ABOUT PDG JAMES DOUGLAS OMOND OAM
A graduate of John the Baptist School Plympton and Sacred Heart College in Adelaide, Doug was born on the 2nd October 1927.
It was also in 1962 that Doug was inducted as a member of Edwardstown Lions Club. There, he served twice as President, he went onto District roles serving as Cabinet Secretary; and as District Governor 1975/76. He was later appointed Multiple District Chairman of six committees; he also served as the Treasurer/Welfare Officer of the Past District Governors’ Association and in 1983 his wonderful work was recognized with a Life Membership - his crowning accolade coming a year later when he received an OAM for ‘service to the community’.
It was in 1985, that a $200.000 donation, received from Mr Harold Quinton, the original manufacturer of our Lions Mints, gave birth to the LifeSaver Foundation, and its subsequent success and achievements can undoubtedly be attributed to Doug’s tireless guidance and contribution.
On receipt of Mr Quinton’s $200,000 cheque, Doug decreed that the benefactor’s donation should be invested, and only the interest earned on the money should be used to support Lions Club projects.
Universally regarded as one of the Life Saver Foundation’s most successful projects was the Welcome to Australia Bookmarks campaign. With Doug driving this project, more than 400,000 bookmarks were distributed throughout Australia which raised $26,000 for Prostate Cancer Research.
Doug oversaw grants from the Foundation to clubs for static displays at shopping centres, fetes and parades, and the services of a public relations firm were engaged to help created a greater community awareness of the work it was doing.
Another project which carried Doug’s indelible handprint, was the creation of one million book marks containing information about Lions projects such as Diabetes Awareness; Breast cancer Research; Kidney and Medical Research; SightFirst; Hearing Dogs; and Drug Awareness; Youth Exchanges; Melanoma Research; and the Organ Donor Register
But the LifeSaver Foundation was not the only area of Doug’s association with the Lions Club. He was the Past Chairman of Australian Lions Community Emergency Relief Foundation (Alcerf); the Darwin Relief Committee; the National Bushfire Committee; The Australian Lions Foundation; and The Lions Hearing Dogs.
While Doug never sought recognition or awards he was the recipient of many. He was An Ambassador of Goodwill; a Melvin Jones Fellow; and William R Tresise Fellow. He received the Ian M Stockdale Humanitarian Award; the James McLardie Award and he also won a place in the AFL Hall of fame.
But the place in which Doug will be most fondly remembered will be in the hearts of the many people he was able to help as a result of his long and admirable tenure with the Lions Club of Australia.
After a lifetime of service to others, Doug left this world in his 90th year on the 3rd November 2016.