Fun, friendship and fellowship in Loganholme
When he isn’t caravanning or spending time with his 9 grandchildren, Springwood-based Merv Richens OAM is giving back to his community.
He first joined the Rotary Club of Mullumbimby in 1964 and has been involved as an esteemed member of numerous committees and projects since then.
And although he’s quietly worked behind the scenes for almost 60 years, the inevitable accolades – including the Franz Lenz Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year and Medal of the Order of Australia – still came as a surprise.
For Merv, helping the community is simply his second nature.
‘I just enjoy helping other people and joining Rotary also helped me in my early life,’ he says in his plainspoken manner.
‘Rotary is about service above self and the reward that comes from helping other people.’
His most recent project has been setting up the new Probus Club in Loganholme.
Probus, an offshoot of Rotary, provides retirees with the opportunity to connect socially with monthly meetings and a range of activities, trips, and outings.
‘People think once they retire, they’ll play golf and do everything they ever wanted to do, but the reality is you get bored and just sit at home watching television,’ Merv says.
‘Probus Clubs improve lives because it’s purely for fun, friendship and fellowship – there’s no obligation to do anything other than just enjoying yourself.’
Merv, the current Probus District Chairman in his area, has been one of the driving forces behind the 4 other clubs in Logan, which are in Springwood, Park Ridge, Beenleigh, and Cornubia.
Most of the clubs, which can cater for a maximum of 100 members at a time, are at capacity.
Merv says potential members can look forward to the same range of activities available at the other branches, like guest speaker presentations, morning teas and ten pin bowling outings.
‘These things give people a sense of purpose to get out of bed in the morning,’ he says.
‘When you form a new club, people usually just look at each other without talking; fast forward to 2 months later, you can’t hear yourself talk because of all the chatter and laughter.
‘I get a real sense of fulfilment out of seeing people happier and enjoying their lives.’
If you’re interested in making new friends in retirement, the Loganholme Probus Club will be hosting an information morning on 12 September from 10 am to noon at KENG Tudor Park Community Recreation Centre, 71-78 Clarkes Road, Loganholme.
To RSVP for morning tea, please contact Merv on 0420 373 162 or via email.
