Invercargill Lions Club Member Named Top-Ranked National Director

• Graeme Wilson becomes Lions Club International Director for New Zealand region.
• New role involves representing and inspiring Lions Club members across several countries.

Invercargill Lions Club members recently celebrated the election of Graeme Wilson as the top-ranked member of the Lions Club in New Zealand. Wilson will now serve as the Lions Club International Director for New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, and New Caledonia.

Wilson triumphed over five other contenders in a voting process held in Hamilton. The six-month campaign required candidates to speak at seven different conventions across the country. Wilson, a member of the Waihopai City Lions Club in Invercargill, expressed his astonishment at being voted into the prestigious role. He attributed his success to his deep passion for the Lions Club and his ability to connect with grassroots members.

Upon his return to Invercargill Airport, Wilson was greeted by about 20 Lions Club members who cheered and held placards in his honour. He expressed gratitude for their unwavering support throughout his campaign, acknowledging that he could not have achieved this success without them.

In his new two-year role, Wilson will represent his region, addressing any issues and ideas to Lions world leaders. He will attend conventions in various countries and act as an inspirational speaker to help increase Lions Club membership.

Wilson, who moved from Dunedin to Invercargill 21 years ago, joined the Waihopai City Lions Club shortly after his arrival as a way to meet new people. He emphasized that the Lions Club is not just about fundraising but also about providing community service, such as gardening for the elderly or cleaning windows at the hospice.

“It’s about doing those little things to help people who are less well off or unable to do it themselves. So it’s more about the service we do than the money we raise,” Wilson said. He finds great satisfaction in helping others.

On a larger scale, Lions New Zealand will launch a skin cancer screening bus this year to provide scans for people who cannot afford specialist fees. Next month, Wilson will travel to Melbourne for the Lions Club International Convention, where he will be officially confirmed as an international director. In August, he will attend a board meeting in Chicago with fellow international directors from around the world.