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 58 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 — 2026–27
Joseph Pope
District Governor
Stuart Ritchie
First Vice District Governor
Vacant
Second Vice District Governor
Lorraine Hemsworth
Cabinet Secretary
Tim Bishop
Cabinet Treasurer
PDG Peter Mercer
CBL, Insurance & Registrations
For the complete list of district officers, committee chairs, and zone coordinators, visit the 201N1 Cabinet page.
Lion Joseph Pope
Urunga / Bellingen · 2026–27
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 District Governor while also holding Zone Chair responsibilities for Zones 2 and 3, working to bring the benefits of Lions to communities across the district.
Lion Stuart Ritchie
Lionsonoz · 2026–27
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 First Vice District Governor.
Vacant
2026–27
This role is currently vacant.