South Coast celebrates another successful Lions’ Show

The South Coast Lions’ Show has been a roaring success year after year. Now, in its 34th year of operation, the event at the Port Shepstone Country Club last weekend was supported by 7 500 visitors. It boasted a modern look, with its layout for the 88 exhibitors and stallholders, both indoor and outdoor, appealing to a whole new generation of show visitors. The Lions’ Show has always been organised and run by the Port Shepstone Lions Club.

Port Shepstone Lions Club president and PRO Denis Meyer told the Herald that, with the ongoing partnership with South Coast Tourism, the event officially forms part of the winter holidays/sardine festival programme. “It makes an ideal opportunity to promote our local businesses to the thousands of holidaymakers who visit our coast. This year the event was well marketed in areas such as Gauteng and the Free State as well as major centres in KZN such as Durban and Pietermaritzburg, thus attracting as many visitors as possible from upcountry and ensuring that money is ploughed into our local economy,” explained Mr Meyer.

An exciting arena and entertainment programme was planned for this year’s show. From Joe Parker to Rubber Duc, The Color Blew, Barry Thomson & the Reals, Qadasi and 4-5 Seconds to Flat Tyre Groove, it was music to everyone’s ears. An added attraction at this year’s show were helicopter rides provided by local pilot Hendrik Ludick and his team.

Brian Capper, extreme motorcycle displays, dog shows, fencing displays, competitions for children, line dancing and various other displays kept the whole family busy. A full funfair with plenty of adrenaline-pumping rides returned to this year’s event. An arts and crafts marquee was, once again, incorporated into this year’s event, which showcased local entrepreneurs.

Mr Meyer pointed out that the South Coast Lions’ Show is now recognised as the perfect showcase for South Coast businesses and stands are usually fully booked well before the show. The judging of the stands is performed by an independent panel of judges. Trophies and certificates were awarded to stallholders with RotoTank of Marburg banking the most awards – Best Overall Stand, Best Marketed Stand, Best Outdoor Stand and second place for Best Local Business on Show. Bates GM of Shelly Beach took the Best Motor Dealer award while Re/Max Coast and Country took the Best Indoor Stand on Show award.

“The South Coast Lions’ Show is the biggest local service/fund-raising project undertaken by volunteer members of a single service club. The show is the only event of its kind on the KZN South Coast and belongs to the community of the South Coast. It has tremendous benefits from a tourism perspective and the ongoing partnership between Lions, the business sector and the community has been a success story for many decades,” added Mr Meyer.

“Although attendance figures were impressive, despite the current economic downturn, the profits raised for charity will be announced once our treasurer has completed the massive task of finalising figures. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated from the show is ploughed back into local community service projects.”