He was inducted during the Lions’ 48th annual presidential induction ceremony held at the president’s house in Benoni.
Van Heerden was appointed in the same position in 2015, taking over from the outgoing Lions’ president, Hannelie van der Merwe.
His vision of the company’s future included growing and improving the organisation in order to render the best of service to the community.
According to van Heerden, the organisation managed to achieve its series of goals by the end of the 2015 term.
Their plans for this term include forming a new club in Vosloorus and making sure that people who suffer from sight defects receive the necessary spectacles.
“Our plans for this year include intensifying our outreach to the communities, and making sure that people who can’t see and lack basic needs receive help through our initiatives,” said van Heerden.
Van Heerden has been a member of the Boksburg Lions Club for the past 33 years, and is now serving as president for the fourth time.
He served as president of the Boksburg Lions Club in 1993, 1999 and 2015 and also as the Zone Six Lions chairperson.
He told the Advertiser that he joined the club years ago because he always wanted to bring change to other people’s lives, in particular needy children, people with disabilities and elderly people.
Van Heerden matriculated at Capricorn High School, in Polokwane, and studied aeronautical engineering at Atlas Aircraft. He also studied polymers and worked in the plastics industry, before he recently retired.
Van Heerden is happily married to Anke and they will be marking their 37th wedding anniversary in August.
Internationally, the Lions organisation has been in existence for 99 years.
It consists of more than 1.4 million members and has been growing from strength to strength.
He encouraged more people to join the club, especially the youth.
Anyone interested in joining the club may phone van Heerden on 082 291 7564. – @FanieFLK
