Helensburgh Lions serve sangers and stalls with a big slice of fun at Country Fair

The Lions International motto is ‘We Serve’ and Helensburgh's club certainly lived up to this on Saturday at Charles Harper Park. Not only did the volunteers organise a fun-filled day for the entire community, with more than 2000 people enjoying carnival rides, market stalls and live music, the Lions’ own barbecue was a sell-out success.

All up, the team delivered 1000 servings of sausage sandwiches and bacon and egg rolls.

“It's a lot of work. We plan all year for this event,” said local Lion Neil Mahler, who was busy flipping bacon rashers with fellow volunteer Tom Ravelingien while queues stretched across the lawns at Charles Harper Park on Saturday morning. 

The annual fair requires a council DA and can cost about $12,000 once fees such as insurance and entertainment costs are factored in. It takes months of planning to organise, then lots of hands on deck over the weekend. While fair-goers began rolling in from 10am on October 25, Lions volunteers started work on Friday night, blocking off the Post Office car park so local fire trucks could be parked there.

“It’s been good for the community. That's who we do it for,” Neil said. “Everyone puts a lot of time into raising money for the charity – because we're a full charity, and about 85% of our money we raise goes into the community, the rest goes to, say, the floods or bush fires.”

A long-time local, Neil joined the Lions about five years ago and has spent 25 years in the bushfire brigade, joining after the “train wreck” of the Christmas 2001 bushfires, “when half of Helensburgh went down”. 

“When I joined the Lions, the first thing they did was give $10,000 to local fire brigades. They bought every fire brigade in the area – five fire brigades – an iPad. And now we don't have to use our mobile to get to a fire. They've got it wired into all the fire trucks now, whereas before, we're looking up our mobile, [wondering] where’s the fire?”

Entertainment for everyone

Crowds gathered around the stage next to the rotunda to watch zumba demos, Irish dancers and ADA Dance Group's rising stars, as well as musicians, including Peter Bennett, Sam Vukelic, the Dempsey Bros,  the Aubrey Purton Duo and the Fortuna Band. 

Queues also formed for face-painting at Raeleen's Fancy Faces, a thriving business started 17 years ago by stay-at-home mum Raeleen Rickard, who has since roped in her own children to offer colourful creative services at celebrations across the region. 

When it comes to popular designs and character choices, no one is letting go of the sisters from Frozen, including young Gemma, who was patiently taking her turn in the hot seat to be transformed into the princess with magical ice powers. “She’s Elsa – always Elsa!” said her mum, Nicole.  

Call for volunteers

Over in the community stalls, the new manager at Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid, Danielle Warner, was looking forward to meeting community members and hoping to sign up new volunteers for the not-for-profit organisation, which serves the area from Helensburgh to Woonona, providing transport, meals and social events.

“I'm thoroughly enjoying it,” said Danielle, who recently took over from outgoing manager Fiona Lawson at NINA. “I'm really looking forward to working within the community and working side by side with the team within the community.

“We desperately need more volunteers, particularly drivers, but also hosts and helpers for our community-engagement sessions.”

People of all ages are welcome to volunteer and this could involve anything from helping clients to board the NINA bus, to hosting Cafe Club sessions to delivering food and a chat, providing essential community connection.

“We’re also welcoming new clients,” Danielle said.

Talking to community

Wollongong City Council had a central stand, where residents could ask questions about the hot topics of the day: Helensburgh Pool and the new Community Centre and Library on Walker Street. Information-sharing was also the goal for Station 325's Fire & Rescue crew and Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, who always seize the chance to reach local families at the annual Country Fair.

Captain of Illawarra Community Safety Mel Beattie said their stall was attracting a lot of interest, with families dropping by to pick up RFS gift bags, as well as toy helmets, colouring books and temporary tattoos. 

“We attend community events, preschools, all that sort of thing, just to give out information, making sure people are ready,” Mel said. 

Fireys take every opportunity to spread the ‘Get Ready’ message in Helensburgh, which is ringed by bushland and at risk of being cut-off from the highway if fires come from the west. “Leave early” remains a key message.

“I've got another table set up with how we'd like people to dress if they wanted to stay and fight,” Mel added, pointing to a dummy clad in goggles, face mask and scarf. “They should be fully covered.”

Puppies need forever homes

Julie-ann Ehrlich, the founder of Helensburgh's Country Companion Animal Rescue, was one of the most popular stands at the fair, showcasing her charity work and the latest puppies up for adoption.

“Coming into spring, there's always lots of puppies and kittens, because it's the breeding season,” said Julie-ann, who rescues many dogs from farming communities in country NSW. 

“I've got about 20. They’re all baby puppies, and they're all asleep. A lot of them came from Kempsey. Some of them came from Lightning Ridge. We tend to deal with cross breeds, and if we get three or four adoptions today, it's all worth it.”

Tempting though it may be with sleepy puppies snuggling in pet tents, adoption is not a spur of the moment decision.

“We don't adopt on the day,” Julie-ann said. “You have to go home and think about it. I send an application form and from there, the people will have had a chance to sleep on it and decide whether this is what they want to do, because we can't have kids just talking mum and dad into taking a puppy.”

Adopting a dog could cost between $650 and $950.

“Some of the dogs that we've got here, if you bought them in a pet shop, you'd pay $1000, $2000 and upwards. But we have them desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, vet checked. They come with leads, collars, harnesses and food, and everything. So it's actually a big bargain.”

Country Companion Animal Rescue always has dogs and cats in need of good homes, sometimes rabbits and guinea pigs too. Julie-ann’s plea to the community remains:  “Don't shop – adopt.”

With sunny weather and big crowds, 2025’s fair was another wonderful community event, as well as a flagship fundraiser for Helensburgh Lions Club, who’ll report on the full amount raised in our December 2025 print edition.