A NEW sabot will be christened on Sunday to join the junior sailing fleet at Wangi Sailing Club.
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The sabot has been donated by Wangi Lions Club and is named after Eddie Bettinzoli, a former Lions Club president.
Lion Diane Johnson said Eddie and Nives Bettinzoli (who still lives in Wangi) came to Australia from Trieste, Italy, in 1955.
"They settled in Wangi in 1957 and Eddie joined Wangi Lions Club in 1975. He was president twice, in 1975-6 and 1996-7," she said.
Mr Bettinzoli was "one of nature's gentlemen".
Lake Macquarie now has six sabots that bear the names of past members of the Lions Club: Wal Sowerby, Jim Papanis, Tim Maule, Sonny and Grace Gibson, and now Eddie Bettinzoli.
Wangi Sailing Club's junior club captain, Warwick Fatches, said the sabots were integral to the club's learn-to-sail classes, which attract between 30 and 50 children every Saturday.
"We very much appreciate this donation," he said.
