Goodwill at work

IN a true showing of community spirit, 17 Tewantin Noosa Lions Club members rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into a good old fashioned working bee.
On Saturday 9 April, the club members gathered at Grant Linkhorn’s home in Noosa Heads to help clean, mow and sort his home.
Long-time resident, family man and advocate for those in need, Grant was left with an acquired brain injury after a car accident in October 2006.
Grant is now confined to a wheelchair, but with the support of Anglicare, Better Caring and his advocate Stuart Wood, he is able to live at home and continue his advocacy working for those in need, particularly those with disabilities.
While Grant is able to live at home, over time, the outside of his house has become untidy and overgrown, rain had damaged many of his tools and unwanted items from times past, like a trampoline, lay in the back yard among the tall grass.
It was in need of a “make over”.
Contacted by Anglicare, Tewantin Noosa Lions Club members Trevor and Chris, in consultation with Grant, organised an old fashioned working bee to help take care of the lawns and gardens.
On Saturday, 17 club members with whipper-snippers, lawn mowers and all else that was needed, including a chain saw, two utes and a trailer, arrived at Grant’s home.
From then it was a hive of activity all around the outside of the house.
Lions Mark, Bill and Louise helped Grant sort the items in the carport into three working piles, while other Lions cleared gardens, removed and trimmed trees, shrubs and weeds, moved items to relevant piles and took loads of green and waste rubbish to the tip.
Lions members said the highlight of the morning was smoko at 11am when everyone stopped for a rest to eat and chat.
Rosemary Luyendyk of the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club publicity committee said while much was achieved the work isn’t complete and future working bees were planned.
Grant said lots of people are scared of Lions, but there’s no need to fear them.
“In Australia there is nothing to fear especially from the ones who are not in cages because they know the meaning of humanity when all others have given up hope,” he said.