THE Jellicoe Park band rotunda and surrounding gardens and pathways are undergoing a major facelift, thanks to Moree Lions Club.

In recent weeks, Lions Club members were busy repainting the rotunda in the club’s traditional navy blue and yellow colours.

The original rotunda was built in the early 1930s and officially opened in 1935.

The need to build a band rotunda at Jellicoe Park was because “it promises to be our main park, and because it is within hearing distance of the hospital’, according to the North West Champion’s letters’ section when the idea was first floated in 1931.

At some point, the original rotunda was replaced by the current steel-framed and timber structure.

“We got rid of the rotting timber and gave it a fresh coat of paint and it’s come up so well; it looks completely different now,” Beth said.

“We still have tables and chairs to be permanently fixed and the pebbled footpaths will be replaced with cement paths to enable wheelchair access.”

The Lions Club will also landscape the surrounding chain-fenced garden beds and replace all pebbled pathways.

“Ultimately, the entire, white-pebbled area will be cemented, when we can get help with funding,” Beth said.

“The council is very happy with what we’ve done. We got a great report back and at the moment, they are working out how they can help us finish it.

“We’ve also filled the empty spots where there used to be roses, and now have white roses around the chain fence.

“There is also trumpet vine planted to grow over the archway leading to the rotunda – they have a little way to go but they’ll reach the top pretty quickly, I think,” Beth said.

Moree Plains Shire Council general manager, Kelvin Tytherleigh, said the volunteer work undertaken by Moree Lions was extraordinary.

“Council would like to thank the Lions Club of Moree for completing this fantastic project,” he said. “Moree is blessed to have so many local community volunteers who all go above and beyond to make our community a better place.”

Moree Lions Club will in November celebrate 70 years’ active service in Moree.

The local chapter was formed in 1954, seven years after Lismore hardware store owner Bill Tresise was appointed a provisional district governor by secretary-general and founder of the Lions Association, Melvin Jones.

The Australian branch of the global organisation was established in 1948 and Tresise’s aim was to have a Lions Club in every town with a population of 3000-plus.

By 1976, there were 1000 clubs Australia-wide.

Moree Lions will in November celebrate 70 years continuous service.

“We have quite a lot planned and will hold a special dinner at Moree Services Club as part of the celebrations,” Beth said.