BUNDABERG
LIONS
CLUB inc

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Bundaberg Lions Club inc

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BUNDABERG  ACTIVITY  THERAPY  CENTRE

The Bundaberg Activity Therapy Centre started out to be a Multiple Sclerosis Centre, but on a much smaller scale.

In 1971, Una, the wife of the late Lion Alf Killer, contracted multiple sclerosis and because of this, our Bundaberg Lions Club members and wives became very much aware of this medical condition and the need to help this organisation.

Negotiations were held to acquire land at the back of Norville School from the Lands Department.  At the same time the Bundaberg Lions Club applied to their District Cabinet Officers for money to erect a building for multiple sclerosis.

When the request for money was investigated by Cabinet Members in Brisbane, it was found the ideas of the Multiple Sclerosis organisation were running parallel with many of the same requirements the Asthma Foundation were trying to get for their people in Bundaberg and District - a heated swimming pool which would benefit members of both organisations.

It was then the two organisations, Multiple Sclerosis and Asthma, pooled their ideas and the plans were drawn up for the very large building that exists today.

The Bundaberg Lions Club undertook to organise the erection of the building.  The project commenced in early 1980.  Progress was steady with many businesses donating materials or supplying at cost price.  Progress faltered with the untimely death of Alf Killer.  It took the energy of John Crossley, with support from Jim Newell and Ron Glass, to organise the project to completion with outstanding volunteer labour from tradesmen and other Lions Clubs.  The building was completed in 1982 and operated as the Bundaberg Activity Therapy Centre.

This building project was the largest and most ambitious activity undertaken by the Bundaberg Lions Club to that time.  Records indicate the project involved 4000 hours of labour from Lions and other community members, with our Lions Ladies also contributing 600 hours of service on the project.

After several years the Multiple Sclerosis Association was unable to continue and the building was left vacant.  The Asthma Foundation retained the swimming pool section of the building and this continues today.

The MS section of the building was used as a recycling centre by handicapped people in the 1990s, operating under the name “Independence Incorporated”.  When the Bundaberg City Council took over the job of recycling at their new management station at the city rubbish dump, the building became empty again and remained that way for quite a long time.

Eventually this vacant section of the building was taken over by the Salvation Army in December 2002 and renamed The Salvation Army Tom Quinn Community Centre.  It is now used for rehabilitation activities.

 Researched and contributed by Charter Member, Lion Ron Glass.

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