Mr Gillman, 85, passed away on July 25. In a special tribute, District Governor V6 Neil Stuart outlined the many leadership roles undertaken by, and awards presented to Mr Gillman.
“He was a Lion who was very well known and respected throughout the district and beyond,” OAM nominator Mr Stuart, from Numurkah, said.
“Lionel was inducted into the Lions Club of Corowa on 1 February 1961 – that’s 61 years ago. He was sponsored by Corowa Foundation member Lion Roy Fredericks.
“He was Past Director, club membership chairperson, and President (2005/06, 2008/09, and on two previous occasions). He sponsored seven members, attended eight international conventions.
“Of this district 201V6, Lionel was zone chairman, regional chairman, and constitution and by-laws chairman. He was V6 District Governor 1993/94, V6 cabinet member for at least 15 years, district leadership development chairman 2003/04; V6 Foundation treasurer since inception in 1996 up until the last three years.
“Lionel received club Life Membership in August 1986. He was inducted into the Australian Lions Foundation Hall of Fame in 2013 for 50 plus years of dedication.
“In accepting the award, he said and I quote ‘I owe a lot to Lions, they gave me a lot of opportunities and have been very good to me’. But we owe a tremendous amount to Lionel, he has been great for our Lions organisation, our district and your great community of Corowa!
“In 1993/94, he was made a Melvin Jones Fellow, presented with a 60-year Monarch Chevron, a Presidential award, a Club President excellence award and is a Silver, Gold and Diamond Centennial Lion.
“He is a V6 Foundation life member - the only Lion to receive this award.
“He received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2013, for outstanding achievement and service.”
The funeral service on August 2 was conducted by Reverend Richard Keith at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Corowa.
“Lionel was a kind, generous man with a great sense of humour,” Rev. Keith told the 225 mourners.
“He was everything to the Lions Club but the Lions Club meant everything to him.”
The eulogy in respect of Mr Gillman, who served as Corowa Shire councillor from 1983 to 1991 including as deputy shire mayor for two years, was delivered by close friend Peter Fitzpatrick who said the eulogy included substantial input from Lionel’s son Peter.
“Lionel Herbert Gillman, born 17 November 1936 Indigo, Victoria. Youngest son to Roy (Roger) Gillman and Doris Gillman, brother to Grant and Collis dec.
“Lionel grew up in the Indigo, Cornishtown and Chiltern areas helping on the family farm.
“He attended Cornishtown No. 802 School and then went on to catch the bus from Chiltern to attend the Wangaratta tech school to further his schooling.
“After school Lionel gained an apprenticeship as an electrician with Joe Catterall in Rutherglen.
“On the completion of his apprenticeship Lionel went out on his own and formed a very successful electrical contracting business and electrical appliance stores in Rutherglen and Corowa.
“Lionel met and married his wife Marion dec, they had two sons, Kent dec. and Peter.”
Lionel sold his electrical business and bought two school bus runs, one in Corowa that ran out to Collendina between Corowa and Mulwala which he drove himself and the other in Chiltern that his sister Collis and later his cousin Monica Gray would drive.
“Lionel sold his Corowa bus and went to Albury to work at Martins Albury for the next 24 years travelling from Corowa to Albury every day.
“Lionel had a love of old cars and in his retirement, he enjoyed the company of the Murray Heritage Motorists group where he would go away on many trips with them in one of his cars.
“Throughout Lionel’s life he was very community minded which started with the Young Farmers at Cornishtown, the Lions Club of Corowa (Life Member) and served as a councillor and deputy shire president on Corowa Shire Council.
“With all his achievements Lionel’s greatest was being recognised for his service to the community by receiving the Order of Australia Medal in 2013.
