Lions’ newly appointed president aims high

The Boksburg Lions Club was founded more than five decades ago, and it has since been involved in many worthwhile projects.

A former member of Boys Scouts of South Africa, van der Merwe was inducted by the Lions Club’s district governor, Steven Green, during the club’s 48th presidential induction ceremony, held in Boksburg.

He will be balancing his role as club president with his work as a technician at Transnet.

He said his principal objectives include increasing the organisation’s membership and introducing new activities to enable them to intensify their efforts to support those in need.

He took over the leadership role from the outgoing president, Lion James van Heerden, who said the club members are all looking forward to working with the incoming president.

The new leader joined the Boksburg Lions Club more than half a decade ago.

“I became a member of the club after I was inspired to do so when I saw my wife, Hannelie, making a difference in the lives of people in need,” said van der Merwe.

His wife has been an active member of the club for more than two decades now. She was once elected as the branch’s first woman president.

Apart from van der Merwe’s new plans, he also wants to see to it that the club strengthens its various programmes, including its regular blood drives, annual golf day and collection of food, as well as helping people with poor sight by providing them with spectacles (in partnership with an optometry practice).

Van der Merwe was born and bred in Boksburg, but is now a resident of Kempton Park. He went to Martin Primary School and matriculated at Benoni Technical High School.

He then received technical training at the then Germiston Technical College.

He is married to Hannelie, and God blessed them with three sons, Christopher (37), Donovan (32) and Michael (29).

Members of the Boksburg Lions Club meet every third Thursday of the month at the clubhouse, located at the old Boksburg City Hall (pink building).

The club will also have an event dubbed “Meet the Lions Club”, which is aimed at marketing the organisation to the community, including the business sector. The event will be held at the Boksburg Library on August 17. Guest speakers will include Midrand Lions Club’s Cliff Hocking and others. Members of the public are invited to attend so that they can learn more about the organisation.

The club’s annual golf day will be held on November 2.

To find out more about the club and upcoming events, call Lion Peter van der Merwe on 083 289 0048 or Lion James van Heerden on 082 291 7564.