The Lions Club of Grenfell does amazing work with and for the community.

 They are passionate, committed, friendly and supportive. Each year the Lions enter a candidate in the Henry Lawson Festival Queen competition, and this year I was the lucky one to be chosen and I wish to thank them for this opportunity – it was something that I had never done or thought of doing.

We had a very busy few months with fundraising and events to organise.  We held wood raffles, meat raffles, a street stall, and a sausage sizzle on Anzac Day, a 100 Club, a jelly bean guessing competition and a smorgasbord and dessert night at the Railway Hotel, which was a great night with delicious food – thank you to everyone who assisted.

 I had to attend different events for the Festival including the opening of the Art Exhibition, the Festival Concert, the Official Luncheon and the Festival Awards Dinner as well as participating in the Festival Parade where the THLHS Leo Club members assisted.

 It was a very busy time, but well worth it because we raised $14442.80 of which $2166.42 is retained by the Henry Lawson Festival Committee. The remainder was reimbursed to the Lions Club. Lions also donate $1350 sponsorship to Festival Committee.

With the funds raised the Lions Club will purchase more equipment for the local MPS and do further upgrades at the Lions Park at the Station.

With the money raised I was crowned Charity Queen, but all the candidates put in an amazing effort to raise money for their organisations.

Congratulations to Becky Eastaway on being crowned Festival Queen and to Amanda Livingstone and Grace Amery for their achievements.

 Thank you to Tamara McMahon and Michele Johnson for the hard work in organising the competition.

I wish to thank my family and friends and the community for purchasing raffle tickets and supporting my fundraising.

Special thanks to James and Wally Barker for your donation and to Don, James and Freuin Forsyth for your outstanding assistance and to the patrons at the Railway Hotel for supporting my meat raffles.

I was honoured to be crowned the 2016 Henry Lawson Festival Charity Queen, however without community support, this would not happen.

Sincerely, Symmone Curl