Our History
Lions NSW-ACT Save Sight Foundation Charitable Trust
In Ohio, USA in 1925 at the Lions Clubs International Convention, Helen Keller, a blind and deaf person, addressed the Convention and challenged the Lions to become the “Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness.”
The Lions accepted her challenge and from that day on have pledged to help restore sight and prevent blindness.
In May 1974, the District Governors of the then 6 Districts located wholly within New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island met at the Lions MD201 Convention in Canberra where it was resolved to establish the Lions NSW-ACT Save Sight Foundation Ltd (“Current Trustee”). The Current Trustee was incorporated as a public company limited by guarantee on 29 November 1974 under the Companies Act 1961 (NSW). The purpose of the Current Trustee was to act as the trustee for the Lions NSW-ACT Save Sight Foundation Charitable Trust, which was established by a trust deed dated 15 December 1974 (“Save Sight Trust”).
In 1989, an agreement was signed between the Current Trustee in its capacity as trustee for the Save Sight Trust and the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, which provided that the Eye Bank at the Sydney Hospital would in future be called the “Lions NSW Eye Bank”.
In 1984, Professor Frank Bilson spoke to Lions about the urgent need for an Eye Institute to be associated with Sydney Eye Hospital and the University of Sydney. It was agreed that NSW Lions Clubs and the Save Sight Trust would provide the seed funding for an Institute to be established as a not-for-profit foundation. The Lions Save Sight Institute was opened in 1985 at the Sydney Eye Hospital.
Since that time, the Save Sight Trust has contributed significant funding towards the running of the Lions NSW Eye Bank and the Save Sight Institute on an annual basis. Up until a recent restructure, the Save Sight Trust provided grants of $110,000 to each entity per annum.
The Save Sight Trust has also provided the following grants:
an Optos 200T x Ultra-Wide Field Retinal Image Camera;
an Artevo 800 Digital Microscope for Theatre 6 at the Sydney Eye Hospital (value: $100,000); and
an annual grant of $55,000 to the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation for 3 years to fund the Lions NSW-ACT Save Sight Glaucoma Fellowship.
Lions Clubs N.S.W.-A.C.T. Public Health Care Foundation
Lions Clubs (NSW-ACT) Health Ltd (“Former PHCF Trustee”) was incorporated as a public company limited by guarantee on 15 January 1981 under the Companies Act 1961 (NSW) to act as the trustee for the Lions Clubs N.S.W. - A.C.T. Public Health Care Foundation, which was established by a trust deed dated 15 January 1981 (“Public Healthcare Trust”).
The Public Healthcare Trust was founded to promote, advance and assist the research into the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of illness, sickness and afflictions of all kinds suffered by humans. The Public Healthcare Trust provides grants for vital research in numerous areas of health care. It funds the purchase of much needed equipment for universities, hospitals and institutions involved in health care and promotes sustainable health care in the community.
Considerable funding is provided to assist people in the community who may be disabled or afflicted with a debilitating illness. The Public Healthcare Trust has previously provided grants to assist in the purchase of diabetic insulin pumps, motorised mobility scooters, specialised lightweight and powered wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, powered lifts to assist in the care of disabled, children’s portable oxygen ventilators, electric and specialised hospital beds, conversion of vehicles to provide transport for people suffering from debilitating illnesses, renal dialysis machines and numerous much needed other items of equipment.
In late 2001 or early 2002, steps were taken to cause the Current Trustee to become the trustee for the Public Healthcare Trust.
On 21 August 2002, the name of the Current Trustee was changed to the Lions Clubs NSW-ACT Save Sight and Health Care Limited. On 26 August 2003, the Former PHCF Trustee was deregistered.
Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Foundation Limited
On 30 October 2023, Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Foundation Limited (“New Trustee”) was incorporated as a public company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and was registered as a charity with effect from the date of its incorporation.
On 12 February 2024, the Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Fund (“New Fund”) was established as a public ancillary fund with the New Trustee as trustee and was registered as a charity with effect from the date on which the New Fund was established.
The New Trustee, in its capacity as trustee of the New Fund, is in the process of transferring the funds comprised in the Save Sight Trust and the Public Healthcare Trust to the New Fund, which transfers the New Trustee anticipates will be completed before the end of the 2025 calendar year.
It is intended that the Save Sight Trust and the Public Healthcare Trust will be terminated and the Current Trustee deregistered as soon as possible after these transfers are completed.