From Left: Eden Lee, Siakhal Par Tha Dim, Ngung Za Mawi Par, Asja Conner, Raymond Loh at ‘The Den’, 33 Ballan Road WERRIBEE VIC 3030.
By Eden Ryder Lee
As environmental responsibility becomes a defining issue for a new generation, one community group in Melbourne’s west is showing how service, sustainability and youth leadership can grow side by side.
The Lions Club of Werribee was chartered in March 1961 as the 177th Lions Club in Australia. Operating in the Western area of Melbourne, in the country suburb of Werribee some 30km west of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia.
The Club is actively involved in community work within the City of Wyndham, distributing more than $1,000,000 in past years to charities, welfare and community groups.
For much of its history, community service has been about caring for people in need. Today, that mission is expanding. Across Australia, caring for people is increasingly understood as inseparable from caring for the planet they depend on.
It was from this understanding that the Lions Eco Club movement emerged and at the forefront of this shift stands the Lions Club of Werribee.
Where Service Meets Sustainability
The Werribee Lions Eco Club was established as a way for Lions clubs to respond meaningfully to environmental challenges at a local level. Rather than demanding perfection, the Eco Club model recognises sustainability as a journey one built through practical action, learning, and steady improvement.
Each Eco Club operates under the values of Lions International while focusing its energy on sustainability initiatives that deliver real community benefit. From tree planting and habitat restoration to waste reduction and recycling, Eco Clubs allow members to align traditional service with modern environmental responsibility.
For Werribee Lions, this approach felt like a natural evolution rather than a departure from tradition. The club was not starting from scratch, but building purposefully on decades of service, now viewed through a green lens.
Wyndham City Council organised a Community Tree Planting event at Williams
Landing on Sunday 10am-12pm, July 27, 2025. Volunteers were provided with a
free barbecue lunch served by Werribee Lions Club. Location: Along the
Federation Trail, Williams Landing.
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative
Werribee Lions became the first Lions club to formally establish an Eco Club initiative, positioning the club as a leader in a changing service landscape. The initiative brings together environmental awareness, multicultural participation and strong community partnerships, reflecting the diversity and values of Melbourne’s west.
This forward-looking approach has helped reaffirm the relevance of Lions in a world where younger generations are seeking ways to make tangible and positive change, not someday, but now.
Youth at the Centre, not the Sidelines
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Eco Club movement is the role young people play within it.
Rather than being invited simply to assist, young members are actively shaping the direction of projects, contributing ideas, and leading action. The Eco Club at Werribee is driven by a collective of environmentally conscious young people who bring energy, urgency and fresh perspective, supported by the experience, structure and mentorship of long-standing Lions members.
Among them is Eden Ryder Lee, a founding youth member and leader of the Werribee Lions Eco Club, who represents a growing generation finding a home within Lions service. For these young members, sustainability is not an abstract concept, it is their future.
Young people looking for hands-on environmental action are increasingly finding a place within Lions Eco Clubs, where their voices matter and their efforts lead to visible outcomes.
Small Actions, Real Impact
Eco Club initiatives at Werribee have focused on practical projects that strengthen both community and environment.
Tree planting activities enhance green spaces and support biodiversity. Litter collection days bring volunteers together to care for shared spaces while building pride in place. Gardening initiatives, including ongoing work at The Den (the Werribee Lions’ community hub), create opportunities for people of all ages to contribute.
A significant step forward came through participation in Victoria’s container deposit scheme, where members worked alongside families, schools and local supporters to divert thousands of bottles and cans from landfill. Each returned container represented a small action with a larger purpose, transforming everyday waste into tangible community benefit. Funds raised were reinvested into Lions projects and charities, reinforcing the idea that sustainability and service can work hand in hand.
These projects were not symbolic gestures. They were Lions Club values in action: responsibility, stewardship and service without expectation of reward.
Guided by Experience, Powered by Community
The Eco Club concept was founded by Werribee Lions Treasurer Tim Langdon, who first presented the idea at the Lions International Convention in Melbourne in 2024. With decades of experience in sustainability and environmental leadership, Tim helped establish a framework that empowers clubs, particularly young members, to take action with confidence.
While the vision was initiated at leadership level, its strength lies in community ownership. The Eco Club is shaped daily by its members, volunteers and partners, creating a living example of how intergenerational service can thrive.
From Left: District 201V5 Past District Governor Kim Low, Founder of the Werribee Lions Eco Club, Treasurer Tim Langdon, Honorary Secretary General – World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) Malaysia Chapter, Prof Dato’ Dr. GP Doraisamy at the book launch of Lions Community Book – Sustainable Stewardship Success in conjunction with the Lions International Convention Melbourne 2024.
Looking to the Next 65 Years
As the Lions Club of Werribee looks toward its next chapter, the Eco Club stands as a bridge between legacy and future. It honours the past by staying true to Lions values, while boldly stepping into new forms of service that resonate with today’s world.
The Green Pride is more than an initiative. It is a promise, that Lions will continue to adapt, include, and lead, ensuring the world passed on to future generations is one worth inheriting.
For those passionate about the environment, community and meaningful action, the message is simple: the future of service is already growing, and there is room to be part of it.
Lions Club of Werribee
District 201V2
Victoria, Australia.
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/werribeelionsclub/
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Meetings – You are welcome to attend and to join our club! |
What Lions is all about
Fellowship, good times, meeting people, building friendships, service to the community, learning new skills, leadership and personal development – these are just some of the benefits of being a member of the largest service club in the world, Lions Clubs International.
The Club extends an invitation to all to attend one of our dinner meetings as our guest, and without obligation. If you are interested in being a member of Lions Club, the world’s largest and most active service organisation, click on Join Lions for further details. To join the Werribee Lions Club contact the Club’s Secretary.
Lions Clubs offer people the opportunity to give something back to their communities, whilst having fun at the same time. We hope you find the experience rewarding and challenging.
For information regarding Lions Clubs International click on Fact Sheet to download a copy.
The Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Lions Den, 35 Ballan Road Werribee and on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hoppers Club, Pannam Drive Hoppers Crossing at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Inquiries can be made by contacting the Club Secretary by email at;
werribee.vic@lions.org.au
or by post to;
PO Box 163
Werribee, Victoria 3030
Australia.
If you would like to make a Donation in support of the Lions Club’s Welfare Programs please click on the following PayPal Button. Thank you for your generous support.
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