Mr Muddle has taken over from immediate past president Jennifer Bower who wished him "a very happy and successful year".

The new president will be supported by vice presidents Joseph Loughnan, MJ O'Gormana and Marty Gurney. Mr Muddle is also the membership chairman.

The new board includes Deb Harkins as secretary, Paul Hope as treasurer, Neville Steele as tail twister, Ian Hartley as lion tamer, Neville Steele as bulletin editor and GST officer, Rob Carter as incorporation officer and Ms Bower as LCI officer.

One-year directors are Ms Bower and Mr Adams. Two-year directors are Jim Noon, Graham Howes and Rob Carter.

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Before handing over the reins to Mr Muddle, Ms Bower summarised her year as president, citing the many challenges experienced by the club.

Members had hoped to complete two projects - a carpark and seating at the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum to compliment the Vietnam War veterans' memorial mural, and the renovation of the Curlewis roadside rest stop.

The seats outside the museum were installed, thanks to Lion Robert Carter and a team of helpers, however, the car park is still awaiting a decision by Gunnedah Shire Council.

Renovations to the Curlewis rest stop are still a work in progress by the council, which is contracted to maintain the site.

"July saw the start of the many "hay runs" as the country became devastated by drought. The co-ordination and work involved in these long hot days was outstanding and I thank the many people who tackled the job. August saw AG Quip held, again in hot dry conditions. Takings were down a little on previous years but overall, the event was successful," Ms Bower said.

"Also in August, the first race meeting for this Lion's year was successfully held. In September, the swap meeting was upon us and profits were a little down. Some felt the prices needed to be reviewed but agreed that drought time was not an appropriate time to increase prices.

"With the race meetings then becoming a little unpredictable due to drought problems at Armidale causing meetings to be transferred to Gunnedah. It was not a big problem to cope as they were not big meetings. Then there was the Christmas races and we were hammered with all stock sold out by the end of the day."

Ms Bower thanked Bev and Paul Hope for their "great organisational skills" at the Christmas races, and Mr Muddle and Mr Steele for "the back-up" they gave.

One of the club's biggest tasks was organising vouchers and Christmas hampers for farming families in need. Goods were provided by Cronulla Lions Club and Mr Adams "put very many hours into arranging for these hampers to arrive, be packed and ready for distribution".

"When the recipients arrived they collected their labelled hamper and ham, then they moved on to receive a free barbeque. Gunnedah and Cronulla Lions worked side by side doing an excellent job, which was recorded on television that night. An outstanding result," Ms Bower said.

The club now has two new members after Lesley Idzerda and Barbara McDonald were inducted at the changeover recently.

"Our club welcomes these two ladies who we are sure we can find positions to fill," Mr Adams said.