For over 25 years, the Lions Club of Corowa has delivered Spring Water to homes and business throughout the local area.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The project started small at Lions meeting in February1994 when a member named Robert Taylor, who had previously transferred from a Melbourne Club to Corowa, told the meeting that he was moving to Queensland.
Mr Taylor asked the Lions to take over the ‘bottled water business’ he had started. He was bringing bottled water from Melbourne to supply Uncle Toby’s in Wahgunyah, as well as a number of clients in Corowa.
“He said he was driving to Springvale about once a week in his Falcon Ute and returning with approximately 36 19 litre bottles and would be making his final trip within the next few days,” Lions member Bill Kaitler recalled.
“He suggested that a Corowa member accompany him and arrange the handover. This caused quite a lengthy debate, with some members against the proposal stating, ‘we live on the greatest river in Australia, who would be silly enough to buy bottled water?’. However, it was finally agreed to give it a go. But who would go with him?”
Mr Kaitler who had recently retired from his business, decided to become involved.
“A few days later Robert and I made the trip together and the Corowa Lions Club became the local distributor for ‘Linton Park Bottled Water’.
“The first thing we had to do was arrange transport. I spoke to Mr Hec Francis of Francis Transport, Corowa. Hec said as it was for the Lions Club, they would transport the bottles, to and from their depot in Footscray, free of charge, but not go to Springvale.
“At the time we had a member, David Ticehurst, who had a son with a Taxi truck business around the city. Dave then arranged with his son to do the transport between Springvale and Footscray, again free of charge.”
Beside the cost of the water, the Lions paid a deposit for the bottles and each steel crate. Each crate held 16 bottles.
“I think we started with two before getting another, as water sales started to increase, and it was a battle getting empties back to fill a crate, then back to Linton Park, before a return load, all within a couple of days. Francis allowed us to work out of their depot, situated at the top end of Sanger St., now the site of McDonalds,” Mr Kaitler said.
“At the time, I had a Datsun Sunny van in which I carried 14 bottles. The 19 litre bottles had no handle so were carried via a large plastic hand piece which gripped the neck of the bottle.
“The above arrangement required many phone calls and carried on for many months, I am not sure for how long, but I was very pleased when the club changed over to ‘Snowline’ in Beechworth.
“I can’t remember how this came about, but it was then necessary to recover all the 19 litre bottles, and together with the crates, my wife Marie and I carted the lot back to Linton Park on a large trailer behind our car.
“As expected, the people at Linton Park were not happy to see the end of our involvement with them, and lucky for us no contract had been signed.”
Mr Kaitler said many Lions members have assisted with the project over the years.
“Lion Berwyn Baddeley took over the deliveries to Uncle Toby’s, as well as doing all the necessary paperwork. Lion Vin Hornsey delivered to the Piggery, and the late David Ticehurst assisted me on the Wednesday morning run for many years,” he said.
“This project has been a remarkable success and developed into a hugely successful undertaking for the Corowa Lions Club and Corowa community, with many members being involved at various times during any given week.”
The water business has grown beyond expectations over the last 27 years.
“Currently we are getting our water from Big Springs Mineral Water in Wagga NSW who delivers once a week, the bottles weigh 16kg and are sold at $10 per bottle,” Mr Kaitler said.
“We currently deliver three days a week Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with deliveries to Bunge piggery Corowa and Bungowannah plus the Dairy in Fryer’s Lane on the other days.
“Craig Baldwin started assisting club members with deliveries doing most of the heavy work in April 2003, and is now our very capable delivery manager of this project
“We also employ a bookkeeper and one other man to help with the unloading of the water truck when arriving from Wagga.”
Mr Kaitler said the proceeds from the water project have been a great investment for the community.
“An example of the kinds of donations to the community the water project allows Corowa Lions is the 30 christmas cakes plus 10 hampers donated to St Vincent’s for distribution to the community each year,” he said.
This endeavour continues to provide significant income for the club, all of which is used to support the local community, Lions District and Lions International. The club is one of the oldest in the area celebrating over 60 years of service.
27°C