The funds we raise are all donated to other charities and good causes. This is a list of some we have supported recently, followed by a list of all the donations we have made over the past few years:
March 2026: Hope in a Suitcase
Children entering foster care or out-of-home care face enormous challenges, but Hope in a Suitcase is helping to give them a sense of comfort and belonging.
Hope in a Suitcase provides children with a suitcase filled with new essentials they can call their own, offering reassurance that they are valued and cared for by the community.
We delivered 12 brand-new suitcases, packed with pyjamas, toiletries, clothes, books, toys, and special items to let children know they are not alone, that they are seen and they matter.
The project received support from the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), who contributed hand-knitted trauma bears, and from Big W Noosa Civic, where store manager Tim Hemmington and his staff helped select the best items at the best price.
Lois and Sharon from our Lions Club love to shop, and this was the perfect opportunity for them to have fun while helping others.
The suitcases were carefully packed with love before being sent to the central packing shed in Yandina. Club members also learned more about the growing demand for the program, including the costs of storage and the increasing number of suitcases required each year.
In 2025, Hope in a Suitcase delivered 450 suitcases across the Sunshine Coast and 8,670 nationwide. The initiative continues to expand, making a lasting difference in the lives of children at a time when support is most needed.
We encourage community members to support Hope in a Suitcase or join their ranks to help with a variety of local projects.
March 2026: Festival of Surfing
We ran our food van at the Festival of Surfing as usual. However to close a big week off we donated $500 to Jack with Gary D and Michael holding the big cheque and John supporting all that we do. Thank you to all who came to help this week – Lions and Friends of Lions you are appreciated.
The Noosa Festival of Surfing’s “Rising Stars” Elite Camp is an annual 2-day elite development program sponsored by the Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club in conjunction with the Noosa World Surfing Reserve. [1, 2]
The camp is not a traditional open-enrollment clinic; instead, it is an exclusive prize awarded to two junior competitors (usually U16 or U18) during the festival’s annual junior presentations.
The winners, selected based on how well they embody the core values of the Noosa World Surfing Reserve—both in and out of the water, were Luana Matthies and Zane Arikan, to whom we gave $1,200.
February 2026: Noosa Triathlon Club
Local junior athletes are set to benefit after we donated $1,000 to the Noosa Triathlon Club this month, reinforcing the strong community spirit that underpins sport across the Noosa region.
The funding will go directly towards supporting junior programs, helping young triathletes continue to train, develop their skills and enjoy the many physical and social benefits that come from being part of a local sporting club.
The donation will help keep junior sport accessible and inclusive, reduce financial barriers for families and ensure programs remain well supported as participation grows.
The contribution follows a simple yet meaningful example of cooperation between two long-standing community organisations. During the busy Christmas to Australia Day holiday period, the Noosa Triathlon Club provide shed space so we can securely store car parking equipment used for peak season operations at Lions Park.
What began as a practical storage solution evolved into a broader gesture of goodwill. Rather than treating the arrangement as a straightforward transaction, we chose to give back in a way that reflects our long-standing commitment to community service — by investing in the next generation of local athletes.
Noosa Triathlon Club officials welcomed the support, noting that junior sport thrives when the wider community gets behind it. They said partnerships like this strengthen not only individual clubs but also the social fabric of the region.
January 2026: Four Wheel Drive Wheelchair for Becs
Rebecca contacted us to say that she is active but confined to a wheelchair which means she was stuck on the boardwalk -watching from afar as her friends and her son walk on the beach. Her son has been involved in Disability Surfing and also Surfers Healing and Rebecca could not join the spectators and other families at the shoreline.
We considered this to be a very justified need so with the help of Australian Lions Foundation we purchased a second-hand 4-wheel drive wheelchair for her. This has give her new life to be able to enjoy days on the beach like all other Aussies.
She was so grateful that she is now joining Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club so she can help other people in need
Photos and video courtesy of LensArt
November 2025: Women’s Shed
Julie Ainscough,President of the Noosa Women’s Shed, came to our dinner meeting to share the story and mission of building a “shed” where women can be empowered to learn tools-based skills. Women gain independence and confidence and we saw great examples of the fun projects.
We were impressed by their efforts and donated $1000 to assist with their work
November 2025: Santa’s Classy Helpers
Santa’s Classy Helpers was set up several years ago by Lorraine Kenway to raise funds for local families in need. They raise funds to buy food, toys and essentials then invite those in need to an event at the The J – Noosa where they can choose things to help at Christmas. We donated $5,000 to this worthy cause that assists over 550 families and 1200 children.
Santa’s Classy Helpers work tirelessly all year to raise funds and source supplies. We volunteer our help at Christmas, as described on our What We’ve Done page.
August 2025: Oz Bayldon
Oz Bayldon is a world-record-breaking musician, known for performing the highest gig, the longest gig and the highest canyon swing gig. He has spent decades turning his love of music and adventure into life-changing projects for vulnerable communities. He is so humble, he never takes anything from the fundraising he’s done for all of the causes he’s campaigned for over the years.
However, his world was turned upside down when he suffered a serious brain aneurysm that needed major surgery. Because he would never ask for help himself, a GoFundMe was started on his behalf.
We donated $1,000 towards his recovery and to take financial pressure off the table for him and his family
August 2025: Beach Wheelchair
Tewantin Noosa Lions Club representatives were on hand at the launch of a new beach wheelchair. We assisted with the purchase of the wheelchair with a donation of $2000.
The new chair is housed at Noosa Information Centre and can be booked online for appropriate use. The wheelchair has two sets of wheels; one with fat tyres to use on the beach and the other set with replaceable thinner wheels for National Park and Noosa Woods usage.
Doing a great job of modelling use of the chair is Daisy who is also a previous beneficiary of support from the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club.
