Cromwell Lions Club member Andy Andrews received an International President’s Certificate of Appreciation last week, in recognition of his 18 years' work stopping tonnes of recyclable material going to landfill.

District governor Allan Fleury said Lions awards are given out every year, but for somebody to receive this award they had to go “above and beyond,” and Andy’s work had been unrecognised for 18 years.

The award is the fourth highest that can be given to a Lion.

It all started with collecting bottle tops from clubs all over the Southern district, raising thousands of dollars for Kidney Kids, and then moved onto sending eye glasses and personal protective equipment (PPE) gear to third world countries. 

“It has been such an honour to get an award like this and for every pair of glasses that I put in a bag, I knew it assisted someone less fortunate than myself,” he said.

Spec Savers sends Andy 300 pairs of glasses a week, and two Cromwell wine bottling plants send him their bottle tops.  A team of volunteers then arrive at his home every week to start sorting them.

In October they sent 1500 pairs of glasses to Tonga and 900 pairs went to Cambodia.  

Now he’s involved in the club’s battery recycling project as well.

Cromwell Lions Club members Neville Hucklebridge and Bill Thornbury were also both recognised for their 50 years of service to the organisation.

Neville joined the club in October 1973, has been president twice, and received the Lloyd Morgan Life award in 2009, which was followed by the Melvin Jones award in 2021.

Bill transferred to the Cromwell club from East Invercargill in 1997, where he also started his Lions journey in 1973, receiving the Lloyd Morgan Life award in 2003 and Melvin Jones award in 2007.

Tony Cox received the Cockburn Quiet Achiever award, recognising someone who goes about their business behind the scenes without seeking the limelight.