Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club gifts furry friends to local ambulance branch

By James Kleeman

Feb 15, 2023

New additions: Team manager Adrian Pace, Sarah Rhodes, Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club member Jan Treloar, Louise Cornell, Susan Aspinall-Loughnane, Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club past-district governor Margaret Stewart, community engagement co-ordinator Tarun Kumar, Shaun Moore, Brianna Behrsin and Rhiannon Kyberd with their new teddies at Shepparton’s ambulance branch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Plush teddy bears, koalas and seals will ride alongside Shepparton’s paramedics this month, ready to be gifted to those in need courtesy of Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club.

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The club delivered a pile of plush animals to Shepparton’s Ambulance Victoria branch on Wednesday as part of a bi-annual project that aims to give back to local emergency services groups.

Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club past district governor Margaret Stewart said the teddy bear initiative was a way of thanking emergency services for their ongoing support.

“We like to do things for Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley, that’s where we as a club get our help from,” Ms Stewart said.

Special gift: Ambulance Victoria community engagement co-ordinator Tarun Kumar and Shepparton senior team manager Adrian Pace accept a teddy bear gift from Shepparton-Wanganui Lions Club past district governor Margaret Stewart and club member Jan Treloar. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

“We like to give back — with the teddy bears and koalas — I think they’re wonderful.

“When the paramedics give them out to children, mothers and even dads when they’re facing a bit of stress — it’s a nice project for the community.”

Ambulance Victoria community engagement co-ordinator Tarun Kumar said the toy animals could be helpful for paramedics when working with children.

“We love to have these kind of supportive toys in the ambulance in times of need, they help provide a distraction and help make people feel comfortable,” Mr Kumar said.

“When a child needs some sort of comfort, it’s another thing we can use apart from the medications and needles — sometimes they don’t work, but the minute you bring a teddy bear, they light up.

“The Lions Club are fantastic to provide this for us and we’re grateful for their support.”