At last week’s Terrific Kids presentation, Gawler Kiwanis’ Margaret Hauge and Ray Hobart, Gawler Primary School Year 7 student and Terrific Kid Jayden Bentley, Barossa Kiwanis member Chris Leske and Member for Light and sponsor Tony Piccolo. PHOTO: Brendan Simpkins.
THEIR efforts have meant the world to hundreds of local school children, but an ageing, and dwindling membership base will see the Kiwanis Club of Gawler come to a close at the end of 2020.
The club is more than 30 years old and in that time has fundraised for countless international, national and local projects, and taken part in many community working bees and initiatives.
However, in recent years it has become best known for its Terrific Kids program, which seeks to promote good citizenship among primary school students.
Nine schools currently take part in the initiative every year, selecting students from each year level to receive a ‘Terrific Kids’ award, which includes the presentation of a library book in the students honour, certificate, book labels and laminated bookmark.
Kiwanis Gawler president and Terrific Kids director Ray Hobart said thankfully, despite the club’s impending closure, the Terrific Kids program will continue to be managed and supported by members of the Barossa Kiwanis.
“They have three schools which they are currently involved in and they are very excited to be in our program,” he said.
Mr Hobart said the club informed schools and Terrific Kids sponsors of the club closure, last week.
“This is due to not only COVID-19 and a lack of fundraising, which keeps our club afloat, but to the fact our club is low on numbers and the members we do have are ageing or not well enough to participate in club activities,” he said.
The club currently started out with 25 members, just over 30 years ago, but currently sits at around 11.
Mr Hobart has been involved for 24 years.
“We’ve had some very good times, getting together and when we’ve had barbecues,” he said.
“Earlier, when we were younger and a bit stronger, we did various jobs, mainly for children – I remember on one occasion there were two children with disabilities and in wheel chairs, and we set up a garden for them.
“We also did work for the afterhours school care at the (former) Evanston Primary School.”
The Kiwanis Club is planning on holding a final farewell dinner, to be attended by its members and their families, sponsors and key supporters of its Terrific Kids program, early next month.
