Remember your life-changing experience with Outward Bound? Originally from the Nowra region? Then you must be one of over 100 people who were sponsored by Nowra Lions Club since 1989 (or later Bomaderry Lions) to attend an Outward Bound Course under what is now known as the Nowra Lions Outward Bound Project.

The search for the Nowra One Hundred is now on and we'd like to hear from you!

If you are on of the Nowra 100, then you are one of the 100+ young Australians that have been sponsored by Nowra Lions Club since 1989 and more recently Bomaderry Lions Club, through the generosity of the people and/or businesses in your local community, to attend an Outward Bound Navigator Course.

To mark this outstanding community achievement, Outward Bound Australia is keen to maximise this opportunity to further research the long-term effects of its courses on such a localised and reasonably homogeneous group.

That all means…. we want your story! In particular we want to know how your Outward Bound experience impacted on your life and what the community sponsorship you received from your local Lions Club and its supporters, meant to you.

We’ve already received the first story, from the very man who started it all in 1989. Bruce Spender was, at the time, posted to the Royal Australian Navy as Training Administration Officer when he became involved with Outward Bound through a leadership training program. Bruce says:

“After I left the RAN and became involved with Lions International through the Nowra Club. I thought that Lions, who operate various programmes for young Australians, could become involved with local youth by sponsoring them to attend the Outward Bound Navigator course. In my year as President of the Nowra Club I therefore suggested we do this. The Board of Directors agreed so our first young person was a young man by the name of Paul Brown who worked with the same company as I did – Paul is now Director of the very company.

Of all the young people who the Nowra Lions Club has sponsored almost every single one has benefitted from the experience and the majority have demonstrated that they have greatly benefited from their attendance. Just as we observed changes in the young naval officers who did our leadership and expedition training at the RANC, many parents have been amazed at the difference in maturity and tolerance of others that is achieved in just 12 short days, by their child’s participation in the Outward Bound Navigator Course. “From little acorns great oaks grow”. The ongoing difference that has and will continue to make in their own lives and the community in which they live, is immeasurable.”

If you know of any other “100” members, pass on the message. We want to trace as many as we can before the course in April 2012, that will take us past this memorable milestone.

You can read other Nowra 100 stories, or share your own story by clicking here.

We hope you will contribute and if you know of any others who were similarly sponsored by Nowra or Bomaderry Lions Clubs, please let us know by contacting:
Lloyd Worthy
ph: 0412 489 926
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or
Freya Norman
ph: 02 9818 0988
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