including fixing up the Ulladulla BMX track and building amenities, tables and sheltered areas for families.
They were also considering creating a longer bike track for older kids at the Burrill Lake Lions Parks as well as a flying fox and climbing wall.
“There’s a lot for little ones in our area, but not a great deal for older kids, so we’re looking at facilities for children aged eight to 15,” she said.
MUD Pride already has 10 members following its inaugural meeting last Thursday and looking for more family orientated people with ideas and suggestions.
People interested in joining the group should call Rachael on 0407 542 992.
Lions president Brian Thompson said MUD Pride was “the greatest innovative move towards membership of Lions in the club’s history”.
“It’s flexible enough to allow younger families with children to contribute to the community through the Lions organisation, without the hard and fast commitment to attend meetings.
“Existing club members will guide the new group through projects and offer advice when required.”
Rachael and Amy were officially inducted during the District Convention in Ulladulla on Saturday and were commended by Lions International Director Steve Glass visiting from West Virginia.
“Let’s not assume that every new member wants to be hitched to tradition – ask these new members what they see and what they want to do,” he said when welcoming the pair.
“Be aware that a different fire glows in younger people which will challenge tradition and bring new ideas to Lions.”