20/05/2026
Farewell Lion Kevin Douglass
"Today, we gather together at St Nicolas of Myra Penrith to honour a life that touched each of us in ways big and small.
Kevin Douglass was a man deeply committed to serving others and maintaining his faith, living a life marked by kindness, generosity, and devotion to his community, while also building a loving family life with Lorraine.
Kevin Thomas Douglass was born 1st July 1942 and has served proudly as a Lion for over 57 years.His journey with Lions began at the St Mary's Lions Club, after which he transferred to the Lions Club of Penrith.
Kevin was a valued and respected member who was always actively involved in the club's initiatives.
With his experience, he brought to our meetings an exceptional knowledge of Lions procedures and rules.
So much so that he had a remarkable ability to sum up our discussions and suggest the right steps to move forward."
Also, with his financial skills, he served Penrith Lions Club as Treasurer for many years, keeping careful management over the club's finances.
Kevin always enjoyed our cultural and educational activities such as Youth of the Year.
He loved the camaraderie of our various catering projects, particularly the concept of food security. An example is the project of Grocery Collections.
Kevin was always in attendance and would always be present on the occasions when we would be donating equipment to the Nepean Hospital NEO Natal UNIT.
He worked many a Saturday morning at the Lions Chocolate Wheel, which allowed him to maintain his long-time friendships with Lion Charles Armstrong of the Cambridge Park Club and Lion John Choma of the Emu Plains Club and the volunteers from the other local clubs in our Zone.
He always arrived early to start the day, and he maintained a bounce in his step to sell the tickets with good cheer, particularly around the shops.
He believed that these projects served to improve the quality of life in his local community and beyond, and raised the profile of Lions.
In his role as Tail Twister, Kevin brought warmth, observational wit, and good humour to our meetings, helping balance the business of the evening with moments of laughter.
Kevin was the recipient of many Lions awards. Recognised for his enduring service and passion for our work. He notably received the ultimate Lions acknowledgement for humanitarian service. He initially received the prestigious Melvin Jones Award for his dedicated service. More recently, he was awarded a Progressive Melvin Jones Award for his continued commitment to Lions International and our core ideals.
Kevin was forthright yet always tactful in his dealings with fellow Lions. He was compassionate and respectful to everyone, and he had a wonderful ability to connect with people in the wider community.
He was a thorough professional in his approach to finances. Sometimes a little too frugal. These were qualities for which he earned great respect.
To his credit, Kevin Douglass could be described as a very determined man. A person who was willing to listen to a debate and be confident of his view, even if he knew he was not there making up the numbers to follow the majority. He would vote no.
He had his opinion and rarely deviated, particularly if it involved money, morals and ethics. Win, lose or draw, he would accept the result just like his beloved Football team, the Panthers'
Kevin Douglass was a friend to all
While we will miss him deeply, we can take comfort in the example he leaves us—one of service, loyalty, kindness and quiet determination. If we carry those qualities forward in our own lives, then Kevin’s spirit will continue to live on in this community for many years to come." Lion Steve Holley
