Lions Clubs International · Multiple District 201 · District N1
About District 201N1
District 201N1 is Lions Clubs International's home in northern and northeastern New South Wales — a region that stretches from the surf-lined shores of the Mid North Coast through the New England tablelands and out to the Queensland border. Our 60 clubs connect more than 1,100 volunteers who give their time and skills to communities both large and small across one of Australia's most diverse regional landscapes.
How our district works
Each Lions club serves its own community in its own way — but no club operates in isolation. The district is the support layer that connects individual clubs to the wider Lions world. It provides leadership training, governance guidance, and a shared network for clubs to collaborate on larger projects. District 201N1 is one of 12 districts within Multiple District 201, and through LCI, part of a global movement of 1.4 million members across 200+ countries.
Leadership
Training & resources for officers and members
Membership
Growth, retention & club vitality
Service
District-wide projects & humanitarian goals
Communication
Linking clubs to LCI policies & updates
Governance
Constitution, by-laws & district oversight
Our leadership — 2025–26
Narelle Peters
District Governor
Joseph Pope
First Vice District Governor
Stuart Ritchie
Second Vice District Governor
Louise Evans
Cabinet Secretary
Lorraine Hemsworth
Assistant Cabinet Secretary & District Administrator
Tim Bishop
Cabinet Treasurer
For the complete list of district officers, committee chairs, and zone coordinators, visit the 201N1 Cabinet page.
Lion Narelle Peters
Valla Beach · 2025–26
Born and raised in Sydney, Narelle trained as an Industrial Chemical Technician and spent over 40 years in the paint and industrial coatings industry. She and her husband Malcolm retired to Valla Beach in 2011.
Narelle's Lions journey began in 1985 when she became charter president of the Hastings Lioness Club. In 1987 — the same year the Lions Club of Hastings became one of the first clubs in Australia to admit women — she joined the main club, balancing Lions with her work as a Senior Purchasing Officer for Dulux and raising her family.
On moving to Valla Beach, Narelle encouraged Malcolm to join the local Lions club and joined herself in 2013, becoming a member of the Lions Club of Valla. A Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow, she brings over four decades of community service experience to the role of District Governor.
Lion Joseph Pope
Urunga / Bellingen · 2025–26
Born in Grafton, Joe grew up in Wardell and Hernani and completed his schooling in Dorrigo before joining the Australian Army, where he served until being discharged following an injury. A committed sportsman, he represented the Australian Combined Services Armed Forces in rugby union, rugby league, and cricket — including A-grade competitions in Queensland.
After years on the Central Coast, where he coached and managed junior rugby league teams, Joe returned to the Coffs Coast and discovered Lions through volunteer work. He became a charter member of the Urunga Lions Club, later moving to Bellingen Lions to broaden his experience and taking on the role of Zone Chair.
Joe now serves as First Vice District Governor while also holding Zone Chair responsibilities for Zones 2 and 3, working closely alongside the District Governor to bring the benefits of Lions to communities across the district.
Lion Stuart Ritchie
Glen Innes region · 2025–26
Born in Sydney and raised across NSW as his father's police postings took the family around the state, Stuart completed his schooling in Orange before joining the RAAF as a Radio Technician. He served at various bases including a 12-month deployment to Vietnam with No. 2 Squadron, and later worked as an engineer at NASA's Orroral Valley Tracking Station in the mountains outside Canberra.
Stuart studied Computer Science at the University of Canberra and spent the following three decades working in the computer industry both in Australia and overseas, including integrating the NATO Catalogue for the RAAF. In 2000 he took over his son's printing business, running it until his retirement in 2013.
He first joined Lions in 1974 in Kambah, ACT, and rejoined in 2007 as charter secretary of the North Lakes Club in Queensland. He has since served across three clubs and multiple cabinet positions. Stuart brings a wealth of organisational and technical experience to the role of Second Vice District Governor and looks forward to meeting as many members as possible across the three-year governor journey.