While Beechworth may be far away in distance, certain Fijians have quite a close connection to the North East town.
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The island nation is among the many locations that receives second-hand prescription glasses from the residents of Beechworth and their dedicated Lions.
Clubs across Australia take part in the Recycle for Sight program, and Beechworth treasurer Josie Cornish said her local group had been on board for 56 years.
“The project has been going in Australia for 90 years and became international in 1998,” she said.
“We pack donated prescription glasses and send them to Queensland to be cleaned, and from there they are sent to third-world countries for people who need them.
“We average about 400 pairs a year.
“They (the people who receive glasses) love it – it can cost two years’ worth of wages to buy glasses in some of those countries.”
Lions V6 District sight projects and diabetes awareness co-ordinator Alison Kazenwadel said a similar initiative had started recently for hearing aids.
“I’m one of two people who look after the national project management of the Lions Eye Health program in Victoria,” she said.
“The Recycle for Sight program is international, and Lions Australia have been averaged 600,000 pairs processed every year – approximately 400,000 are usable.
“Lions in Japan collect glasses, but they send them to Australia for processing.
“We also collect sunglasses that are given to communities who can’t afford them and to people who have had cataract surgery.
“It’s the same with the hearing aids, we clean them and send them off.”
Ms Kazenwadel said the program was of great social value to a variety of communities.
“When the glasses are sent to Queensland for processing, cleaning and grading, some of that happens at a women’s prison in Brisbane,” she said.
“There are 25 people that are on a work for the dole program in Redcliffe (near Brisbane) and they work five mornings a week doing that as well.
“The Lions Eye Health program is an educational program, as 90 per cent of vision loss is preventable.”
Prescription glasses and sunglasses can be dropped into the Beechworth Chemist, the Salvation Army Thrift Shop or any Lions Club.
